Well, I did something that I never thought I'd do - I joined a car-club. But this car club is different. It's about living with less so we can give more.
The club is called: http://www.junkycarclub.com/
The Junky Car Club was established in the spring of 2006 when Mike Foster decided to sell his fully loaded Infiniti G35 sports car to drive a junky 1993 Toyota Camry. As an act of rebellion against consumerism and with the desire to give more to worthy causes, Mike began to enlist his friends and associates to join him in this experiment of driving with less and giving more.
I'm a member (I'm driving a 2000 jeep with 160,000 miles on it)! How about you?
Check it out at: http://www.junkycarclub.com/
Friday, October 31, 2008
The question...
By: Al Whittaker.
It happened again the other day. “The question” came up. The one I never seem to have a satisfactory response to. It came from someone with good intentions – someone who really cares about our church. You know the question. You’ve probably asked it yourself. Sometimes I think I’m the only person at Storehouse who hasn’t asked it. Don’t get me wrong, I’ve spent plenty of time hashing it over. I’ve beaten that horse a few times.
You never know when it’s going to come up. Sometimes it’s over snacks at House Church. Sometimes it’s in the middle of unloading the truck early on a Sunday morning. Sometimes it’s in a phone conversation with someone that’s relatively new to the church. Sometimes it’s at a conference with a group of leaders. It even comes up at our staff meetings every few weeks – and it usually ends up consuming a couple of hours.
“When are we going to have our own building?”
I think I know the answer, but I have decided I am not going to try to give it anymore. I never seem to have a satisfactory response anyway. From now on, I am just going to answer with more questions: Why do you think we need a building? How much do you think it will cost? Where do you think it should be? How big do you think it should be? What do you think the benefit will be? What will we be able to do then that we can’t do now? Consider yourself warned … if you ask me “the question,” I’m firing back.
Usually, when I hear it I get the feeling that maybe we’re not a “real” church. That we haven’t really arrived. Or that we need to “grow up.” Often, it seems to come with a bit of sympathy and an expectation that I will want to commiserate about our situation. I don’t. You see, I don’t think of it as a liability. I think of it as an opportunity.
“But think about all that work we won’t have to do?” they say. What work? Oh, you mean loading and unloading the truck, and setting things up every week. Yeah, you’re right. It is work. But guess what? Buildings come with work, too. Like cleaning bathrooms, taking out the trash, cleaning carpets and cutting grass. And they come with expenses, too. Like leaky roofs, broken air conditioners, clogged sewer lines, light bulbs and toilet paper. Oh, and they sit empty most of the week.
And here’s another piece of news for you – we’re not the only church in America doing this. As a matter of fact, there seems to be a cottage industry of companies springing up doing nothing but servicing “portable churches.” One company alone claims to have served over 1,200 churches, and most of them are meeting in rented school facilities. (Incidentally, according to their marketing materials some churches are spending five to six hours setting up every week. We set up in just over an hour!)
I recently read an article from Relevant Magazine titled “What if church was meant to be something entirely different than what it looks like today?” It asked “Could it be that we have lost the concept of what it means to be the church rather than go to church?” And it said “if you look at the word ‘church’ in the Bible, it’s interesting that it is never used to describe a building or an organization. The word ‘church’ is always used to refer to a gathering, crowd, group, or an assembly of people who believed in this Messiah Jesus. It was a deep-seated community with a purpose.”
Wow. No building required? Maybe we’re onto something here.
BTW, a recent estimate indicated that a building would cost us somewhere around $7 million. At our current rate of growth we would outgrow it before we got it built and on the very first Sunday would have to have two services. And then I would have to get up even earlier … and those who know me know that I don’t like mornings. Now that I will commiserate over.
It happened again the other day. “The question” came up. The one I never seem to have a satisfactory response to. It came from someone with good intentions – someone who really cares about our church. You know the question. You’ve probably asked it yourself. Sometimes I think I’m the only person at Storehouse who hasn’t asked it. Don’t get me wrong, I’ve spent plenty of time hashing it over. I’ve beaten that horse a few times.
You never know when it’s going to come up. Sometimes it’s over snacks at House Church. Sometimes it’s in the middle of unloading the truck early on a Sunday morning. Sometimes it’s in a phone conversation with someone that’s relatively new to the church. Sometimes it’s at a conference with a group of leaders. It even comes up at our staff meetings every few weeks – and it usually ends up consuming a couple of hours.
“When are we going to have our own building?”
I think I know the answer, but I have decided I am not going to try to give it anymore. I never seem to have a satisfactory response anyway. From now on, I am just going to answer with more questions: Why do you think we need a building? How much do you think it will cost? Where do you think it should be? How big do you think it should be? What do you think the benefit will be? What will we be able to do then that we can’t do now? Consider yourself warned … if you ask me “the question,” I’m firing back.
Usually, when I hear it I get the feeling that maybe we’re not a “real” church. That we haven’t really arrived. Or that we need to “grow up.” Often, it seems to come with a bit of sympathy and an expectation that I will want to commiserate about our situation. I don’t. You see, I don’t think of it as a liability. I think of it as an opportunity.
