Tuesday, June 30th, 2009
I recently un-subscribed from a pastor’s blog that “sold” itself as a ”free source of church planting advice and ideas for pastors”. What it actually turned into was a constant infomercial for books, seminars, and coaching services. Any “free” content or information was just a “lure” to get you to sign up for the paid services… BLEAH.
One thing I really want to guard against as actionchurch grows…as our financial costs rise…is becoming “about” fundraising instead of continuing to provide a free service and allowing people to donate if they find it valuable enough to continue. If people did not chose to voluntarily give their hard earned cash each week actionchurch simply would not exist. We trust people to “vote with their wallet” and “vote with their feet” . If people don’t show up…if the funds aren’t there…we simply cease to exist. Simple.
Thanks to all of you who make actionchurch happen each week. Thanks to all of you that “vote with your wallet”. Thanks to all of you that “vote with your feet”…and even invite your friends. I am so thankful that you all continue to support a “church for people who don’t like church” every week. I just want to make sure we NEVER switch from viewing donations as a necessary requirement to keep operating…to viewing getting donations as the reason we do what we do! I hate being pressured, sold to, and manipulated…and I don’t think I’m the only one. Let’s keep actionchurch “FREE”!
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Monday, June 29th, 2009
We ended the Resistance series with a bang this week. Loved the Chambered version of G-n-R’s “You could be Mine” from Terminator Salvation. If you missed the first five minutes…get there earlier. We talked about the incredibly difficult subject of the “casualties” that happen in our battle with evil. Our enemy Satan will use anything to stop us…Temptation, Discouragement, and Distraction…even distraction by “good’ things. The parable of the sower (Luke 8:4-15) seems at first to be a cute little story about a farmer and some birds…but it packs a hard punch. Not everyone that hears the good news will make it. Not everyone who starts out on the path of following Jesus will last to the end. Some will give up due to the difficulty of the journey. Others will become distracted by the pleasures and possessions that this world offers. Incredibly difficult to think about. Even one person losing their way is “one too many”!
The Highlights:
Between the Terminator clips and Chambered on stage I think we had more “metal” packed into a one hour period than anywhere else on the planet 
Also finished up the “Creation Celebration” in actionkidz. The actionkidz crew are the true unsung heroes of a/c… Truly the best part of Sunday morning happens after the “blast door” goes down on actionkidz.
Thanks Josiah & Ryan for making the keynote and video great yesterday. A year ago I couldn’t even imagine that the stuff we put on the screens yesterday would be possible. Great Job!
As much as I believe that it was very important to talk about the strategies and tricks of our enemy (Satan) I am sooooo glad to be done with this series! I am so ready to study and talk about something a little more “cheerful”.
Speaking of… We announced the new Sunday series for July. During the first 3 weeks of July we will be talking about 3 things that we can absolutely trust God to “handle”. Things we DO NOT have to worry about. Things that we can “Chill” about.
July 26th (week 4) will be a “Chill day” @ the park for actionchurch. We will take the day off from meeting at club 19 and instead meet at John Rudy County park. We will be picnicing , playing, and hanging out together as a church. Stay tuned for details and do not miss it. I am so looking forward to spending a Sunday just hanging out with actionchurch folks! Think of it as a “church picnic”…actionchurch style. God help us not to burn down the park
And yes…July 19th will be “bring your chair to church” Sunday. I’m not sure if I’m more worried that Josiah’splan will not “work”…or whether it actually will. I stand by my statement from Sunday that we must be the “dumbest church in America” for asking people to bring a comfy chair to church that day. Bring a couch and fill it with your friends…bring a beanbag chair…bring a love seat and a “loved one” to sit in it with you. Can’t wait to see what Sunday the 19th looks like. Josiah announced that “if you bring a SECTIONAL sofa, you will definitely win lunch”. Someone thought he said “sexual sofa” and asked me about it later…I DO NOT even want to know what that would be
There will be lots more surprises in store for July. I am truly looking forward to this month @ actionchurch. Stay tuned here…and on Sunday mornings…you will not want to miss a thing.
Thanks as always to everyone that makes actionchurch happen each week. Whether you set up, teardown, invite your friends, donate your cash, or share your talent on Sunday morning…you are absolutely the reason that we have a place to bring our friends on Sunday morning. Thank you all!
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Friday, June 26th, 2009
This isn’t exactly a “breaking news” site but I can’t exactly skip over the fact that Michael Jackson, Farrah Fawcett…and yeah even Ed McMahon passed away this week.
I’ll leave the “moralizing” to the religious folks. I can just see it now…some ”Preacher type” will say “The king of pop met the King of Kings ” in their sermon this week. I guarantee it!
I’ll leave the “I was such a huge fan growing up” thing to others also. Truth is…I was never a fan of MJ. (I was however a HUGE fan of Farrah Fawcett as a pre-teen boy in the 70′s. Don’t think for a moment we watched Charlies Angels for the great plot line…and then there was that poster and t-shirt that every other kid in school had, but my Preachers wife Mom would NOT buy for me. Wow that was creepy.
Here’s the thing that keeps coming to my mind. Pop icons are human…they die…and when they do they take a little piece of our child hood with them. (I hope Cap’n Crunch is healthy!) They are part of our “growing up” experience…but the people that make the MOST impact us are not the “Icons”…not the “superstars”…they are the average, everyday parents, teachers, coaches, and friends that truly impact our lives. We can all do that. We can all make an impact. Everyone of us has the ability to do something that will be missed when we are gone…
What are you doing that people will remember when you are gone?
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