"Family Values"

Reagan (5) and I were watching one of her cartoons earlier this week when I flipped past an old Tom and Jerry episode on Cartoon Network. I stopped and said "let me show you a 'good' cartoon from when Daddy was a little boy". ...of course she loved the "cute little mouse and the mean cat". ...of course she wants to tivo all of the old episodes and watch them. What I didn't remember is that the "cute little mouse and mean cat" smoke, drink, light each other on fire...and shoot each other with pistols. (Itchy and Scratchy "old school"). Maybe the "good old days" weren't as "good" as we remembered...

Happy Thanksgiving!

Hope everyone has a great thanksgiving with family and friends. My plans are to hang out with the family and consume way too much pie. I will also be "consuming" way too much electricity by hanging lights on everything that doesn't move around the house... "It ain't decorated 'til you can see it from space"!

See ya on Sunday!

Stuff I learned from people I love...

Ok, so you're a follower of Jesus and you wonder how you should tell your friends, your family...the people you work with. How can you let them know about the hope that you now have? Should you preach to them? Forward "christian" emails to them with pictures of cute "baby angels" and prayers that urge them to "forward this prayer to all your contact list"? Should you carry around a boom-box blasting hymns? Should you start adding "king james" english to your vocabulary? It's difficult to know what to do.

Here's something that struck me yesterday: I know about a lot of things that I never would have "learned" myself because of those around me that I love...

• I know all the Disney princesses by name...and who their "prince" is...
• I know almost all of the Disney Fairies by name...and what their "fairy talent" is...
• I know the difference between a Dooney and Bourke purse and a department store knock-off.
• I know more about the Pillsbury Doughboy than is healthy...
• I still don't quite understand women's clothing sizes but I have made a "cheat sheet" so I don't continue to buy stuff that is the wrong size...
• I now know lots about the "American Girl" line of Dolls...and have accepted the concept that "adopting" one of them costs more than actually having another "real" child...

So how can you communicate the fact that you love God and follow Jesus? Just be passionate about it. Live it! Make your faith part of your day to day life. I have "learned" all of the above not because my wife and daughter "Preach" to me about their interests...or "quiz" me about facts...they are just passionate about princesses, and doughboys, and dolls...and even a insensitive oaf like me eventually picks up on it. If something really "matters" to you it will show...and affect everyone around you.

Our neighbors are coming...

I know that followers of Jesus have different opinions and thoughts about Halloween. If you can't celebrate Halloween with a clear conscience...ignore this...take the family out for dinner Friday night and give your waitress a tip that is more "treat" than "trick".

For the rest of us... Halloween is the only time of the year( other than "girl scout cookie season", which I believe should be declared a national holiday by the way) when our neighbors will show up to our house in great numbers and ring our bell. Let's make the most of it! I challenge all of you to be the "best house" on the block. The one that kids (and parents) love to come to. It's a great opportunity to be generous...to give to your neighborhood "no strings attached".

Michele, Princess Belle (Reagan), and I will be having a free hot chocolate/hot cider stand (with candy for the kids of course) in our driveway. We've been doing it for three years now and it is a hit with parents and kids. It also allows us a chance to "meet" and speak with people in our housing development we might otherwise never meet... And no, other than displaying our awesome "actionchurch-o-lantern" that we were given Sunday...this is not about "church". We will not be handing out tracts or actionchurch invites...just serving and getting to know our neighbors.

So here's the challenge...be creative...be generous...be the "best house" on the block! I'd love to hear your stories...

Security...

Unless you've been vacationing on Mars you've probably heard on the news that it's been a really bad week for the US economy. I'm not sure anyone fully understands the fallout from the bank failures (and the company that insures them) now...but it probably won't be that pleasant for any of us.

Are you concerned about your retirement savings? ...your mortgage? ...your job? You are not alone. Millions of Americans share your concern. Being involved in a small business (how we pay the bills) and a non-profit church (really, really, non-profit ) I'm not blind to the fact that both sectors are pretty severely affected by a downturn in the economy... I don't think; however, that the creator is "surprised" by this situation. In fact (as we talked alot about in the "un" series) God often uses difficult circumstances to show his "undeniable" power. I'm certainly not looking forward to the hardship that a "rocky" economy brings...but I am looking forward to seeing how our God provides for my family...and our actionchurch family. That's "security" to me...


