Shamwow & the Holy Spirit?!
June 9, 2010
My values are like a Shamwow. You know, the famous “as seen on T.V.” piece of cloth that can dry off an entire boat. There are many imitators, which if used, can lead to disappointment. But the real thing, now that’s something special!
My values, much like the Vineyard movement’s, are like the story of the Shamwow because the movement is all about making the mysterious real. It’s our expectation that people would experience the supernatural presence of God like Paul describes in 1 Corinthians 2:4-5 when he says “I did not come to speak with wise and persuasive words, but with a demonstration of the spirit and power.” You see, the Shamwow took off because of an infomercial – Some crazy guy demonstrating the unreal power of this tiny piece of multi-fiber cloth. Something caught America’s attention. Similarly, the Holy Spirit catches our attention and when we yield to Him, he uses us to do something special.
In our consumer driven society cost influences perceived value. If the Shamwow had stopped the infomercial before addressing price, the experience would not have been complete. It wouldn’t have been the success that it is today. People would have thought that something this special is only for those who could afford it or those who just really like to clean. But it wasn’t. The Shamwow wasn’t just for the elites; it was favorably priced for all people at just $19.99. But God one-upped QVC and the Spike TV Saturday morning infomercials. God covered the cost and gave the “Shamwow” away for free so that everyone could experience its power.
Vineyard aligns with my values in that there is a shared belief that Christianity isn’t just for the “Religious Winners”. We believe “everyone can play”. Jesus told Peter “come follow me”. He didn’t apply spiritual measures. Jesus didn’t say “follow me if you have it all together.” You see, we’re not just some ordinary towel that still leaves a mess and can’t dry up the water. We’re something different, something special – we’re a Shamwow. We are able to reach all people because we’ve equipped ourselves to influence people where they are at, and bring them along for the ride.
When I played football at the University of Cincinnati, I would talk to guys about the faith element of their lives and they’d say “I’ll wait till I get right first.” God didn’t call us with strings attached; He wants us all to participate in what he has in store for us. Many people oftentimes feel that they have to be something first. But God wants us to be who we are and who we are created to be. Some people were created to use the Shamwow for drying cars, some for boats and some for simple household chores where a paper towel would suffice. This story is only made real when we are able to share the Gospel, the undiluted Gospel, in practical and relevant ways that reach people who are considered “the missing”.
Vineyard Community Church has scripted on its building “Small things done with great love can change the world.” There is no value greater than loving God and loving His people. Agape love is not about rules or requirements. It’s not based upon expectations or conditions. It is about incorporating love and the leading of the Holy Spirit into everyday life so that real evangelism is based upon being available.
My football history taught me something priceless: success on the field was about community, a shared vision and values despite the wide variety of differences from race, religion, economics or even education. The Vineyard movement embraces these championship values where God doesn’t call the equipped, He equips the called. While no team is perfect, I want to be on a team that embraces the championship mindset and the Vineyard movement has that mindset.
- Chris Flores, Vineyard Cincinnati leader
GO!
June 8, 2010
Go and find the lost. Go serve those who society leaves behind. Go beyond your comfort zone and your own borders. Go and not just talk about, but truly demonstrate, Christ. To the lost. The sick. The broken. The weary. The tired. The one who keeps wanting but is never fulfilled.
“Go!” Boldly and with compassion.
Growing up in a UCC church in a small town it always struck me as odd that we would gather in our Sunday best in the church to sing antiquated songs with lyrics like “doth thou thath wrought” and I remember telling my grandpa as we were leaving one Sunday how I didn’t feel any different or know any more walking out of that church than when I walked in. That feeling of sameness bothered me greatly because I had learned early on in Sunday school about a compassionate and powerful Jesus who healed the sick, comforted the grieving and brought people back from death, but yet, this church it didn’t feel “alive” at all. Something was very wrong here. I knew in my heart there had to be more than this. No, this couldn’t be it. To walk in the doors every Sunday at 10:15, smile at the people, parrot some phrases with the congregation, sing some songs and try to stay awake during the sermon while daydreaming which NFL teams were playing on TV later that day.
