Here’s where church is a little different from football.  I DON’T want everyone to come back to church Sunday to WATCH the “game”.   I’m urging everyone to come ON THE FIELD!     God’s “kingdom plan” for the church was never for it to be a spectator sport.  We’re not getting ready to fill the stands…we’re getting ready to run through the players tunnel on Sunday.

I’m (mercifully) out of football references…but please PRAY and “PLAY” with us in this second half of 2010.  God is moving in some seriously amazing ways.  I’ll talk more about the details Sunday, but:

 1.  I don’t want you to miss being part of what is happening at actionchurch. 

2.   In order for us to take advantange of some of the amazing opportunities we have been given, we will need everyone  “on the field”.

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I can still remember the day I snapped this picture.  I had just signed an agreement to rent this barroom with way too many speakers, way too few chairs,  a beer pong table and a giant buddha statue for way more money than we had.  I remember being really excited.   And nauseous.  And scared.  My hands were shaking as I clicked the shutter.

Looking back, I can now see how God “went before us” every step of the way.  I can see how even though we felt we were “behind schedule” and “under resourced” in every way, we were exactly in God’s plan and timeline.  As I look back over the past 2 1/2 years of actionchurch I can see again and again how God prepared solutions for problems before we even encountered them.  I have learned to trust the God who “Goes before”.

If you can’t tell, I’m feeling a little nostalgic this morning.  I’m looking back…because as I look forward I see some amazing obstacles ahead…along with some amazing opportunities for God to show his power and favor.  I can tell you that over the next few days and weeks we will be getting some answers for the big questions about where God is leading us as a church.   I can honestly say that I’m not exactly sure how this is going to turn out.  I wasn’t ”sure” when I snapped the picture above before launching actionchurch…and I’m not “sure”  today.

What I’m counting on is that God has already “gone before” us…that he already has a plan in place that we never could have done on our own.  I’m more worried about missing God’s direction than I am about looking foolish or “being wrong”.   I do NOT want to make the mistake that the people of Israel did in doubting that God would lead them.  They doubted EVEN AFTER seeing God perform amazing miracles while  leading them with a  pillar of cloud during the day, and a pillar of fire at night! 

³² In spite of this, you did not trust in the LORD your God, ³³ who went ahead of you on your journey, in fire by night and in a cloud by day, to search out places for you to camp  and to show you the way you should go.   Deuteronomy 1:32,33

It’s an easy thing  to do.   It’s easy to forget how God has “gone before” in the past when you look into an uncertain future.

Please pray for wisdom and favor for actionchurch.

Please pray that “the God who goes before” would guide us.

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There’s an epic story of  in 1 Kings Chapter 18 about the prophet Elijah challenging 450 priests of Baal to a contest.  Elijah starts the smackdown with an obvious but controversial statement;  “How long will you waver between two opinions? If the LORD is God, follow him; but if Baal is God, follow him.”   The priests of baal agree to a contest pitting their “god” against the ONE TRUE GOD  in a contest.  The rules are simple, the first deity to send down fire from heaven to light their sacrificial alter gets the title and a brand new Maytag washer and dryer.  (Ok, I’m pretty sure the washer and dryer wasn’t included…maybe you should go read the story.)

Being a preachers kid, I’ve heard the story so many times.  It’s amazing.  I love the fact that sometime during the afternoon Elijah begins to taunt the prophets of baal with sarcastic suggestions that maybe the reason that their “god” isn’t answering their prayers is because he is having a particularly long session on the toilet.  Seriously.

In the end, God wins.  I hate to spoil it for you…but that’s pretty much the plot of the entire Bible.   God wins.  Fire comes down from heaven and burns up Elijah’s sacrifice and the prophets of baal get slaughtered as their consolation prize.

Here’s the part of the story that I’d never thought much about before…

³³ He (Elijah)  arranged the wood, cut the bull into pieces and laid it on the wood. Then he said to them, “Fill four large jars with water and pour it on the offering and on the wood.”³⁴ “Do it again,” he said, and they did it again.  ”Do it a third time,” he ordered, and they did it the third time. ³⁵ The water ran down around the altar and even filled the trench.  1 Kings 18:33-35

Sometimes in the middle of asking for God to perform an amazing miracle God allows water to get poured on the wood. Sometimes he even tells us to do it.   I’m not an expert, but I’m pretty sure that makes an impossible situation even more difficult.   If your life depends on a spark coming down the sky to light your fire, I’m pretty sure I would prefer dry wood.  Maybe a little kindling, too.  Perhaps a nice splash of gasoline.  Elijah poured on the water.

Have you ever felt like water just got poured on your wood…like your “impossible” situation that you are praying about just got more “impossible-er”?  (Ok, that’s gonna drive spell check crazy…but I think it sums the situation pretty well.)  Have you ever wondered why God would allow it to happen?

Here’s what I’ve been thinking.  What if “pouring water” is just the prelude to God “showing up and saving the day”?   What if God still prefers to show himself in “wet-wood-high-stakes” situations? 