18 Day by day the Lord takes care of the innocent, and they will receive an inheritance that lasts forever. 19 They will not be disgraced in hard times; even in famine they will have more than enough. Psalms 37:18-19

God our Father

Reagan (5) was singing along with Taylor Swift (her favorite!) in the back seat of the SUV a few nights ago. She didn't really know the words that well...and even though I'm a proud dad...she was pretty "off" key. You know what? It still sounded great to me. I kept thinking that there was nothing I would rather hear than my daughter sing.

I think God feels like that about each one of us. In fact, I think we get our love for our children from God! So sing it out! Talk to God. Even if you're "off key". Even if you feel like you have disappointed God. Even if you feel like he doesn't want to hear from you... He does. He's watching...and he would love to hear from you.

Growing up..equals change.

Today is "extreme room makeover" day for Reagan. We're going to be changing her "baby snoopy" bedroom into an "infinitely more grown-up" Ariel room. (In case you're wondering...I have the most "grown-up room of all"- Buzz Lightyear!) "Growing up" leads to change...and change affects all of us differently. Five year old Reagan is literally jumping up and down with excitement...while Mom Michele will probably have to dry her eyes while she packs away all the baby snoopy stuff...

I'm thinking I will have some lessons to learn today about leading actionchurch this fall through a time of growth...and change. Even though both growth (and the resulting change) are a healthy and normal part of the life of churches..and kids...they can be exciting, expensive, and stressful all at the same time... and everyone reacts differently to them all!

Now off to try not to staple my finger to her toy box as I attempt a little upholstery!

My Schedule (or, Why I don't get out much)

Michele and I get a lot of invitations (OK...Michele gets most of them) to events, parties, hang-outs, etc... and she was saying yesterday that many people are genuinely surprised when we can't attend because of my work schedule. The following is my weekly work schedule...bear in mind I am not complaining...or bragging...everyone on the actionchurch crew works or goes to school or both. I just want to let everyone know that it's not that I am anti-social and don't want to come to your event...we just have a very busy weekly schedule. OK....maybe I am a little and "anti-social" and don't want to go to your party...but I do have a very good excuse :-)

Sunday: Show up at the club at 7 to pray, pick up the parking lot, and set up the tent and outdoor signs... This is my "quiet time" on Sunday morning and how I prep for preaching...ymmv. We roll out of the club at 1pm grab some lunch and I generally fall asleep watching nascar... We occasionally do things with folks on Sunday afternoon but I am generally suffering from my "holy hangover" from the morning and am even less "fun" than usual.

Monday: Family day...the only "sane" day of the week. ...I wish I could say that we did something "fun" like going to Disney every week, but this is at least time together. I generally blog and answer mail in the morning and but I don't do sermon prep, and I TRY to stay away from the computer for the rest of the day.

Tuesday- Saturday: Five days a week I work as a painting contractor to earn a living and help support actionchurch. This generally consists of painting 5-7 Rental Townhouses per week. I actually start my morning (6am to 8am) working on actionchurch "stuff": blogging, returning emails, sermon planning, newsletter, etc. At 8am it's off to paint but while painting I make and return phone calls for church, plan and rehearse the sermon, book bands, reply to emails on my phone, etc. I also occasionally take lunch meetings. I generally work until 5...no quitting time...as a contractor you work until you are finished...then it's home to eat, shower, try to play barbies without falling asleep...work out, read, return email...watch some tube...pass out.

Thursday Night: On Thursday night I finalize the sermon for the week. Occasionally I will have to do some additional work on Friday night or early Saturday morning If I am late getting the lyrics from the bands... For the past two Series Josiah has been doing all the graphics which has taken a TREMENDOUS load off me in the sermon prep department (and they look much better also) I generally start at 10pm and work until after midnight putting the PowerPoint, music, announcements and my sermon stuff together... The rest of "study" and planning is done while painting.

That's my schedule...yours may be busier...I certainly would not want mine to be!

Random acts of blogging...

First- Ten Seconds of Hail on our deck on Saturday afternoon...dang, I have never seen it come down like that...

This guy from church (link) wants to give away a refrigerator...do you need one? It seems like a good deal for the "vintage" orange soda included alone... Thanks Rich

Reagan has been watching this movie every night for about a week... I know it's August but it still makes me laugh...

