Please lead us in and help us serve to lead everyone in

I hate blogs and Facebook. I mean that I hate to engage in blogs and Facebook-ish stuff about me. I would tell you whatever you ask me, but I don't like to put out everything about me into the randomness.

I think about what 'worship' means to our community and what could be good to share. Since I hate blogging (see above), I received the idea to just talk to God about something and ask for his blessing to our team and community. I can talk to God, because he isn't the random Internet ether, and if no human sees it, I don't care because I was talking to God anyway (:

I want to do this without it actually being a secret message to the readers, confused by a double meaning of being my talk to God.

--
Hi, God. Thanks for listening to me.

Please, teach us all about you. I think we all want to understand how to serve our community and each other. Open up our senses to see ideas that you would like us to join, to love each other and be so happy with you together.

Is there anything else to ask for now? I'm so glad we can have so much fun singing to you, together. Please, talk to us, and we will listen.

I'm glad you are God. It's great that you know me and everyone, so nobody has to feel afraid of anything.
--

Now I'm not talking directly to God. If anyone reads this, here are some other things I think of that seem important to consider as part of being with God together in this way:

• Don't sing words you don't understand or don't mean (:
• Sing or strum to God more than anyone

Yuck, I hate blogs. I feel dirty and I feel like all the semi-funny/silly things I include are like a love letter to myself, saying: "Andy, you are so cool. You are so funny. Hahahaha." :-P

If you looked at this and thought of anyone to talk about actually with me, that would be very nice (: I hate blogging!

I hate it hate it hate it!!! Blech!

Love,
Andy Powers

woooooooooooooo IM blogggging killer man.......

Romans 12 Manifesto!

To complete your assignment, click on the "Comments" link at the end of this post and type your phrases in the comments box.

A manifesto is a public declaration of principles and intentions, so here’s your assignment from the retreat. Read through Romans 12 and practically apply the scripture to our context as the MWA. Write a few phrases that describe the way we want to serve together. Try and make the phrases as “normal, non-Christianese” as possible. Something like this:

Stay in a good mood when “life” happens
Release Heaven’s creativity, don’t be boxed in by what you know
Never be lazy but work hard
Be real, don’t just pretend to love others
Take care of yourself, don’t trash your body the night before you serve


Here’s Romans 12 in the New Living Translation [It’s pretty cool in The Message translation too!]


And so, dear brothers and sisters, I plead with you to give your bodies to God because of all he has done for you. Let them be a living and holy sacrifice—the kind he will find acceptable. This is truly the way to worship him. Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God’s will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect.

Because of the privilege and authority God has given me, I give each of you this warning: Don’t think you are better than you really are. Be honest in your evaluation of yourselves, measuring yourselves by the faith God has given us. Just as our bodies have many parts and each part has a special function, so it is with Christ’s body. We are many parts of one body, and we all belong to each other.

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.

Don’t just pretend to love others. Really love them. Hate what is wrong. Hold tightly to what is good. Love each other with genuine affection, and take delight in honoring each other. Never be lazy, but work hard and serve the Lord enthusiastically. Rejoice in our confident hope. Be patient in trouble, and keep on praying. When God’s people are in need, be ready to help them. Always be eager to practice hospitality.

Bless those who persecute you. Don’t curse them; pray that God will bless them. Be happy with those who are happy, and weep with those who weep. Live in harmony with each other. Don’t be too proud to enjoy the company of ordinary people. And don’t think you know it all!

Never pay back evil with more evil. Do things in such a way that everyone can see you are honorable. Do all that you can to live in peace with everyone.

Dear friends, never take revenge. Leave that to the righteous anger of God. For the Scriptures say, “I will take revenge; I will pay them back,” says the Lord.

Instead, “If your enemies are hungry, feed them. If they are thirsty, give them something to drink. In doing this, you will heap burning coals of shame on their heads.”

Don’t let evil conquer you, but conquer evil by doing good.

Before this past weekend, I had nearly forgotten what it's like to laugh so hard that it hurts. There is something intensely satisfying in ending a day stiff from all the aches associated with unrestrained and continuous laughter. I have so much to be thankful for these days, and unexpectedly being able to participate in the retreat this past weekend gave me yet another reason to rejoice in God's love for us, despite my shallow undeserving heart. I am excited to see what God has in store for the future, and am grateful for new-found friends to stand with.