My world shifted in 2000 when I came upon the Vineyard in Cincinnati. It was an early fall Saturday and I had been using The Vineyard parking lot as a shortcut to get to work. New in town, I was looking for a new church to join and decided if I was going to use their parking lot, I could at least see what they had to offer. To my shock and amazement, when I walked through the doors they had a huge “ServeFest” going on with at least a dozen outreaches, everything from a Coke outreach to a free car wash to a nursing home visitation, even a bathroom cleaning outreach. All to serve the people outside the church walls to let them know God loves them. It was incredible. This…this is what I had been looking for all my life. This is what I knew Jesus would be about today. This was “Go!”
So how does that snippet of my life fit into the Vineyard core mission? I hope it dovetails nicely. To reach out to people who are broken and heading down the wrong road at a breakneck speed stop so they can experience God to find a more fulfilling, peaceful path. To team up with those who used to want for only for themselves, but now want to serve in the name of something greater than self. To “Go!” and serve in the name of Christ.
Someone once said, “Christianity at its simplest form is one beggar telling another beggar where to find bread”. And through the history of the Vineyard movement and at VCC that’s what we’re all about. Now for sure, with a membership as large as VCC, there are people all over the spectrum in regards of serving. But it’s the culture of service and slipping on the dusty sandals of Christ for even a moment to a stranger, a co-worker or the cashier at a Taco Bell, it’s a force of a million light touches of love to demonstrate to people, sometimes on the worst day of their life, that there is a God, He is alive and well, and He loves you so much he would rather go to Hell alone than to be in Heaven without you.
“Go!” It’s the key core value that started with the Vineyard back from its inception and still holds true today. And it’s not just a suggestion from Christ, but a command, “Go and make fishers of men!” It’s pretty much what drives me to help lead with the LA La Viña outreach and when volunteering for Breathe or any of the other programs VCC puts on to reach out to the lost and serve those who live on “the fringe”.
And the best part is I can leave from any service or outreach at VCC and know I am changed, that I have learned something to put into practice that coming week and the weeks to come. And walk out with an attitude that’s focused on Christ so I can do what He asked us all to do in his name. ”Go!”
- Brian G.
Right Place, Right Time
February 3, 2009
Dear Dave,
I have been attending the Vineyard for about a year and a half. I can’t even begin to express the difference the church and the amazing people who are part of it have made in my life. I found VCC through a friend shortly after the end of my second marriage, following a couple of very long years living with an alcoholic.
One of the biggest changes that I have seen in myself is that I have stopped spending so much time thinking about me. I have gotten involved with several of the serving opportunities that VCC offers, but I kept waiting for that chance for God to use me to make a difference. I read your book and would talk with other people who had been in a situation where they were able to pay for someone else’s meal, help them carry-in their groceries…you know what I mean, but I never seemed to be in the right place at the right time.
Last week, my sister and I were on our way to Good Sam Hospital to visit our mother who was having some heart problems. My sister was driving and needed to stop for gas. I was sitting in the passenger seat while she was out pumping the gas when a beat-up old “boat” of a car pulled in next to us. I glanced out my window and noticed that there were blankets and pillows piled on one side of the backseat. I watched a woman get out of the driver’s seat and go in to the gas station/convenience store. After a few minutes, she came storming out ranting about them not allowing her to pay for her gas the way she wanted, that she didn’t want to pump the gas first, that she was broke and how was she supposed to pay for the gas, etc. Her language may have been just a bit more colorful.
I sat there for a minute thinking that I was a little uncomfortable with the hostility that the woman had displayed, but also feeling sympathetic to her situation. I have certainly been there before! When my sister got back in the car, I knew that I couldn’t just let her drive away and leave this woman to deal with her situation without doing anything, so I asked her to hold on a second.
All I had in my wallet was a $10 dollar bill, but I grabbed it and told my sister I would be right back. I got out of the car and walked over to the woman just as she was bending over to put the nozzle into her car and reached out my hand. She hadn’t seen me coming and I could tell by her jump that I had startled her. I smiled and put the money into her hand and told her that I couldn’t help but overhear, and that I had been there, too. I told her that God loves her, wished His blessings on her and got back into my sister’s car.