Don’t give up on your prayers for God to “show up” just because things seem to be getting more difficult.  “Impossible-er” situations just happen to be God’s specialty!

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One of the most difficult things being a Follower of Jesus is learning to trust God even when we can’t see anything “happening”.  I don’t often make suggestions to my Creator, but I’ve been thinking lately that maybe a windows style “progress bar” would be a nice addition to our Faith.  Nothing flashy, just a blinking blue progress bar that lets us know exactly how much “progress” God is making on our requests, and exactly how long we can expect to wait before all our problems are solved would be quite helpful.

Come to think of it, a progress bar would have been really helpful to most of the folks in the Bible as well.  I’m sure Daniel would have liked to have a progress bar to show just how long he would be hanging out with the lions before being released.  Noah definitely could have used a progress bar to make sure his ark construction schedule would meet his apocalyptic deadline.  Job definitely could have used a progress bar.  After tragically losing everything he loved and owned, Job has to wait 38 chapters before God answers his many questions and complaints.  Can you imagine how much easier that process would have been if Job would have had a comforting blue blinking progress bar to watch as he waited for Gods reply?

I’m surprised God never thought of adding a progress bar.  It always makes me feel better when I’m waiting for Windows to perform some task.  The only reason I can think of  that could have caused God to “forget” to include a progress bar with our faith, is that perhaps waiting without knowing what God is doing is THE POINT.   Perhaps our faith is built in the often painful times when we trust God for an answer we cannot see.   Perhaps the waiting times are less about how long God takes to meet our “demands”, and more about how long it takes us to put aside our plans, agenda’s, and simply learning to submit and be part of His-story.

I think I’ll withdraw my “suggestion” for a faith progress bar. I’m pretty sure God didn’t “forget” it at all.  Maybe Job said it best when he God finally replied to his 38 chapters of complaints and “suggestions”…

¹ Then the Lord said to Job,  ² “Do you still want to argue with the Almighty?      You are God’s critic, but do you have the answers?” ³ Then Job replied to the Lord,  ⁴ “I am nothing—how could I ever find the answers?    I will cover my mouth with my hand.  ⁵ I have said too much already.       I have nothing more to say.”  Job 40:1-5   (NLT)

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I learned a couple of things at DQ last night. 

1.  I love electricity.  Love it.  I would hug a power transformer if I didn’t think I would get electrocuted.

2.  The new Dairy Queen Pecan Pie Blizzard is fantastic.

3.  People were very friendly and actually talked to each other in the midst of a common “crisis”.   On a “normal” hot summer evening, a thirty minute wait for ice cream would bring out anything but “friendliness”.  Last night people were talking, laughing, sharing stories and information about their “power situation”.  I think the power blackout broke the ice (no pun intended) for everyone waiting in line at DQ last night.  “Community” happened because most of us shared a common difficulty. 

Chances are everyone in line shared far more common difficulties and trials than having a power outage. As I waited in line it occurred to me, that most of us in line last night probably had someone in our family who had lost their job.  Most of us undoubtedly knew someone fighting cancer.  Not that we’d admit it, but I’m sure most of us in line last night have some sort of concern about our finances.  Most of us probably had someone in our family struggling with addiction.

I wonder why it’s so hard to talk about those “common” problems?   How can we do a better job as a church “laughing with those who laugh, and crying with those who cry”.

Maybe I should go to the Dairy Queen every evening until I get some answers.

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Summer time is “story time”.   At the beach, around the campfire, on the deck with cold drinks and friends, while sitting around the pool at night, summer is a great time to share stories.

During the month of July we’ll be sharing some of our favorite stories from scripture.  I’m excited about that.  There are so many great stories to chose from.  Something struck me this morning though, as I was reading Psalm 145.

 ⁴ Let each generation tell its children of your mighty acts;
      let them proclaim your power.
 ⁵ I will meditate on your majestic, glorious splendor
      and your wonderful miracles.
 ⁶ Your awe-inspiring deeds will be on every tongue;
      I will proclaim your greatness.
 ⁷ Everyone will share the story of your wonderful goodness;
      they will sing with joy about your righteousness.

Psalm 145:4-7

These words made me stop and think.  What stories are we part of TODAY that show God’s amazing power?  It’s great to talk about the miracles and “mighty acts” or God from King Davids time, but what “awe-inspiring deeds” will we tell our children about?

As followers of Christ should we be about TELLING a story…or BEING PART OF a story?   I think the life of King David told in scripture shows us we should do BOTH.

Maybe we should think of ourselves not only as storytellers…but as actors in a play that has been running since the beginning of time…characters not narrators.

What part of the story will you play?

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 ⁴ But Judas Iscariot, the disciple who would soon betray him, said, ⁵ “That perfume was worth a year’s wages. It should have been sold and the money given to the poor.” ⁶ Not that he cared for the poor—he was a thief, and since he was in charge of the disciples’ money, he often stole some for himself.  John 12:4-6

Jesus hired a thief.  Of the 12 men Jesus chose to represent him and run his organization, one of them was a thief.   Now you may say (correctly) that Jesus knew what Judas was up to, and needed him there to fulfill prophecy and betray him…but the fact remains that if you gave money to Jesus’ organization, some of it was going to wind up in Judas’ robe pockets.  (Ok, I’m not 100% sure that they had pockets back then, but otherwise I don’t even want to think where he put his wallet.)

