Archive for the ‘vision’ Category
Thursday, September 2nd, 2010
I shared Sunday that one of the core values of actionchurch is to be a place that doesn’t “lecture you , bore you, or waste your time” I think of those three values every week as I prepare to speak.
The difficult thing is that all three values are in constant (and I think healthy) tension.
No Lectures: As a society we are over-run with information. Very few of us would willingly choose to attend a lecture on Sunday morning about the history of some long-dead “Bible charactor”. Besides, Bible information without application is just Bible Trivia. However, it’s impossible to share the life-changing principles and stories of Scripture without sharing information.
Don’t Be Boring: I’m pretty sure that making the Bible boring is a sin. It’s filled with the most amazing stories ever written. However, it’s also filled with mind-numbing lists, geneologies, and detailed policies. Because it is set in cultures from thousands of years ago it’s easy to miss it’s relevance for our lives today. On Sunday mornings we attempt every week to tie ancient scripture to things in our lives today. We use music, movies, news events, television clips, and the occasional awkward story from my life.
Don’t waste anyone’s time: No one HAS TO come to church. We don’t live in a society that enforces church attendance (either by legislation or culturally shaming non-attenders). The last thing I want to do on a Sunday morning is to waste the time of someone who has voluntarily chosen to get up and come to church. Here’s where the tension comes in: since we never want to lecture anyone, it would be tempting to not talk about the difficult areas and ideas of Scripture. Since we don’t want to bore anyone it’s tempting to just play an episode of the office and laugh together when we’re not listening to the band. That would be entertaining. However, since I never want to waste anyone’s time I know the most important thing I can do is to share the Good News that God gifts us with in scripture. The biggest “waste of time” I can think of on Sunday morning would be to simply try to entertain everyone without engaging and challenging them to consider the eternally important consequences of missing God’s plan for their life. (Besides, let’s be honest…at it’s most “entertaining”…Church is not exactly going to “compete” with the entertainment options most of us have available to us at home on Sunday morning).
“What if there was a place that would never lecture you, bore you, or waste your time? What if that place turned out to be a Church?”
Those words will always bring “tension” as we plan and prepare for Sunday morning each week…and I think that’s a very healthy thing.
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Thursday, August 26th, 2010
Please continue to pray for God’s favor and guidance this week as we continue to wait for word about the huge “ask” that actionchurch made last week. I don’t have any new information to add…but this morning I was reminded of some “old” information that I thought I’d share…
1. We are moving somewhere. It’s been very clear since last October that our time at club 19 was coming to an end. I am so thankful for the kindness and generosity of the owners for allowing us to stay on this long…that’s the amazing story. But our time is clearly ending very soon.
2. So far every “simple and sensible” solution has failed. I really thought it would be a “breeze” to find a new venue. There are SO many vacant spaces open at good prices. I had no idea that finding a “next size up” venue would be so difficult. (Personally I think the difficulty has been a good thing as it has forced us to rely on God instead of whatever puny resources we have.)
3. We are a church called to action…not to an “eternal” building fund. Venue rental has always been one of our biggest expenses. I don’t expect that with any move that will change. It’s expensive to rent or purchase large commercial spaces. It’s important that we have a place to meet. However, if that is the ONLY reason we meet…if our only call to action each week becomes raising money for some “giant thermometer building fund” we will not be doing what we set out to do. (I am praying that God provides us with a place where MORE people can meet at a cost that is less per-person…so that together we can do MORE to serve others)
4. With God all things are possible. The above three facts don’t seem to go together. In fact, they seem to set up an impossible scenario. I’m fine with that…that gives God a great opportunity to do something “unmistakable”. It gives us the opportunity to learn to obey Gods “whispers” (even when they seem a bit crazy). We have the opportunity to put more of our faith in him…and less in ourselves and “our plans”. That’s what I’m praying for. I hope you will join me.
26 Jesus looked at them intently and said, “Humanly speaking, it is impossible. But with God everything is possible.” Matthew 19:26
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Wednesday, August 4th, 2010
I read a news story this week about the cars that car thieves prefer. It seems that black and silver cars are the most stolen, (with the black Escalade being “number one”) while “odd” colors such as pink are rarely if ever reported stolen. The report concluded that “A bright and uncommon color, like pink, may be as effective deterrent as an expensive security system” I’m pretty sure that would make the above furry pink Ford the most “un-stealable” car on the planet.
So there’s your consumer safety tip of the day. If you want to be protected from having your car stolen, make sure and drive a pink compact instead of a black Escalade or a silver sports car. Head down to your local “Hello Kitty Motors” and purchase their “Purr-fectly pink” Fiesta. You will never experience the pain of auto theft. You will, however, feel the pain of driving a furry pink Ford every day of your life. “Safety” has it’s drawbacks.
…and I’m pretty sure there’s a life lesson in there somewhere.
25 If you try to hang on to your life, you will lose it. But if you give up your life for my sake, you will save it. -Jesus (Matthew 16:25)
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