I don’t know if that $10 made any difference, but I did see a smile cross her face before we pulled away.
I thanked God for putting me in the right place, at the right time, and I just wanted to thank you for inspiring in me the courage to step out of my comfort zone to follow His lead.
K. B.
Christ in Action
November 18, 2008
Just wanted to let you know about some great news that could have only been pulled off by our God, our Christ Jesus and man, was it awesome!
During LA La Viña, an outreach which reaches out to the Hispanic poor in our community, one of the families we serve had one sole immediate need – three kids under the age of 10 in need of beds. The mother, who works very hard couldn’t afford beds for her children and it wrecked her to the core. For her kids to sleep on the aged carpet and warmed only by thread-bare blankets…well, how would it make you feel?
But here’s how God shows up: Two people, who’d never been on that outreach felt they “needed” to see what it was all about Saturday morning and when the mother’s needs were known, each one had a missing component – one had a toddler bed, the other a twin bed for two. And another first-timer had sheets and pillows for the twin bed.
And while the mother was embarrassed to tell us her family’s needs, the people who had the items were bursting with excitement, joy and were more than ready to help. (I think there was a suppressed high five floating about the room amidst the tears of joy.)
So today, twelve people, most of us strangers, regrouped again after meeting each other for the first time yesterday, to go back over to deliver two beds and bedding for three kids who’d been sleeping on matted, worn out carpet for over a year.
And that….that…is Christ in action, kids. Princess bedding for the girls. Batman bedding for the little boy.
And let me say, this is not about a good deed, or about a “warm and fuzzy” at the end of the day, it’s all about Christ in action. Period. And how He puts the right people in the right places in the right time to help three little amigos in others path just to so He can say, “Sleep well tonight…for you..are a child of God.”
So to Kimberly, Jennie and Railey. “Jesus te ama.”
And we do too.
Serving the Vote
November 4, 2008
Just another average day of voting and serving in our town of Mason.
Emily and I were standing in line at a church in Mason at 6:30 waiting to vote. It was pretty chilly inside the church too. After about 40 mins we made it to the table where the volunteers were working and they were talking about how cold it was in the church. Someone said something about Starbucks and one of the workers said she wished she had gone to get a coffee before she came to work.
I wish I could have opened up the café that was there in the great room of the church seeing that I have a “degree in coffee making on the hospitality team” J I could’ve whipped up some lattes in a hurry to help warm them up. Well of course couldn’t do that…
After I got done voting and walked out of the church maybe that little voice just said… this is Byron’s New English translation cause I don’t remember exactly what the thought was J “hey Byron, go to Starbucks and pick up some hot chocolate and coffees for these folks to warm up and thank them for what they are doing as volunteers”.
Couldn’t ignore that thought… so I drove to the Tylersville Starbucks where if you wore the I voted sticker you get 10% off your drink. Well I actually got 12 coffees and hot chocolates for the volunteers. I think my drink (13th) was actually free today… how cool!
Of course I had some VCC serving cards in my car just for occasions like this. And wouldn’t you know there were exactly 12 cards left in my car, one for each cup of drink.
So I took the drinks back to the church and let the 2 table leaders know that I got hot chocolate and coffees for them and thanked them for what they are doing.
Don’t know what they thought or how they reacted… but they will know that God was a part of their day in a little hot drink sort of a way…
Thanks for what ya’ll do and how you lead our church! It’s a blessing and a blast to be a part of the mission!!
Blessings
Byron
Scout’s honor
October 28, 2008
As I was coming out of IGA store I saw the girl scouts selling cookies. I am a diabetic so I cannot eat sugar. As I politely said no thank you, I got to my car and heard the Lord instruct me to go back and buy the cookies. I sat in my car saying loudly “but Lord you know I cannot eat them? “ He said “did I say you were to eat them? I said then what do I do with them?” Immediatly My precious Lord showed me a way to witness His love in a greater way I have ever known.
