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!
How has your week been? Have you been able to use you "position" in life to help someone? I've heard a couple great stories about people being "action heroes" this week. The first story is very funny but impossible to "tell". Let's just say that our unnamed "action hero" showed hospitality to a young magazine salesman who desperately needed to use the restroom. Hilarity ensued as the "gastricly distressed" salesman proceeded to re-enact the bathroom scene in Dumb and 
Dumber for what seemed like an eternity. Meanwhile our "heroine" was on the phone with her husband who was hovering between calling the police, an ambulance, or rushing home to kick down the bathroom door as the minutes ticked away. In the end (pun intended) everything was okay as a very appreciative and pale salesman did finally emerge from the "facilities."
Millie in Idaho started her story of helping "someone" by asking if it "counted" to help lost animals. She went on to tell about finding two dogs who had escaped from their yard running loose in the street. With the help of her family she was able to capture the dog's, leave a note for their owner, and "dog sit" the animals at her home until the owner could pick them up. It's a great story so I'll let her tell it:
" There was one point in time that I asked myself, "IS this really worth it to help these two tiny creatures? After all, you are tired, hot, not feeling well, on and on goes the scenario. BUT, helping others isn't always "convenient"---usually NEVER convenient! :) I felt God was saying, "How many times have I helped you through difficulties"? Well, needless to say, I DID remember and I KNEW He wanted me to help these little balls of fur!!!!! It's just like us with Him. We are all running all over the place, THINKING we are having a ball, ignoring all of the danger signs!
Those two little guys certainly taught ME a lesson! I was having a really difficult day dealing with "things" and wasn't in any "mood" to be helping others/other things! :) I had been asking God to give me someone I could encourage and help, and look what he sent my way-------------2 fur balls that needed someone to rescue them from their escape from home!!!!! GOOD LESSON IN THIS EXAMPLE!!! God DOES HAVE A SENSE OF HUMOR!!!!
-Millie
Wow, As a pet owner I can just imagine how thankful those dog owners were that someone went so far "out of their way" to help them. Let's let these stories be the inspiration for our next "mission".
Mission #2. Go "out of your way" to help someone. Do something "inconvenient", something "over the top" something "too much" to help someone this week... We would love to hear your story this week in either the comments or at info@actionchurch.com
Reagan helped me wash the cars today. She's been "helping" me since she could barely walk but today she wanted to earn 50 cents to buy some stickers, so it was her first car washing "job". Since she doesn't read this,(she's 4 after all) I can tell you that she isn't really a "help" to me. When she "helps" I usually end up drenched from being sprayed by the hose, and the job takes twice as long. You know what though, I love having her "work" with me!
I think God looks at our efforts as his children to "earn" his blessing or attention much like I look at my daughter's efforts to "earn" money by helping me wash the cars. God can do whatever we can do better and faster without us...but he loves to have us "help" him. So many times we think we are "earning" when he knows we are actually "learning" to be more like him.
Speaking of learning , the picture is of Reagan washing the wheels on her own "ride"... Just like Daddy. That's my girl.
It's no secret around here that I have big hopes and dreams for what God can do in York County. One thing that I really haven't even dared to hope for was any kind of encouragement and support from other churches in the area... Once again I was wrong.
I met yesterday with the staff of Friendship Community Church in Dover. I love when a church "lives up to their name" (ex. actionchurch) and these guys truly do! Their Pastor, Dennis Hall planted the church 15 years ago, and their worship pastor Rich Thornton and family pastor Mike Miller both have church planting experience also. It was so encouraging to see their new building, hear their plans for the future, and the stories from the past of how their church grew for 12 years in the local YMCA. Very inspiring! I have and will learn a lot from these guys.
I actually met Pastor Dennis and Rich in Washington DC, at Buzz conference... I definitely do not think that was an "accident" . So thanks so much guys a great lunch and "showing yourselves friendly". Thanks God for amazing me once again with another "feat of unlimitedness". Sorry Verizon I love my "chocolate" phone ...but God has you beat in that area!
I ran across this verse last night in our family Bible reading.
1. I want to see this movie-seriously. Even the previews make me laugh.
2. Michele is getting this CD set (link) for my birthday-It's the only thing I asked for. I can't wait.
What is wrong with me?
We just reserved a spot for the "big black tent" in the York Fair. We will be located right across from the 105.7 "the X" (link) tent. I'm excited about that...105.7 is my favorite station so at least I know we should have some good tunes playing at the tent.
