Category Archives: taking action

Wake up!

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“I tell you, he replied, if they keep quiet, the stones will cry out.”   Luke 19:40

It’s 3:00 in the morning and I am wide awake.  Some people assume that this is normal for us older persons – but I always tell my kids I can’t sleep because God wants something from me.  Sometimes it’s because there has been something heavy on my heart that I need to put on God’s shoulders. So, I pray about those things.  God wants my weary burden – and I gladly give it to him.

But on very special occasions the 3:00 a.m. wake-up call is because God has a message for me to relate to anyone willing to listen. Words come into my head that my fingers are supposed to type. But for a while now – I’ve been like the bratty kid with my hands over my ears, shouting “I can’t hear you!”  as my dad is trying to give me instruction.

God has given me the gift of words…. Written words – spoken words – heartfelt words that I am supposed to use to teach and encourage and comfort.  But lately I have been feeling unqualified to use those words.  And not just unqualified – I’ve felt unworthy. I’ve been covering my ears to God’s messages because I was certain that I wasn’t the right person to relate them.

But today’s alarm clock was pretty specific: ( Let me paraphrase ) – “Wake up blockhead!  I have something to say that even a block of rock would be able to relay.”

So – here is the message – don’t hide your light under a basket.  Don’t stifle your calling.  Don’t let The Evil One tell you that you aren’t “good enough” or that you aren’t “good for anything”.  Because the truth is that each of us has been given a true and wonderful gift from God.

“In his grace, God has given us different gifts for doing certain things well.  So, if God has given you the ability to prophesy, speak out with as much faith as God has given you.  If your gift is serving others, serve them well.  If you are a teacher, teach well.  If your gift is to encourage others, be encouraging. If it is giving, give generously. If God has given you leadership ability, take the responsibility seriously.  And if you have a gift for showing kindness to others, do it gladly.” Romans 12:6-8

Sometimes it takes a long time to figure out exactly what our knack is – but we all have one.  I encourage you today to ask God what ability you have and specifically how he wants you to use it.  As Don mentioned, actionchurch is moving forward with a very exciting serving opportunity in July.   Being uncharted territory for us, we are going to need every single one of you to use your gifts and talents to make this project a success.   God will give us the resources and the skill, but it’s up to us to uncover our ears and open our hearts  to receive those gifts and in turn, use them to serve others.

“God has given each of you a gift from his great variety of spiritual gifts.  Use them well to serve one another.”  1 Peter 4:10 (NLT)

Help make this Mothers Day Happier…

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2011-04-29 17.48.06

This Mother’s Day, some moms will spend the day being treated to extra-special things– brunch, macaroni necklaces, a NASCAR-free afternoon. But, some moms will spend their Mother’s Day at Penn State Hershey Children’s Hospital, supporting and caring for their child who is undergoing cancer treatment.

We are collecting small items that will help these moms feel a little pampered while they are staying with their child in the hospital, such as the following:
scented lotions
body wash
Inspirational/poetry cards (like on bookmarks,plastic mugs)
small adult activity books
slippers
soft, fuzzy socks
$5 Starbucks gift cards (extremely desirable)

This is a BIG need to fill on a very SHORT notice! The donations will be collected at church on Mother’s Day, May 8th, and delivered with love to the moms that SAME DAY!

Walking the Walk

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TakingTheField

“Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others. In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus….” Philippians 2:2-5

“Mooommmm! – he’s copying me!” Sound familiar? Telling my kids that imitation is the sincerest form of flattery never really solves the problem in my house. Probably because flattery sounds a little too much like flatulence and that takes the males in my household on an entirely different track.

But, imitating someone really is how we learn. Babies – from the time they are born learn by watching their parents and those around them. Teenagers – Oh!! For sure! Will do what you do – NOT what you say.

So – as we end the Manifesto series with the “Take Action” part of actionchurch’s creed – copying someone is exactly what we should be doing. Like we say here at actionchurch “We aren’t smart enough to make this stuff up! It’s in the bible”. Jesus said it!

