What on earth are you doing?

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


“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

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

The Mom Squad

“Jesus said, “Let the little children come to me ,and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these.”  Matthew 19:14

 

Come one!  Come all!  EVERYONE has a role to play in our upcoming DAY OF ACTION!  This includes moms…..who are usually the ones who get up before everyone else and are the last ones to bed.  Moms have their hands full of toddlers and their calendars overflowing with commitments.  BUT – moms are also some of the most dedicated, over-achieving, “give until it hurts” people I know.

Case in point:  I got a message from one of our young moms who told me that there are several action-mommas that want to be a part of our Day of Action – but have young children who come first…..Well – obviously the kids come first!  But that doesn’t mean the moms can’t participate.  Let’s get creative and think outside the box.

Moms with teens:

Bring them along!  Servants is one of those organizations that I love working with because of their flexibility.  We believe that families that serve others together learn compassion and empathy…..AND they might even learn some new hands-on skills.  Heck!  We had the Burr girls laying roofing shingles before they were out of middle school!!  Kids can paint, they can sand railings, they can help with landscaping or even inside chores like cleaning areas that might be harder for older or disabled homeowners to reach.  The teens could even offer to babysit some of our actionkidz to give our younger moms an opportunity to serve without carrying a diaper bag!  There are so many opportunities I can’t even begin to list them all.

Moms with elementary age kids:

Same as above…..just more one on one supervision.  Kids at this age would be perfect for washing cars, organizing tools, sweeping, raking, cleaning basements/garages – At this age they LOVE being a part of projects that benefit other people.  If you can’t make it to the job site – you can make cards for the homeowners or decorate the lunch bags that the crew packs their lunches in…..anything to make the volunteers and the homeowners feel loved and appreciated.

Moms with wee ones:

Even the teeny tiniest can come along for the ride.  Most toddlers and babes fall asleep as soon as they hit the car seat.  What if you volunteered to go to the job sites in your air-conditioned car and make sure they have plenty of ice and beverages?  You and your toddlers could surprise the crews with frosty freeze pops on a hot day.  Most older people I know LOVE to hold babies.  What if you were the person who just sat and talked to the homeowner and left them coo over your baby?

Working Moms:

Each evening during the week the volunteers return to Logos Academy for dinner.  Could you make a casserole or provide a dessert?  Would you have time to do the dishes or  clean up after dinner?  How about going in early and prepping for breakfast before you go to work.  You could offer to help Alisha return phone calls or order supplies.

Moms with grown kids and empty nests:

What if you all got together and offered to play with the actionkidz during the day so that our younger moms could actually be a part of the job site crews!  Wouldn’t that be an amazing way to love on our mommas?  AND you could glitter and glue in an airconditioned room while feeding the kids LOTS of snacks!!  Now THAT is a volunteer position with some perks!

 

I am so thrilled that we have moms who are eager and willing to add more to their already hectic, crazy busy lives.  I am so proud of them for wanting to demonstrate by example to their children how to love God and love others by taking action. WAY TO BE – Mom Squad!!

“She opens her arms to the poor and extends her hands to the needy.”  Proverbs 31:20

Getting to Know You

“Let us be concerned for one another, to help one another to show love and to do good.”  Hebrews 10:24

One of the things – (in a long list of “things”) – that I love about working with Servants is their work ethic.  I remember the leader on our first assignment telling us to put our hammer down and interact with the homeowner – FIRST.  Get to know them – listen to their stories – pray with them.  At the time it seemed kind of counterproductive to me.  I was always the roll up your sleeves, grab your hammer and don’t stop swinging until the sun goes down kind of gal.

But what I came to realize is that at the end of the day…..more importantly – at the end of our lives – it won’t matter how quickly that roof got fixed.  But it will matter whether our hearts are fixed.  Our real goal as we go out into the community together is not necessarily to fix the physical needs, but rather to address the spiritual needs THROUGH our acts of love and kindness.

God commanded us in Deuteronomy to address the needs of the poor.  Jesus repeated the fact that there will always be someone in need.  And as followers of Christ we must address those needs…..whatever they may be.

“If among you, one of your brothers should become poor, in any of your towns within your land that the Lord your God is giving you, you shall not harden your heart or shut your hand against your poor brother, but you shall open your hand to him and lend him sufficient for his need, whatever it may be. For the poor you will always have with you in the land.  Therefore, I command you, you shall open wide your hand to your brother, to the needy and to the poor in your land.”  Deuteronomy 15:7-11

Servants and actionchurch’s main goal through EVERYTHING that we do is to love people.  Our love reflects Christ’s love.  The people that we are going to serve definitely have physical needs – bathrooms without working plumbing, leaking roofs, rotting foundations.  But often, they need a friend, willing to listen. They need a loving, compassionate person willing to pray with them.  They need someone to show them that they are loved, cared for and cherished – not only by us, but by God himself.

In the early “church” Jesus’s  disciples carried out his commandments literally – and –  there were NO needy persons.  Poverty was eradicated among them!  Can you even imagine a world like that?  How could that possibly be?

There was no one in the group who was in need.  Those who owned fields or houses would sell them, bring the money received from the sale, and hand it over to the apostles; and the money was distributed to each one according to his need. “  Acts 4:34-35

THAT’S how it can be.

Are you willing to open your hand?  Are you willing to get to know your neighbors in need? Are you willing to be a part of something bigger than yourself?

“Then I said, “Here I am, to do your will, O God…..”Hebrews 10:7