As I approached the Girl scouts and their Leader again, I asked How many of you know My Jesus? With such excitement they all started chattering I know Him I Know Him. I asked them How many Boxes of cookies do you have left? They counted them all up and told me how many. Well I said Jesus is going to buy all of your cookies today How about that? They all began to become so excited. I said now after paying for them all, Jesus wants to know that you know Him and Love Him .
So what your going to do for Him is give the cookies away from Jesus today with great love and enthusiasm. They all started to scream yes that will be so fun. I left the stand and the Leader ran after me and said what Is your name, we have a website and I have to put this on our website. I told her I cannot give you my name but feel free to let your readers know that The Lord stopped by today to buy Girl Scout cookies. She hugged me and as I was driving away what a thrill it was to see these young girls passing out their cookies in our Fathers name. Thank you for hearing my story
In His Service
Love Connie Ciccone
A lifestyle choice
October 28, 2008
The historic storm that just rolled through Cincinnati in September damaged a large oak tree on our property. The tree is estimated to be around 100-125 years old and as you can imagine quite large. Just two days ago we had it removed because it posed a significant risk to our house along with the neighbors. The crew arrived with a pot of hot coffee waiting for them. It was a cool morning and they seemed to enjoy this unexpected warmth as they prepared the equipment. Once the crane went skyward and the saw blades fired up the neighbors came flooding out. It was a great experience as many of the neighbors stood outside talking with each other (there’s an idea) while they watched the crane at work. Many of these interactions were new. My wife baked dozens of cookies for the crew as they broke for lunch. More significant than even that was the opportunity for a half dozen of the neighborhood kids to sit in the crane and help the operator hoist the climbers. The fun those kids had taking pictures and videos; they had a blast. Also, the neighbor at the end of the street heats his home with a wood burning stove. LIGHTBULB! He is now able to enjoy at least a whole winter’s worth of oak for his stove. All for free. Consequently, dropping these massive logs in the neighbors front lawn also served the tree service as they did not have to take 4-5 trips dumping the huge chunks of trunk in addition to paying to have those burly pieces disposed of.
The point I’d like to make is that this service project was a community event. It seems to me that all involved were both served and serving. The serving opportunities weren’t altogether planned but spontaneous displays of practical needs being met. Serving is a lifestyle choice not a program in which to participate.
-Randy Henson
Cheesecake Grace
September 24, 2008
The “lottery ticket” I drew at church last weekend instructed me to tip my server 30% or more. I wasn’t sure at first how this was going to work because I had just started taking the Financial Peace University class and had created a strict budget for myself which did not allow for eating out.
While trying to think of another outreach activity I could do instead, I received a call from my best friend in Columbus inviting me to go out to eat with her and her friends for her birthday. Well, I couldn’t pass down a birthday dinner for my best friend! So I agreed.
When I arrived at the restaurant, I excitedly explained to my best friend and all of her 16 guests about how our church is going through the Outward Focused Life series, showed them my “lottery ticket” and explained how I was going to use it tonight and tip the server 30% or more.
No sooner did I share this news than the fun began. To begin, the restaurant had trouble accomodating our large group and we ended up waiting over 2 hours for a table! By the time we were sat, it was past 9pm (we had carefully planned the dinner for 7pm) and we were all starving and a bit cranky. Then enters the waitress.
For lack of a better explanation, our waitress was one of those “blunt-on-the-edge-of-being-rude” types who made sarcastic jokes that no one at the table seemed to get. She proceeded to take all of our orders, then about 15 minutes later, when we were hungrily expecting our food, came back to the table and explained that her bad day had just gotten worse because someone had accidently thrown away her ticket with all of our orders. She seemed more preoccupied with telling us in colorful terms how much she hated the person that threw away the order than apologizing to us for the (again) delay. We then went down the loooong table again, telling her our orders for the second time. After this ordeal, we made a point to let the waitress know that it was our friend’s birthday (we knew that she would get a free cheesecake — and would probably need it after waiting so long!). I explained to the waitress that my friend’s name was “Milena”, pronounced “Meelena”. The waitress stared at me blankly, then slowly looked at my friend and said, “Is that seriously your name?” We laughed nervously as my friend explained that her parents were from Eastern Europe. The waitress just shook her head and walked away. Finally our food came, and shortly after (as the restaurant was getting close to closing), our waitress brought out a group of less than enthused waiters & waitresses to sing to my friend. The waitress then stumbed over her words as she tried to remember my friend’s name. “Today is..Mmm..Ma..Maku’s birthday,” she announced to the other waitors. “Milena,” my friend corrected. “Yeah, whatever,” the waitress replied, with a wry smile. They half-heartedly sang happy birthday to my friend and then the waitress asked if anyone would like to order cheesecake. We looked at each other, a little confused — didn’t the birthday girl get free cheesecake? Apparently not tonight! After the waitress walked away, the people at our table murmured about how rude the waitress was.