Happy Birthday Reagan!

I can't believe my little princess is turning five today. Being Reagan's "Daddy" is truly the best thing that has ever happened to me. Happy Birthday birdie...

Reagan loves to Dance and Sing at actionkidz...apparently she is doing the "Elaine Dance" in this photo...(see below) She definitely got her beauty from her mommy and her "dancing ability" from me!

"Rest"

Sorry for the ugly foot picture but I wanted to remind myself of something I did yesterday afternoon. I read a novel... Not a "leadership" book... Not a book about church planting or church growth... a detective novel. Completely "pointless"...something I need to do more often. Ironically I read the novel in our sun room that we built to relax in on beautiful "sunny"summer days just like yesterday...the sun room I hardly ever enter...

What about you? Do you feel "guilty" about being unproductive when you relax? Are there things you have purchased to enjoy with your family and never have a chance to use because you're too "busy"? Why is "Resting" so hard to do?

2 On the seventh day God had finished his work of creation, so he rested from all his work. 3 And God blessed the seventh day and declared it holy, because it was the day when he rested from all his work of creation.
Genesis 2:2-3

Adventures in being "Bi"

Relax, I'm talking about being "Bi-vocational" (having two jobs-preacher/painter) Here's what I am working on right now.

1. Looking at some awesome new graphics Josiah is creating for the upcoming series "at the movies" (July) Check out the new Blog header he just cranked out! Sweeet Huh? Thank you Josiah...I dub thee" emporer of all things creative" at actionchurch.
2. Finalizing Plans for the Funeral for Josh and Dwans daughter Syndell Rose Althoff today...I want so badly to lend some comfort to this family...but I feel really helpless to come up with any words that will help. Please pray for all of us.
3. Still working on putting Sunday's Baptism Sermon "to bed" I usually am "finished" by Friday...I think I am having difficulty "finishing" it because I am preoccupied with the funeral...
4. Still have a 3 bedroom townhouse to paint this afternoon and tomorrow...hopefully everything will go smoothly...that's how we pay the bills.
5. I need to pick a final movie for July 27th so that we can get the "at the movies" invite cards printed next week...I'm not sure yet.
6. Also need to finish the "baptismal trough" so we have something baptize people in
7. Praying/Trusting that it will all come together...it always does somehow.

So that's a little peek inside my head...In the past I would have said that I had a "third job" of being a husband and father... I don't think so anymore. Instead I now believe that Michele and Reagan are the "glue" that actually holds my life together and makes it worth doing all this other stuff...thanks girlz!

Storms in "Real Life"...

I preached on Sunday that "storms happen"... no matter who you are. This morning I got a call that I thought would be a joyous one. Even though Josh and Dwan were actually there at church yesterday I knew that today was the day they were planning to induce labor. When Josh called I was expecting him to announce the birth of their new daughter...instead he told me that the doctors could no longer find a heartbeat...that their daughter would be still born.

Michele and I were able to spend a few minutes with them today in the labor room. I wish I could say we had great words of comfort or wisdom to share...we just shared our broken heart and our prayers for them.

If you know Josh and Dwan, please let them know they are loved, supported, and prayed for... If you don't, maybe we could send up prayers and sympathies for their loss in the comment section and I can send them a link later.

I don't claim for a moment to understand or speak for God but our heart breaks for this couple...
I heard this song on the way to the hospital and it seemed to say it pretty well...

Happy Birthday to Michele..

I don't have to tell anyone that Michele is the "glue" that holds our family, actionchurch, and my entire "universe" together. I know this is an "old man" thing to say (maybe it's because we just watched the "Bucket List") but it doesn't seem that long ago that she was 21 and absolutely the most beautiful "older woman" I had ever seen...at 41 I still feel the same way.

So happy birthday Michele, I love you...and without you I would be "dead in days"...

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!

Names for Sunday...

Here are the names that will be displayed Sunday. It's amazing to think that in our 12 week old church there are so many people who have felt the affect of cancer in our lives. These names are our family, our friends, our neighbors...