“Now that I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also should wash one another’s feet. I have set you an example that you should do as I have done for you. If I then, the Lord and the Teacher, washed your feet, you also should wash one another’s feet. For I gave you an example that you also should do as I did to you.” John 13:12-15

Jesus was talking about feet – but he wasn’t just talking about feet! – Ya know? But being like Christ is hard! I mean – the guy was perfect after all! Geez. Honestly, some days I feel like it’s just too darn lofty of a goal. I fail – when I try to imitate Christ. Because I’m human. And then I feel like a failure. So, while I think that being like Christ should be our ultimate goal – I would also encourage you to start small…..start on a local level….find someone near you who is on the right path – someone who you know is in a right relationship with God and quite literally – mock them.

My mom was one of those people. She took action in small ways – every day. She didn’t just talk the talk in her relationship with Christ. She walked the walk.

If she saw someone who was cold – she didn’t wring her hands and fuss. She didn’t just say, we should pray about this. She went and she found them a coat….and gloves….and a hat.

If mom heard about someone who was hungry – she didn’t wait for an agency, or a group, or the government to help them- she would make a big pot of soup and deliver it to them personally.

So, from now on – when the kids and I come home from a serving event and my butt is dragging, and I get that side to side kind of bow legged walk that I have when I’m dead tire….when my arms are swinging all akimbo….and my husband quips….”you’re walking like your mom- I’m going to take that as a compliment.

“Be imitators of me, just as I also am of Christ.”    1 Corinthians 11:1

Cookie Unswap

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cookie-unswap

If you’ve been to actionchurch, then you know we don’t do anything the “normal” way. So, as we prepare to celebrate our first Christmas in North York, of course we want to share our Christmas joy with our neighbors.  We’re kicking off December with a COOKIE UNSWAP.  Bake and bring your best Christmas cookies to church on Sunday, December 6. Instead of swapping cookies with others, you will be donating cookies to be boxed and delivered to our actionchurch neighbors– nearby businesses, firefighters, and police officers.  Don’t miss out on being a part of celebrating Christmas with our North York neighbors!

Thank You with Sprinkles on Top

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TakingTheField
Each year when Relay for Life ends, we kind of like to wrap up the event with a thank you….just to let everyone know that your efforts were appreciated.
This year I’m finding that “thank you” is easy to say – but gratitude is actually hard to express.
Normally words flow on to the page for me…..it’s almost second nature. Those of you who know me well know that I am NEVER at a loss for words. I like to give my opinion – even if my vote doesn’t count. But my words just don’t seem to be enough this year. Thank you seems mediocre. Thank you seems such a lame way to tell you that you touched lives in ways you can’t even imagine. Thank you is plain vanilla ice cream.
But – what I want to tell you is – the way you demonstrated your love for cancer survivors that you don’t even know – is more like a 12 scoop, hunka-chunka-peanut butter fudge, over the top, banana split, smothered in hot fudge, with extra whipped cream, sprinkles, and – not one – but TWO cherries (Skip the peanuts of you are allergic) sundae.
Other churches are amazed by the fact that EVERYONE at actionchurch gets involved – not just at Relay, but each week at church or in small groups. I can’t tell you the number of conversations I’ve had with friends wanting to know how we do it. They can’t believe that people in their 70’s volunteer in the nursery. Parents I talk to find it hard to believe that our kids and teens serve others in need with such willingness and joy. And they marvel at the fact that we turn out in numbers – mass quantities of people of all ages in actionchurch tshirts – to serve cancer survivors in the muck and rain.
We don’t have a magic formula. There is no secret strategy. It is simply YOU. More and more of you are arriving at these events – ready – willing – and able – to love God, love people and take action.
So – for being YOU – I want to simply say – “THANKS” ….sincerely, genuinely, affectionately …..with utmost gratitude …..deep from the bottom of my heart (insert hot fudge sauce here) – for making Relay 2015 a truly memorable event.
“I have not stopped giving thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers.” Ephesians 1:16