“But think about all that work we won’t have to do?” they say. What work? Oh, you mean loading and unloading the truck, and setting things up every week. Yeah, you’re right. It is work. But guess what? Buildings come with work, too. Like cleaning bathrooms, taking out the trash, cleaning carpets and cutting grass. And they come with expenses, too. Like leaky roofs, broken air conditioners, clogged sewer lines, light bulbs and toilet paper. Oh, and they sit empty most of the week.
And here’s another piece of news for you – we’re not the only church in America doing this. As a matter of fact, there seems to be a cottage industry of companies springing up doing nothing but servicing “portable churches.” One company alone claims to have served over 1,200 churches, and most of them are meeting in rented school facilities. (Incidentally, according to their marketing materials some churches are spending five to six hours setting up every week. We set up in just over an hour!)
I recently read an article from Relevant Magazine titled “What if church was meant to be something entirely different than what it looks like today?” It asked “Could it be that we have lost the concept of what it means to be the church rather than go to church?” And it said “if you look at the word ‘church’ in the Bible, it’s interesting that it is never used to describe a building or an organization. The word ‘church’ is always used to refer to a gathering, crowd, group, or an assembly of people who believed in this Messiah Jesus. It was a deep-seated community with a purpose.”
Wow. No building required? Maybe we’re onto something here.
BTW, a recent estimate indicated that a building would cost us somewhere around $7 million. At our current rate of growth we would outgrow it before we got it built and on the very first Sunday would have to have two services. And then I would have to get up even earlier … and those who know me know that I don’t like mornings. Now that I will commiserate over.
Tuesday, October 7, 2008
Men's Bowling: Oct 26
Connect with the Men of Storehouse while throwing some rocks at Facenda-Whitaker Lanes.
Where: Facenda-Whitaker Lanes
When: 7-9pm on October 26
Cost: $10.95 per person
Sign up: http://www.storehousechurch.com/calendar/?id=2708
Where: Facenda-Whitaker Lanes
When: 7-9pm on October 26
Cost: $10.95 per person
Sign up: http://www.storehousechurch.com/calendar/?id=2708
Go to the Movies - Save your marriage!
FIREPROOF, an action-packed love story from the creators of Facing the Giants, is in theaters right now! This heartfelt movie tells the story of a couple on the brink of divorce... until they discover God's design for their relationship.
Go see this movie. (Theater Listing)
My prayer is that marriages will be strengthened and lives changed with this Christ honoring film.
Go see this movie. (Theater Listing)
My prayer is that marriages will be strengthened and lives changed with this Christ honoring film.
Monday, October 6, 2008
Just in time
Is God not working fast enough for you? Have you been saying the same prayer over and over for days, months, maybe years? Maybe God is working on it in His time.
Steph met Bill at work. She asked him to church, in which he responded with laughter. While most of us might have been deterred, Steph continued to ask him. This was last August-2007. Finally a few months later Bill agreed to come to church with Steph. A few months after that they start praying together. Then Bill decided to come to house church with her. In the spring of this year, he accepted Christ. In August he was baptized.
Steph writes, "My favorite definitions of worship has always been 'worship is whatever you do to tell God that he's worth it and worth all of it, all the time.' God is awesome and powerful and has the ability to change someone's life faster than I would have expected he could."
God is good, all the time. All the time, God is good.
Steph met Bill at work. She asked him to church, in which he responded with laughter. While most of us might have been deterred, Steph continued to ask him. This was last August-2007. Finally a few months later Bill agreed to come to church with Steph. A few months after that they start praying together. Then Bill decided to come to house church with her. In the spring of this year, he accepted Christ. In August he was baptized.
Steph writes, "My favorite definitions of worship has always been 'worship is whatever you do to tell God that he's worth it and worth all of it, all the time.' God is awesome and powerful and has the ability to change someone's life faster than I would have expected he could."
God is good, all the time. All the time, God is good.
Thursday, October 2, 2008
Coffeehouse
Storehouse Church has recently been taking steps to be more involved in our local community and one of the organizations we are looking to partner with is the Hospitality Center in Norristown. The Hospitality Center is a Christian non-profit organization that provides shelter, food, and life skills training to homeless population in Montgomery County. You can learn more about them at www.hospitalitycenter.org
On Oct 25 at The House of Grace Coffeehouse in Royersford is sponsoring a coffeehouse to benefit the Hospitality Center. There is no charge for admission and the procedes for coffee sales will go to the Hospitality Center. Doors are opened from 6:30-9:30 and the music begins at 7:15.
House of Grace is located at Grace Evangelical Lutheran Church, 6th Ave and Main St. in Royersford, PA.
On Oct 25 at The House of Grace Coffeehouse in Royersford is sponsoring a coffeehouse to benefit the Hospitality Center. There is no charge for admission and the procedes for coffee sales will go to the Hospitality Center. Doors are opened from 6:30-9:30 and the music begins at 7:15.
House of Grace is located at Grace Evangelical Lutheran Church, 6th Ave and Main St. in Royersford, PA.
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