MIM Ezine, September 10, 2008

-- Running A.M.O.K. Using the Arts to the Glory of God: Alpha Omega and the Heart of The Alpha Omega, by Dave Weiss.

-- Book Review: "It’s Possible! Turn Your Dreams into Reality", by Derrick Moore, reviewed by Teena Stewart.

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A HUGE THANKS to all of you who helped us at DBMIM E-Zine reach a huge goal.

This past month we passed 1,000 subscribers. We are averaging 120-160 unique hits every day.

While we hoped in some way we could make a contribution to the Kingdom and to the ministries of many others; we realize it is only by the grace of God and the generosity of many volunteers.

We thank God and you for helping us jump to this milestone. If you find something helpful, tell a friend. If you have a suggestion, tell us. We appreciate your Ministry leadership and want to continue to be one of your many partners.

As my husband and I work on launching our coffee shop ministry, we are looking for community service projects and ways to connect with other local ministries in our area. On Monday we met with the director of a local women’s ministry that serves women coming out of drug addition, sexual abuse and prostitution.

One of their goals is to bring these women to Christ. As they go through their rehabilitation program, one of their requirements is that the women involved must attend a weekly Christian church service. They are free to select a church of their own choosing and transportation is provided. The director expressed a concern though in thatone of her greatest fears was that churches would not accept these women. Already deeply wounded (most have a history of having been sexually abused), any new wounds might permanent damage any hope of a future ongoing relationship with Christ.

Most of the women were rescued from the streets and have obvious rough edges. Many may struggle to stay on the straight and narrow. So by sending the women to local churches, the director worried that she was sending the lambs to the wolves.

One of our hopes is that our coffee shop, once it is launched, will be a safe environment for non-Christians. Often, when we share our vision with Christians, the response we get is, “Oh. That’s wonderful. Christians in the area will have a place to hang out together.” I just smile. They’ve missed the point. Our target is non-Christians; not to create yet another holy huddle. Granted, it will probably happen anyway, but we hope we are different.

All I could think when I sat there listening to the director was what a shame that of all the places these women could turn to, the church is often the one they dread the most because they rarely feel safe. Something is terribly wrong with this concept. So often, we want to clean up people before they enter the church doors. When, in fact, they are the very people we should be trying to reach.

Instead, what if churches partnered with these types of missions to the needy to offer mentoring, discipling, and loving accountability? So, I challenge you to consider your church’s climate. Ask yourself, “How would my church respond to someone like this? Would the person be welcomed, or looked down on? Would we be feeding the lambs to the wolves?”

I invite you to visit the DBMIM blog at http://ministryinmotionnet.blogspot.com/

and chat with us on this topic. Have you known someone who has managed to survive and been helped by yours or another church? Have you observed the impact on someone who is rejected, especially by the people in the church? What difference is your church making, or is it?”

Teena Stewart is married to an ordained minister and is a published author, ministry consultant and coach. Her book, Successful Small Groups from Concept to Practice is available through Beacon Hill, November 2007 or on her small groups page (http://www.ministryinmotion.net/group_bibles_studies.html.) The Stewarts are in the process of starting a coffee shop ministry in North Carolina. (http://www.javajourney.org). Email comments and questions to Teena atSmartwords@embarqmail.com

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Got a bee in your bonnet? Need help in a ministry area? Found a great resource or website? Got a goofy video or link to share. Want to share about your ministry or book? Email us atsmartwords@embarqmail.com. As long as it's ministry-related, we're open. If we like it we might post it on our blog. Visit our blog at http://ministryinmotionnet.blogspot.com/

In the spirit of romance, I thought I might tackle a problem that is plaguing many single, middle-aged guys all over the country who are scratching their heads, wondering why they aren’t attracting the good-looking, younger women that they used to.

This is a tough concept to communicate to men, so I thought I might reveal the answer to this enigma in a way most men can understand — business-speak.

Remember 20 or 30 years ago when you first went on the market (started dating)? This was your IPO (Initial Public Offering) and your stock debuted at an all-time high.

You were a hot commodity and trading was vigorous and steady. Consumers (women-folk) couldn’t get enough of you. You thought the demand would never end but, unfortunately, this was as high as your stock would ever climb.