My friend leaned over and said jokingly, “You still gonna tip her that 30%?” In that moment, I realized the purpose behind our “outward focused assignments.” If our waitress had done an excellent job, she would have thought not much of the extraordinary tip, thinking she must have done an extraordinary job. But because of the number of mistakes and rude jokes she had made that night, she would HAVE to realize the tip was an act of grace. As I shared this reasoning with my friend, I was reminded of Jesus’ story in the Bible about the debtors that were forgiven — and how the one with the bigger debt was far more thankful for God’s amazing act of grace than the one whose small debt was also forgiven. Looking back, I saw God’s hand over my “lottery ticket” of an outreach that night, and how He had carefully orchestrated the situation so that His grace could best be known.
More than the Lottery
September 19, 2008
I liked what was on the lottery card I chose on Sunday, but I also knew the idea was to just get us out there doing and thinking. Dave challenged us to make up our own as well.
My husband and I each bought a copy of Dave’s book and I was using my “lottery ticket” as a bookmark. I ended up finishing the book by candlelight over the next two nights during The Great Hurricane of 2008. My husband hadn’t started reading his copy yet (slacker), so I decided we didn’t need two copies after all. One idea led to another and I ended up going back to the bookstore to buy an armload full of more books, and posting a giveaway on my blog.
My little blog was set up to share random thoughts, stories, and pictures – mostly because all of my family and several old friends live four hours away. I would have guessed I maybe had three people reading it! I wrote about the book and then offered a free copy to any reader who wanted one. I received an email today from a totally random stranger in Pennsylvania who found my blog somehow and was interested in reading the book. So I’m putting Dave’s book in the mail today and it will be off to Debbie in Pennsylvania and there’s no telling where it could go from there.
God is so cool.
Julee
God wins
September 18, 2008
You are NOT going to believe this one!!! I was passing out cards at the 10 o’clock celebration yesterday, and remembered to take one myself. I scratched it off, and it said,”Do your neighbor’s” yardwork.” Well, I didn’t really get all excited about that one, and when I mentioned it to someone else (who shall remain nameless), he said he didn’t like his much either, so we traded. I know, that wasn’t the idea. He gave me his “Tip your server more than 30%” card, and I gave him my yardwork card. Barb, Carolyn, and I went to Frisch’s for lunch after service, and I did tip more than 30% and left the attached card. “There, I’m done already” I thought.
Well, as you know, Sunday afternoon was a wild and woolly one in Cincinnati, and in our neighborhood in Fairfield. I saw my neighbor’s tree two doors down crack and fall into the street, so I went to help him pull it off the street. Then we decided to cut it up and leave it at the curb. As we were doing that, another neighbor’s tree cracked in half in the wind, and another neighbor joined in to help us. We saw more trees coming down, when it suddenly hit me. I was “Doing my neighbors’ yard work” just as my original card had said. Well, eventually, we ended up felling about 12 trees that had split in various neighbors’ yards, and we had a crew of about 10 neighbors and three chain saws working on this project. And everyone got to hear my story of what happens when you try to side-step God.
Dave, we have lived in this neighborhood for 12 years, and this is the most incredible neighbor experience we have ever had. God blessed me by giving me the opportunity to do his will even though I resisted at first. This is just the latest example of this in my life. If I could just learn to say “Yes” the first time when God calls!
Well, you know how that goes. Thanks for preaching just the message I needed to hear and providing the opportunity for my neighbors and me to connect on a whole new level. God is so awesome!
Don
