You are the light (house) of the world!

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I keep hearing the term “non-essential businesses” or “non-essential” workers.  I THINK that the next few weeks will prove those “non-essential” folks to be JUST THE OPPOSITE as we realize how much their absence means to our lives and economy.   I KNOW that there are no “non-essential” Christians.  Not a single light (house) shining hope, faith, and the calm that comes from trusting in Jesus into the storm we call 2020 is non-essential.  Jesus said it this way-

14 “You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden. 15 Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. 16 In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.-  Jesus

(Matthew 5:14-16) NLT

This is absolutely your time to SHINE…

Love God.  Love People.  Take action.

 

Psalm 91 (NLT)

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1 Those who live in the shelter of the Most High
will find rest in the shadow of the Almighty.
2 This I declare about the Lord:
He alone is my refuge, my place of safety;
he is my God, and I trust him.
3 For he will rescue you from every trap
and protect you from deadly disease.
4 He will cover you with his feathers.
He will shelter you with his wings.
His faithful promises are your armor and protection.
5 Do not be afraid of the terrors of the night,
nor the arrow that flies in the day.
6 Do not dread the disease that stalks in darkness,
nor the disaster that strikes at midday.
7 Though a thousand fall at your side,
though ten thousand are dying around you,
these evils will not touch you.
8 Just open your eyes,
and see how the wicked are punished.
9 If you make the Lord your refuge,
if you make the Most High your shelter,
10 no evil will conquer you;
no plague will come near your home.
11 For he will order his angels
to protect you wherever you go.
12 They will hold you up with their hands
so you won’t even hurt your foot on a stone.
13 You will trample upon lions and cobras;
you will crush fierce lions and serpents under your feet!
14 The Lord says, “I will rescue those who love me.
I will protect those who trust in my name.
15 When they call on me, I will answer;
I will be with them in trouble.
I will rescue and honor them.
16 I will reward them with a long life
and give them my salvation.”

What on earth are you doing?

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Sometimes I feel like I need a pre-recorded message to play over, and over and over at my house.  If you have kids….well – you know.  Boy moms, take heart; it does get a little better.  A little.
But, seriously – what are you doing?  You.  Yes – you.
Actionchurch has a problem – just like at my house, but for polar opposite reasons.  When I ask my kids – “What are you doing? – it’s always because they are doing something they aren’t supposed to be doing.  When I ask the same question at actionchurch – “what are you doing?” it’s because we aren’t doing something we are supposed to be doing.
Go ahead.  Read it again.  I know it’s hard to follow.  But – I’m just pointing out a fact.  We aren’t the church we used to be.  And I don’t think we’re doing what we are supposed to be doing.
We’ve grown.
We’ve moved.
We fellowship.  We worship. We learn……all good things.
But, something just isn’t on-brand.  If you’ve been with us for a while….”You see it, right?”  Strictly IMO – what is missing is our enthusiasm for serving.  Where did the church go that could pack a movie theater with donations for a missionary?  Where are the people that took up an entire football field at Relay for Life?  What are  we doing?
Have we become complacent?
Have we made it too easy?
Are we resting on our laurels and enjoying the benefits?
Folks – the needs have not changed.  We have.  The opportunities to serve have not gone away.  We have.  This is a wake-up call – myself included.  We used to be the “little church that could” as we gave back to our community in big, big ways.  I don’t want to be the little church that faded away.
We have the perfect opportunity to get our groove back on as we move into our WEEK OF ACTION.  I know we still have it in us.  I know we can make our logo proud.  If even one cog in the machine stops moving the whole assembly line suffers.  Get your cog in gear (see what I did there 😀 ) and figure out how you fit into our brand.
I AM ACTIONCHURCH isn’t just a nifty knock off of Ironman…..it is who we are.  Own it.
Love God.  Love people.  Take action – isn’t just a slogan – It’s Jesus’ instructions to his disciples.  Let’s not just say it.  Let’s live it