Yes, my friend, the sad truth is that over the years, the value of your stock has — and I want to put this delicately — well, it’s just plummeted. That’s right. It’s taken a dive off the high board. Tanked. Crashed and burned. Collapsed. Given up the ghost.

How did this happen? Simply put, first inflation set in (weight gain) and then recession ensued (hair loss), resulting in a massive stock devaluation

But do not despair, my bald, chubby, middle-aged buddy, for I bring you good news and great hope. All is not lost, for although you have certainly lost your primary market, there are several markets you might have overlooked, such as:

1] Jail Brides — Guys in prison are always getting married. I know this is true. I saw it on TV. Apparently prisoners are in big demand. This means there has got to be a woman out there somewhere desperate enough to want even you.

All you need to do to get one of these babes is go to jail. The longer your term of imprisonment, the better your chances are of finding the gal of your dreams.

2] Golden Girls — Forget rejection and heartache. Say good-bye to loneliness. The 70-years-plus babes think you’re hot stuff! In a marvelous turn of events, you are now the eye candy! Single chicks in this age category are champing at the bit for a young guy like you (defined as any man without a pacemaker).

Your new golden girlfriend will enjoy showing you off when you visit her at the rest home, and all her friends will absolutely drool over you, or perhaps they will just drool in general. Nevertheless, much drooling will take place when you visit your new girlfriend.

On a typical date, you will engage in romantic activities such as doing crossword puzzles, comparing medications and dozing off in front of the television. What a hoot that will be!

3] Gold Diggers — It’s amazing how much better looking a guy is when he has mega-bucks. Trust me, if Donny Trump worked in the next cubicle and drove an ’84 Escort, he wouldn’t be dating super models.

No, sir, if you want to obtain a whole new attractiveness, go get a billion bucks or so. It’s the most often overlooked makeover.

Let’s face it, it’s tough to find love in this world. Our society is not particularly kind to those of us who don’t look like movie stars.

When you’re tempted to define your self-worth by the world’s standards, remember Ps. 36:7 which says, “How priceless is your unfailing love! Both high and low among men find refuge in the shadow of your wings.” (NIV)

I like that “both high and low among men” part. To me, that means God’s love extends beyond the superficial, and our value to him doesn’t wear out, grow old or lose its hair. Isn’t it good to know that your stock will never lose worth in God’s eyes?

As I wrap us this month’s column, it suddenly occurs to me how fortunate I am to be married. I think we can all agree that, if I weren’t, it’s a certainty I’d be trolling the halls of some nursing home, looking for a golden girlfriend of my own.

© 2007 Charles Marshall. Charles Marshall is a nationally known comedian and author. Visit his Web site atwww.charlesmarshallcomedy.com or contact him via e-mail at charles@charlesmarshallcomedy.com.

Running A.M.O.K. Using the Arts to the Glory of God: Alpha Omega and the Heart of The Alpha Omega

I’m not only an artist, a pastor, a web designer, husband, and father, but most importantly, I am a Christ follower. In addition to my church, I’ve created a web ministry called A.M.O.K. - Arts Ministry Outreach for the Kingdom. I have dedicated a great deal of my ministry to helping people use the arts as a tool to spread the Gospel.

Lately, though I have been involved in something a little different. For a little over three years now, my son Chris has been acting in a community theater group called Alpha Omega players, near where we live in Birdsboro, PA. I know the name may make some of my listeners think it’s a church group, but they’re not. They do the same kinds of musical theater most groups do, some of which would no doubt give my readers pause, but I have to tell you, they do what they do really, really well.

I love this group of people. Of course, in this group, I try to practice what I preach by using my gifts to serve others, so I help out with props and costumes and pretty much anything else they ask and if you have a community theater in your area, I encourage you to do the same. It’s a great way to learn new skills and stretch your abilities, not to mention getting to know some great new people. But that’s not why I am telling this story.

No, I’m telling this story because of the feelings I have so often when I am there. You see as I watch these shows come together, I get a little sad sometimes and the fire and passion in me gets aroused. It’s not because I want to rush in and evangelize the group, though I’d gladly have any of them in my church. No, my sadness is for the church because when I watch my actor friends work I see things that too often we’re missing.