In Memory of:

Don Eaton

Ervin Eaton

Thomas Eaton

Romain Eaton

Wendy Gangwer

Susan Gladfelter

Rev. Keith Grams

Jay Hermans

Nedra Imerst

Mel Kindred

Marvin Kindred

Judy Kraft
Lori Klinedinst

John Landis

Emily McCleary

Richard Searl

In Support of:

Cora Beyer

Merlyn Caites

Donna Eakins

Jim Hulin

Elrose Hunt

Cheyne Main

Ester Yost

Donna Waters

In Honor of:

Steve Eaton

Gloria Ensminger

Fred Klinedinst

Lisa Moore

Marc Pypaert

Sunday we will pray for those families who have lost those they love, celebrate survivors, and pray for strength for those who fight on . We will hear great stories. We will laugh. Most importantly we will learn how everyone can put their compassion into action and actually make a difference in our community. ...and of course, because we are actionchurch, we will have a lot of fun doing it...that's how we "roll".

Jesus is alive- for "eber"

Reagan (she's not sleeping sitting up...she just blinked) has been putting on "Jesus Plays" with her Mr. Potato heads in my office. (Jesus is the one with the purple shoes and the green hat.) Her "theology" may not be exact but she certainly captures the spirit of Easter.

In Reagan's "version" Jesus dies, the angel gives him "pink milk" and he comes to life again. The angel then announces to the world, "I've got good news and bad news... Jesus is alive for "eber"...but we'll have to "glue" his nose back on". I don't think Michele and I have laughed so hard or been so proud of our baby in a long time.

In case your wondering... the Easter Bunny is there during the "play" but he really doesn't have anything to do with the story...kind of like in real life.



Disclaimer for the "critics": The "theology" expressed in the above post is not endorsed by Don Record or actionchurch...It is from the imagination of a 4 year old. actionchurch or Don Record do not believe or teach that Jesus was revived with "pink milk" or wore a green hat. Your mileage may vary. Do not induce vomiting. Objects may be closer than they appear.

Spring is coming!

Yesterday
Two weeks ago...

Yesterday felt like spring! Reagan and I were able to spend some time in the back yard yesterday afternoon flying kites and playing "hit and run" with her convertible.... (This may be teaching her some horrible driving "habits" but nothing makes her laugh more than chasing me around the yard in her car...) It was so stinkin' sweet just to be outside and enjoy the sunshine.

I am so glad I serve a God who created "seasons"! Just when you think winter will never end he gives us a reminder that spring is just around the corner! Just when you think the "dark and cold" seasons of your life will never end God reminds you that Spring is coming. It has been so encouraging after a couple of really tough weeks to see so many people responding by volunteering their time, talents, and resources to keep the dream of actionchurch alive and growing. It reminds me that a time of "spring" growth is just around the corner!

For everyone in a "dark and cold" place...I know it seems like it will never end. I wish I had better words to encourage you.... I do know who created the seasons...I know spring and summer follow winter...I know morning always comes even after the darkest night.

Okay, those are starting to sound like cliche's even to me...I'll just pray for a "spring-like" moment to remind you that God cares and is in control.

He (God) changes the times and seasons of the year. He takes away the power of kings and gives their power to new kings. He gives wisdom to those who are wise and knowledge to those who understand. Daniel 2:21

A little romance....

Some people call me the space cowboy, yeah

Some call me the gangster of love

Some people call me maurice

Cause I speak of the pompitous of love

-Steve Miller (The Joker)

...just a little romantic poetry from Mr. Miller for everyone celebrating Valentines day with their sweetheart. The first time I took Michele out on the dance floor on our very first date it was to AC/DC "Shook me all night long" so I guess that's "our song". I'm just sayin'...

2.09.08

I'm feeling a little deja vu this morning... My friend Matt is in town for the the actionchurch launch , and I'm tying up a few tiny details, but basically I'm relaxing and waiting for tomorrow...

It reminds me of 2.09.90...exactly 18 years ago. I was pretending to tie up last minute details (In reality Michele did all the planning-some things never change). I had butterflies in my stomach and no idea what was going to happen, but I was looking forward with everything in me to marrying Michele the next day.

Regrets? I've got a few...I regret that haircut... I regret buying that stupid BMW...(I couldn't afford it and it always broke down) but I will never regret marrying Michele! I had no ideas the highs and lows we would experience, but I love her more today than then...I think she might actually be hotter today too...(she hates when I say that).

18 years later Michele and I and all the actionchurch crew are starting out on a brand new adventure...I have no idea what will happen, what highs and lows we will experience...but I know that after tomorrow things will never be the same...