What we know:
What we're working on:
Why we would even want to attempt this:
Got any answers? Are you part of the "Solution" ? Email me at info@actionchurch.com
Stay tuned for more updates!
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?
Bob (race car owner/driver) and I did a photo shoot with the "actionchurch car" for the York Dispatch today. Here's a couple of pictures Michele snapped. I'll post a link for the article as soon as I find out when it runs. Michele kept calling it a "press conference" which really made me laugh. I could just imagine, "Ladies and gentlemen of the press, we've called you out to this hot parking lot to introduce you to the new sponsors of the Bob Lash Racing #222 car..." 
I've been wanting to post this for a while. Thanks to Granger Community Church (link) for "turning it upside down".
So how was your week? Did you have a chance to use your position to help someone? If you're new to the blog you can "get up to speed" here and here. Did you miss an opportunity to help someone and regret it later? Perhaps you took an opportunity to help someone and regretted it later...I've heard some interesting stories this week.
I can't say that I "regret" taking part in the "mission" this week. It was difficult, but I did learn something that might help all of us on our mission to become "action heroes". I'll spare you the
details but in the "territorial" world of contracting that I work in being "on schedule" makes you "right". I know those standards may seem amazingly high but in "contractor world" just showing up on the day you said you would to do your job makes you "the man". This may be shocking to an "industry outsider" but some contractors don't show up when they say they will. Some (gasp) don't even follow through on promises they make! I ran into just that "rare" sort of contractor this week that was behind schedule and a few bad excuses short of the good graces of the site supervisor. I had a decision to make. I could use my "rightness" and my "position" to kick everyone else out, and get my painting done as scheduled. (That's what the supervisor suggested) Or, I could extend mercy to the "offenders" and work around and with them until they caught back up.
6 Though he (Jesus) was God, he did not demand and cling to his rights as God. 7 He made himself nothing; he took the humble position of a slave and appeared in human form. 8 And in human form he obediently humbled himself even further by dying a criminal's death on a cross. Phillipians 2:6-8
I'm not sure if this will make the York Dispatch article...but it made me laugh! It also gives an insight into how people who are not church attenders view churches.
When asked by the reporter if he thought we (actionchurch) had started a trend, and other Churches in the area might sponsor race cars, Bob (owner/driver) replied: "I don't think so, I'm pretty sure the other churches want my money. I don't see any of them cutting me a check."
Bob and his wife Joan have been so good to us throughout this whole endeavor. I count it a real privilege to be able to sponsor their race team. Besides, I always love working with plain-spoken people who have something to say and the courage to say it!
We went to the "wrap up" meeting for the York Relay for Life last night and I think I learned something valuable about assimilation.
Here's what I noticed last night. This was not my first Relay for Life meeting. In fact we attended a rally or team meeting every month before the relay. I noticed that something felt different last night. I felt like "part of the team". I felt like I "knew" people. It felt more like family last night...so much so that my new "family" felt comfortable making fun of the fact that I can't fill out a form properly to save my life. (Can anyone say-administrator needed?)
So what changed? Relay! One night of serving together for a common cause did more for "assimilation" than all the rallies and meetings. It makes me think that the best way to move someone from "spectator" to "team member" or "family" in church is not to fill their lives with more meetings and classes, but to actually get them out onto the "playing field" of life-serving others, together. It certainly worked for me...
If Vh1 ever does a "40 top Sunday School Songs of all time" countdown, what do you think the Number one song would be? (It could happen, they already counted down the 40 most softsational soft rock songs.) My vote is for "Jesus Loves Me" in the top spot, with "This little Light of Mine" and "Jesus Loves the Little Children" rounding out the top ten. Did I miss any?
I can't imagine any song could beat "Jesus Loves Me" on the countdown. Does anyone in America not know that song...even if they never stepped foot in a Sunday School their whole childhood?
I wonder if "Jesus Loves Me" is so ingrained in the thinking of American church goers that it affects the way we "do" Christianity. I'm not "hatin on" Jesus loves me...It was the first song we taught Reagan...she calls it "The bible so". Although it is always dangerous for me, I'm just thinking out loud.
What if we "did" our lives as Christ-Followers a little less "Jesus Loves Me" and a little more "Jesus loves the little Children of the World"? What if our lives were a little less "They are weak but he is strong" and a little more "This little light of mine, I'm gonna let it shine"? What if the message of the church was a little less "for the Bible tells me so", and a little more "Red and Yellow Black and White, all are precious in his sight"? Would a simple change in focus and attitude change the way we connect with the world around us? I think so.
