actiongroups

Sep 13 2011

“Meshing”

Meshing-  (Machinery). to become or be engaged, as the teeth of one gear with those of another.

It’s probably not something you think of often, but this morning as you head to work in your car, truck, or SUV, you are experiencing the power of gears meshing.  (And, for those of you who have experienced a transmission failure, you can testify that if the gears DON’T mesh…your vehicle will NOT move.  No matter how much you rev the engine).

The idea of gears meshing…engaging with each other and transferring power…was a large part of why we chose a cog to be the logo for actionchurch.  I believe the God’s plan for churches is just that: to transfer his power and love to people when they engage or “mesh” with him and others.

Over the past three years we have seen that principle (if you’ll pardon my pun) in action.  We’ve seen how lives can be changed when ordinary people “mesh” with God and others.   We’ve seen amazing examples of how God’s power can be transferred in very practical ways to very difficult situations through ordinary people. The “big Cog” of actionchurch has grown bigger and is spinning faster.  But that’s just part of the plan…

As actiongroups launch (starting Oct. 2nd) many other smaller “cogs” will begin engaging and “meshing” with God, actionchurch, and their respective communities.  More small groups of ordinary people will do extraordinary things.  More power will be “transferred”.  More of the movement that has begun will gain even more momentum.   Together we’ll create a  more powerful example of what God for people to experience as they live in community as individual followers devoted to him.  It has happened before…

(and yes…If you attended Sunday…I still think this is the “sexiest” passage in the Bible-with or without the Barry White.)  :-)

46 They worshiped together at the Temple each day, met in homes for the Lord’s Supper, and shared their meals with great joy and generosity—47 all the while praising God and enjoying the goodwill of all the people. And each day the Lord added to their fellowship those who were being saved.  (Acts 2:46-47 NLT)

 

By donrecord • actionchurch happenings, actiongroups • 0

Sep 6 2011

Opportunities-not Guarantees.

Sunday I shared one of the most compelling reasons I have for wanting everyone to live in community with other followers of Jesus as part of an actiongroup:  being a member of the actionchurch crew over the last three years.  I never thought that being part of planting a church would change my mind about what it means to be part of a “small group”…but it did…completely.

From the very beginning, forming actiongroups was part of the “plan”.  What we did not plan, was that for the first 18 months actionchurch was an “actiongroup”… a small group focused on praying for and working on a place called actionchurch where we could comfortably invite our friends who were not “church people” to come to church.  As planning and prayer moved into action (which by the way-it ALWAYS should) We launched our first services at Fat Daddys Nightclub and more people gathered with us to make music, create art, teach children, carry heavy things, provide funding, clean bathrooms, make coffee…whatever it took to make our dream of actionchurch come to life.

Somewhere along the way to becoming the well-oiled machine that is the actionchurch crew  (It is simply amazing to think about all they accomplish each week) true “Christian Community” happened.  It happened over coffee, donuts…and a LOT of cigarettes. :-) It happened as heavy items were carried, and sometimes dropped.  It happened over spontaneous lunches and planned celebrations.  It happened at weddings and parties.  It happened during conversations and fervent prayers for mutual and personal disasters.  It happened through laughter, sarcasm, and occasional tears…but one thing is sure…it happened.

I shared Sunday that there have been weeks where the ONLY reason I had the courage and the strength to show up and attempt to do my part on Sunday mornings, was because of my friends and fellow crew members. (Most of whom I had never met before launching actionchurch)   Without their help, encouragement, sarcastic comments, determination, and support, actionchurch would have ceased to exist years ago.  (And we would have all missed out on all of the wonderful things that God is doing each week now!)

That’s my story.  I’ve already deleted half of it and it’s still too long for a blog post, but it’s the reason that I am so convinced that the VERY BEST PART of actionchurch is NOT just coming to Frank Theaters on Sunday mornings and sitting in a comfy red leather seat.   The best part of church happens before and after the music starts and the final prayer.  I want EVERYONE to experience that kind of community each week.

Here’s the thing though, as I was thinking back over the last three years of being part of the crew, I realized that there were many people who were part of the crew for short periods of time.  People who came and went.  People who started with great enthusiasm and then drifted away for various reasons.  I realized as I thought of them that they would NOT have the same feeling of community and “belonging” as I do from being part of the actionchurch crew…the original “actiongroup”.   Somehow…some way…for a variety of very good and legitimate reasons I am sure…they missed being part of it.

I realize this morning that the very best we can hope to offer as we launch actiongroups is opportunities to form community…opportunities to be part of groups that will change your life and create memories and friendships that will last forever.  Each group formed will be an opportunity to use talents you never knew you had…opportunities to develop skills that no one else had noticed…opportunities to be encouraged and pushed to live a life that is somehow “More” than you had imagined-just as I have experienced as part of the actionchurch crew.  The rest is up to you.  The rest depends on signing up, showing up, and opening up.   So many opportunities…no guarantees.

By donrecord • actiongroups, Church at Frank Theaters, church planting • 0

Jul 12 2011

Fishing

 

I was fortunate enough yesterday to spend time on a catwalk overlooking the Susquehanna river fishing for catfish with my son.  I didn’t catch anything.  I tangled my line so badly I had to restring my reel.  It was hot.  My feet got sunburned.  I broke my line and lost a bait and weight rig, and I TOTALLY enjoyed myself!

Seriously, it was a great morning.  I can’t wait to go back. I’m sure that next time I’ll “hook the big one”.

Jesus started his ministry here on earth by recruiting fisherman to join him and urging them to leave their nets to “fish for people”.   There are MANY great analogies that work when it comes to comparing the work of the church with fishing, but here’s what yesterday makes me think  though:   It matters who you fish with.

I had a great time fishing on the river yesterday, not because conditions were great or I had great results… I enjoyed the time spent with my son. Fishing with friends and family can make a “bad day of fishing” a pretty great time!

I am grateful the group of family and friends that I “fish” with at actionchurch.  We’ve had some great “catches” of the last three years.   We’ve had other weeks where everything went wrong…when it seemed that no one was “biting”.  That’s when doing life and church with people you enjoy being around becomes most important…it matters who you fish with.

If you are looking for a group of people to serve God with…a group of people to fish with…a group to spend life Loving God, Loving People, and Taking Action with:  I don’t think you will find better that the crew of actionchurch.

18 One day as Jesus was walking along the shore of the Sea of Galilee, he saw two brothers—Simon, also called Peter, and Andrew—throwing a net into the water, for they fished for a living. 19 Jesus called out to them, “Come, follow me, and I will show you how to fish for people!” 20 And they left their nets at once and followed him.  Matthew 4:18-20

By donrecord • actiongroups, church planting, vision • 1

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