I just read Don Record's blog from Action Church. He talks about how starting a church is more like pushing an old time plane off a cliff to get it started than like initiating a space journey.

It reminds me of the movie, Apollo 13. "Houston, we have a problem" has been spoken and the team in Houston is trying to figure out what to do.

"Forget the flight plan. From this moment on we are improvising a new mission." Then the leader turns on the overhead projector (remember those?) and it doesn't work. He pushes it away and says, "How do we get our people home?" Then they kick around an idea to use the LEM, which was to get them onto the surface of the moon, to bring them home.

A designer of the LEM says, "We can't make any guarantees. We designed the LEM to land on the moon." The leader of the team responds "I don't care what anything was designed to do. I care what it can do."

So design away Don and actionchurch team. That is wise. But be ready to reconfigure, jettison unneeded baggage, and hold on for the ride of your life!

And have a great time in the process! God is with you!

Technology is amazing. YouTube and GodTube and other video places online are great ways to be able to learn and be touched. Yesterday I saw other people's videos which moved me and created a song and video of my own. I posted it here and you will still find it below (along with the lyrics to this song). Today I created a new video of the song with pictures instead of me just sitting there singing. So many ways to reach the world, or at least part of it.

The creative and "new thing" part of me has really been enjoying the collaboration at Friendship Community Church with Action Church

Friendship Community Church began 17 years ago with a dream to reach people for Jesus who didn't feel like they fit in more traditional churches. Now we enjoy a unique relationship with Don Record and Action Church who are so committed to reaching people that they are meeting at Fat Daddy's, a nightclub on the east side of York, PA.

God brought Dennis Hall and I together with Don while at a church conference in downtown Washington, D.C. It was definitely a God thing. Now we are growing as we are stretched to be part of this new "church" in a bar that will reach people that we can't.

Meanwhile we have lots more people to reach in Dover, PA. There are people all around the world who need to come "home" to a loving Father. So I wrote this song that you'll hear on this You Tube clip. Pretty boring in terms of the video look, just me sitting in front of the camera, but listen to the words...and come home to the Father. (The lyrics are posted below the video.)



COME HOME TO THE FATHER
By Rich Thornton

Bruised, discouraged and lost forever
Hope was gone, life obscene
Dreams discarded and going nowhere
Hungry, tired, gettin’ mean

Dreamin’ now of the Father
Rememberin’ being His child
Could He ever forgive you
After you’ve gone so wild

You have fallen so far you’re broken,
Scarred and bruised, all alone
Now you’re reaching in desperation
For some way to get home

Come home to the Father
By the way of the Son
Come home to the Father
No matter what you have done

Though you’re weak He will make you strong
Pick you up when you’re down
Celebrate that His child has come back
That the lost has been found

“Come Home to the Father” by Rich Thornton, Copyright 2008 Rich Thornton

Here are more pictures of actionchurch. If you don't have a church to attend and you are in the York area, you should consider this new church starting on the east side at Fat Daddy's. Loud, lively music and people who want to be in action for God.

Things are getting exciting for actionchurch, a new church getting ready for its grand opening in the city of York, PA. The grand opening is Feb. 10, 11 a.m., at Fat Daddy's in York. Check this video out and pray for, volunteer, and/or attend this new expression of God's love to the world. Taking it to the streets to serve and gathering together to worship weekly...a new beginning to reach people for Jesus.

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