 Nothing makes me angrier than when churches, charities, and other organizations waste or misuse money that is given to them to help others.  I often hear stories from people who are now hesitant to donate, because of waste a fraud they have seen in other organizations.  I want to make sure that no one EVER steals or wastes money that generous people have given to actionchurch! 

Here’s what struck me though, as I read those verses.  There is no “Perfect” organization.  Jesus Christ himself wasn’t surrounded by a perfect organization. There was waste and fraud going on at “Disciples Inc.”   As a church we’re going to try to be wise in what charitable organizations we partner with.  We’ll do our best to investigate and make sure that money and resources we give is used properly.  I think you should do the same in your finances.  I think you should ask questions and check out any organization (including actionchurch) that you trust with your resources.

I don’t think any of us should use the excuse that we don’t serve and give to others because we can’t find the “perfect” organization.   If the one perfect man who ever walked the earth wasn’t surrounded by the perfect organization…it probably isn’t going to exist.

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  I have always thought of Pixar as sort of an “overnight success” as a company.  I remember when their first (and “THE FIRST”) computer animated film,Toy Story came out in 95, it became the highest grossing film of the year.  Not a bad first attempt for a “new company”.  They took a new technology and completely revolutionized the filmaking industry.

 Here’s something I didn’t know about Pixar.  Toy Story came out NINE YEARS after their initial start up.  Until Toy Story,  they never made a profit.  In fact, for five years, one of their most notable early investors; Steve Jobs, LOST over one million dollars A YEAR keeping the dream of Pixar films alive. 

The team at Pixar had the right idea.  They set out to do something no one else had ever seen. They had a vision to tell timeless stories with a new technology.   They persevered and sacrificed in even the most discouraging times, until technology and culture “caught up” with their vision.  Their refusal to quit made them an “overnight success”.

There’s something really inspiring about that…something that makes me more certain than ever that the best days are yet to come for actionchurch.  Now, I just wonder if Steve Jobs would be interested… 

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One of my favorite television shows right now is “Pawn Stars”, the unlikely adventures of a family owned pawn shop in Las Vegas.  Check em out Here on Hulu.

I love the interaction between the Grandfather “Old Man”, Rick  (owner), and son ”Big Hoss”.  I love watching perhaps the WORST employee in the history of small business-”Chumlee”.    

I’ve learned quite a bit from the show…seriously.  Somewhere in the middle of learning how to spot a fake Rolex, and why not to buy a boat-”Bring Out Another Thousand”,  I learned something from the opener that I never want to forget when it comes to actionchurch on Sunday mornings.

At the beginning of each episode the owner Rick Harrison, says these words:

“This is my Pawnshop, Everything in here has a story…and a price.  One thing I’ve learned after 21 years, you never know what is going to come through that door.” 

I never want to forget that everyone who walks through the doors of actionchurch has a story. They are “bought with a price.”   They have Value.  They Matter.  Unlike the guys on Pawn Stars, when we spot a “fake” or a “phony” we don’t turn them away.  Everyone is welcome and excepted.

The reason why I want every week to be powerful at actionchurch is because, as Rick says,  “You never know what is going to come through that door”!

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This month at actionchurch we’ve been exploring the idea that “Religion Gives true and false answers to life’s multiple choice questions.”  On this Tuesday morning, that statement seems more relevant than ever.

So much of Church and Religion is about asking people to check the box that they have “faith in God”.  The real question that so many of us ask though, is “Does faith work?”  Does having faith in God actually change anything?  Will having faith make a difference in our day to day lives?

As I write this, my father in law Phil is being prepped for cancer surgery.  I hope you’ll pray for him, my wife Michele, and our family in general.  We have faith that God is in control…we trust that although this would definitely not be any part of “our plans”…it is part of his plan. 

The question is though, “Does faith work?”.  Will our faith make a difference in this situation?   Obviously, if Faith in God is supposed to be some sort of “magic charm” to protect us from “trouble”- it’s already failed.   During our faith journey as a family, we’ve experienced health troubles, marriage troubles, car troubles,  financial troubles, death, injury, and pretty much every “trouble” except for the plague of Locusts.    So why would we still believe that faith “works”?  Why do we still try to influence as many people as possible that having faith in God is the very best way to live?

Faith works, because even in trouble,  we have peace and hope!  Troubles will come.  The point of faith is choosing who/what you will depend on when troubles come.  Will you depend on luck? Fortune? Yourself?  Chance? Family? Friends?   Or the Creator and keeper of the universe…

 ⁸ We are pressed on every side by troubles, but we are not crushed. We are perplexed, but not driven to despair. ⁹ We are hunted down, but never abandoned by God. We get knocked down, but we are not destroyed.  II Cor. 4:8-9

Faith works.

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