Their director Mark Drey, is one of the most gifted people I have ever met. He’s one of a select few people in this world that I have met that seems to be able to do anything. He has an amazing voice and is a wonderful actor. He not only sets up all the music, builds and paints the sets, he also has been known to volunteer on the sewing machine and make the costumes. He’s a great leader who uses all his gifts and he has a vision for what the show will look like when it’s done.

His standards are very high. He demands excellence from his people but they know they are loved and cared for, and they respond. Those who work with him know that if they follow his vision they will be part of something excellent and beautiful that will not soon be forgotten. A pastor could definitely learn something from this guy.

As I look at the cast and crew, it goes even further. Here are all these people from many walks of life, of all shapes and sizes, working together using their gifts and talents for the sole purpose of telling a great story. There aren’t many sideline players and everyone who sticks around sooner or later gets a job. They find their role, their part to play, some on the stage, some behind the scenes. The producer Kerry once joked with me that it was hard to find a good stage crew at times because sooner or later most of the crew people decide they want to be in the show.

The last thing that always amazes me is that everyone fits. They’re all part of the team and though they would probably bust my hump for saying it this way, they all love each other. They look out for one another, they help each other out and they have a great time together. Oh, they have their spats like everyone else and I’m sure if you dig around you will find some areas where there are differences of opinions, but any time you gather people together, especially passionate people, you’ll have that.

These are people who may not have ever become friends in other walks of life, but when you bring them together, give them a task, and make them part of something bigger than themselves, they really come through. To quote a line from a recent show “We’re all in this together. I’d say they’d make a good family, but in a sense they are already family. I’ll say this even more readily, they’d make a great church.

I mean that’s what I long for as a pastor. A congregation that comes together to tell the greatest story ever told. Where no one sits on the sidelines and everyone finds their role and does it the best they can. They all love and support each other and help each other to be the very best they can be, because they all have a very real sense that what they’re a part of is bigger than themselves. Make no mistake about it, in the church the standards are high (or at least they should be) and there is a script to follow. There are a lot of critics out there looking for the flaws in our performance, but oh, if we tell that beautiful story with reality and authenticity, many people will see it and be moved beyond words.

The Lord has given us a masterful script, a unique setting, and the cast and crew that we need, now we have to tell the story. I guess you could say Alpha Omega is helping me see what the real Alpha and Omega desires of me and it’s quickly becoming a vision on which I will not compromise. I will have to push the cast of characters God gives me beyond what they think they can do to be who they were created to be, hold them to a high standard and love them all the way through. If we do this, together we will be a part of something excellent and beautiful, something that will touch lives, help people and make a real difference in this world, something that will change the way people look at the church and my God for the better, something that people will want to be a part of, something that will not soon be forgotten for all eternity. That’s what I see. How about you?

Dave Weiss is pastor of New Creation Fellowship in Reading, PA, a writer for the youth ministry resource Interlinc. He’s worked in the visual arts in various ways for over 20 years and founded the web resource A.M.O.K. - Arts Ministry Outreach for the Kingdom - as a way of sharing ideas and resources with people who want to use their gifts to serve the Lord. He loves doing workshops and seminars on a variety of topics and often incorporates the arts in his ministry. Dave is married with two wonderful sons. He does a weekly podcast called The Running A.M.O.K. Podcast that is a combination of Bible messages and arts ministry tips and ideas. http://runningamok.mypodcast.com

Derrick Moore discovered that if his dreams of playing in the National Football League were going to become reality, he had to put his faith in the only One who makes miracles happen.

Derrick Moore tells his story of emerging from several small college football programs and a number of setbacks along the way to become a record setting running back for the Carolina Panthers. It is a story of perseverance and faith as he overcame each challenge.

In addition, Moore includes a Bible study with summary points in each chapter. And he uses his own life story to illustrate the teaching of the Bible story.

The book is simply written and easy to follow for a young reader. The Bible teaching is basic Christian doctrine reflecting Moore’s insight from life experience. It could be easily adapted to studies for the individual as well as small groups.

Derrick Moore is currently on staff with the Fellowship of Christian Athletes at the Georgia Institute of Technology. He is in high demand as a motivational speaker and addresses more than 100,000 people annually. He and his wife, Christian-fiction novelist Stephanie Perry Moore, live in Atlanta with their three children.

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DBMIM September 10, 2008

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