I think as followers of Jesus we are so sincerely amazed by the things we see God doing that we naturally say stuff like "It was all God" or "It was way beyond anything I could have planned". We do it out of a sincerely thankful heart. I have found myself saying those very words lately as I talked about sponsoring the "actionchurch car". I don't think we should ever stop being thankful or in "awe" of what God does. I'm beginning to think though, that it is not good leadership to "leave out" the details of our preparation as we share our stories. In doing so we allow people to think that serving Jesus is more like playing the lottery, than the hard work that it actually is. It can sound like we just pray and once in a while "our number comes up" and God does amazing things...
busted our butts to be "prepared"! Noah (Evan) could never have "planned" for "his" boat to be guided through the worst flood in history, land on the top of a mountain, and allow him and his immediate family to repopulate the earth! However, there was the little matter of "preparing" by spending about 100 years building the ark! 
We had this "trouble" a couple of years ago also. A bird built a nest in the wreath on our front door. When these little guys hatch the problems really begin. First of all, we can't use our front door...since the door opens inward, when you open the door you are bringing the "bird family" into the house. Secondly, Michele can't change the wreath...I would personally probably still have the "Christmas wreath" on the front door, but according to her "it just isn't done"! Finally, when these little guys hatch they are going to be noisy, demanding, and poop all over our front door! So why do we put up with this "problem"? Because they are alive and I'm not going to toss their little lives in the garbage because it's inconvenient to me!
Our little "bird family" reminds me of all kinds of "new life". Pretty much all forms of "new life" from puppies, to babies, to new followers of Jesus are a lot alike. New life is messy, noisy, inconvenient, and "demanding" of our time and resources. For actionchurch to be a place filled with new followers of Jesus on a consistent basis, we must decide now to be the kind of church that loves "new life". We must love new followers of Jesus even when it gets messy, noisy, and demanding of our resources. We must decide now to never toss lives in the "garbage" because it's inconvenient for us to deal with them.
God, please help us be the kind of church that consistently fosters new life. Fill our hearts with love and our meetings with messy, noisy, "inconvenient" new followers of you...just like the new baby birds you sent to us. Except for the whole pooping on the door thing... Amen
There's a reason that this video was at the top of the countdown for so long... Take the time to watch it (again?). I don't know about you, but even though the video moves me with its accounts of people's actions who single handedly changed history, I can't imagine doing something so "heroic". Each account seems "bigger than life", somehow out of reach.
I am convinced; however, that each of us can change the "history" of someone by simply living out the lifestyle Jesus taught when he walked the earth. Each of us can be "salt and light" to those around us. I believe God's loving nature is best illustrated by the fact that he not only has an amazing eternal plan for those who chose to follow him, but also makes the primary "business" of his followers to improve the lives of those who choose not to follow him....simply amazing.
At actionchurch we believe so much in the power of the "stories" of simple kindness and generosity that we plan to take time each week in our short one hour meeting to tell the stories of our "action heroes". We believe "if it matters, count it!"(link) I've decided to start now! I am amazed at the number of people who chose to gather at this blog each week. I hope each of you will chose to join in our first mission. I hope each of you will report back with your stories in the comments or email (info@actionchurch.com) Please do not feel like you are "bragging" by sharing your stories...you can even be anonymous...its' the Internet after all. No matter where in the country you live I hope you will join in, because I know if you do it will be an amazing experience both for you , and the people you "bless". You were born to be an action hero!
If you haven't read the intro (link) please take time to do so:
Our 1st mission: Use your "position" to help someone (show God's kindness)...with no strings attached.
Soon after David became King of Israel, the bible says he began "wondering if anyone in Saul's family was alive so he could show God's kindness to". Saul was not only the king that preceded him. but the dude who had tried to kill him-for years. In spite of their bad history David used his "position" as king to help one of Saul's descendants... Read the complete story. (link)
How can you use your "position" in life to help someone? Someone you don't know. Someone who might not deserve it. How can you (and I) show "God's kindness" to someone through our "position" God has blessed us with. Each of us have a "position". Stay at home mom, manager, employee, coach, etc...everyone has one. The question is, how can you use that position to show Gods kindness??? I'll get started in the comments with my story. God speed on your mission!
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