Now

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“I wanna be your hands.  I wanna be your feet.  I’ll go where you send me.”  Audio Adrenaline retro Sunday song – thank you “The Go-Round” ….. at least the Ghost Buster’s theme is now out of my head!
Over the years some of you have had the opportunity through mission trips to help some very desperate people in need.  Your feet have taken you to places like New York and New Jersey, Texas and Louisiana….some of you have even served people in other countries.  Your hands have shoveled muck, hammered nails and held another hand in prayer.  My heart swells every time I hear the stories of the lives that you have touched in Jesus’ name.
NOW – think about Google Earth and the cool way you feel like you’re falling right into the map when you type an address.  Zoom in with me…..right to our own backyard – Downtown York City Pennsylvania.  Open your ears as you hear the stories of elderly people showering with a garden hose.  Open your eyes when you read about the middle-aged double amputee who tried to function without a first floor bathroom – for a year!  Let God open your heart as you move your hands and feet by sacrificing a day to serve someone in need.
NOW – REJOICE to hear the answer to prayer.  CHEER with delight to see the love pouring out of volunteers as they meet the needs of the poorest of the poor.  CELEBRATE how God can move among us when we gather in his name to serve others.  “Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord.”  Romans 12:11
HOW? – Actually – its as simple as a willingness to serve.  Being the hands and feet of Jesus means we serve the needs of others first.  We go where others won’t go.  We reach out to the unreachable.  We love the unloved ….just like Jesus loved us – the un-lovable.  “This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you.”  John 15:12
NOW – make your hands hit the keyboard and email to find out how you can help during the WEEK OF ACTION in York City.  Many opportunities exist right here in our neighborhood for your feet to take you places that will make a difference in someone’s life.  YOU could be the catalyst for change.  YOU could be the reason someone accepts Jesus into their lives.
Be His hands.  Be His feet.  Don’t talk about Loving God, Loving People and taking action – JUST DO IT! (Disclaimer:  sorry Nike – a registered trademark…blahblahblah.)
“Dear children, let us not love with words or tongue, but with actions and in truth.”  1 John 3:18

Sacrifice

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“Do not neglect to do good and to share what you have, for such sacrifices are pleasing to God.”  Hebrews 13:16
Sacrifice – often times in the old testament, had an entirely different connotation than what comes to mind when we talk about sacrifice today.  Open virtually any book of the old testament and it seems like the ancient Israelites were always setting something on fire – or butchering something on an alter….everything from doves to bulls and rams – as a sacrifice to God.
But – when Jesus started to teach in the new testament, sacrifice started to be a little more personal.  sacrifice wasn’t just about a bird or an unblemished lamb every now and then….it was about total surrender of self.  It was about loving God so much that you would forego ANYTHING and EVERYTHING.  Jesus himself loved so deeply that he gave the ultimate sacrifice.  He died – a horrible death – on the cross….for unlovely sinners – like me.
“For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.”  Mark 10:45
Death on the cross for Jesus and eternal life for us. AND – as if THAT wasn’t enough to forfeit – Jesus’ ENTIRE life was about serving others.  Sacrifice – in its truest form – isn’t just about giving; or even about giving everything up.  Sacrifice is about serving others – not being self-serving.  Sacrifice is about loving others – more than ourselves.
Just a little over a week until our official DAY OF ACTION and I have a very important question for each of you – “What are you willing to sacrifice for a neighbor in need?”
It’s a personal question.
It’s a brutal question.
It’s a question that I sincerely hope you pray about.
And when you have the answer I hope that you take the leap of faith and make that sacrifice willingly…..and like King David with a humble spirit and a repentant heart.  And most importantly – sacrifice lovingly ….and not because I nagged you to give something up to serve others.
If this blog touched a nerve (or worked on your nerves) so much that you want to slaughter a bull and bring it to me Sunday…..I’ll see that it is put to good use.  But if the blog touched your heart and you want to sacrifice in a way that shows that you “Love God, Love people and take action” email us for serving opportunities and donation lists.
“And if I give all my possessions to feed the poor, and if I surrender my body to be burned, but do not have love, it profits me nothing.”  1 Corinthians 13:3