Nate

tis the season

I love Christmas, and the season that surrounds it! And among the things that have the LEAST to do with it are chestnuts roasting by the open fire (I always felt that those lyrics really excluded those of us that don't even have a fireplace), reindeer (in the city?! Doubtful), and Santa (although I do enjoy busting out a replica of his hat throughout the winter season). No, I love the Christmas season because of the anticipation that's in the air- and for those that have been blessed to receive such rich salvation have the opportunity to be reminded all over again of the lavish love that God pours out on us. And we're also charged with blessed opportunity of spreading it. Which reminds me- anybody wanna help me wrap some gifts at Walmart the week before Christmas? We've done it the past few years. We arrive armed with hot chocolate, tables, a boombox, and lots of wrapping paper and set up camp right outside Walmart's door. It flies right in the face of the "me" focus that Christmas has tragically taken on in our culture.

8 boxes of hot chocolate: $12.31
4 rolls of paper and 2 roles of tape: $9.72
2 bags of lollipops to give the kids: $4.03
The looks on people's face when you offer to wrap their gifts for free- no strings attached- and hot chocolate while they wait: priceless.

So who's in?

december schedule

hey! don't forget to send me any december dates you're not available for worship. the schedule will be posted sometime in the next few days on the right hand column next to the November sched!

unthoughtless as we gather...

So it's Sunday morning. Collin stirs me out of a deep sleep... too early. Just because we lose an hour doesn't mean he sleeps an extra hour (although I sure could!). Roll out of bed, check my cell phone (first things first!), help Collin carry his bowling set downstairs (in reality, just 3 plastic cups and a volleyball). Still in a fog, put on some coffee. Pop in a Veggie Tales for Collin. Soon Kiersten will be up, too..... yes, Sunday mornings- just like every morning- can be busy times.

And in the background of it all, I'm asking God "what it is that YOU have in mind as we gather this morning?" The things that we do every day, or every week, can become so thoughtless. But as we gather with our fellow Christ followers, there is to be nothing thoughtless about it. It feels good to have a morning not on the worship team when I can sleep in a little (emphasis on the little)- but it doesn't mean I should be any less engaged than if I was leading. The body is only the body if each person brings their piece.... so Father, break down my mentality and rebuild it, and teach me to listen for Your voice as we gather. You are WORTH it all!

so fo'real, corrects me if i'm wrong but, me finks like bloggin' is all 'bout expressin' da thoughts that be jivin' in my mind through da intanet n stuff. does you fink we really need tips. NE ways i be sittin' here wif my shoes off ready to to stay awhile and represent. check yoself befo' you wreck yoself cuz dis is whats waving in me cranium today. what is up wit da seattle skyline behind a bunch o' people I aint seen befo'. if ya'll is fwom seattle dats cool but if i am gonna be lending my foughts n stuff to dis ting i want evyone ta know i aints from dat place n don't got no plans to go der- but if ya'll be from lancaster like me, maybe we shoulds be representin' wit a foto from our own hood wit-out hittin up some udder blokes crib. so dats cool if ya'll be fwom seattle and all but if ya aint den dat foto is whacked, and i an jist saying i'm not from der

rejectin' evyting ta do wit chechmology,

g smoke

WELCOME, AMIGOS!

So.... we continue to PRESS ON in all that God has for us in connection with him and each other in worship at ACTS. And a big part of that is increasing and improving our communication. Part of that effort is the development of this blog to help us all stay connected throughout the week!

Although this may be your first time visiting this blog, take your shoes off and stay awhile. This is gonna' become a hub where we can share insights, feedback, share hearts and stories and just have a good 'ol time together. Starting next month, the schedule will also be posted on here in lieu of email... so save it as a fav and stay tuned!

If this is your first time using a blog, or if you struggle like josh in understanding the basic principles... its ok, we are here to help you thru the transition. Aj will be posting some tips later.

learning to blog

i'm sitting here with aj leaman on a chilly october morning drinking coffee and learning how to blog. if you can read this, it means i was successful. which means that aj was successful in teaching me. maybe we both deserve a ribbon. or a pony. or maybe even an ant farm.