// BLOG
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.
Special Delivery
May 29, 2010
So today after our outreach, 4 of us gathered behind our truck at the Willows to pray. As we are praying we hear the noise of a vehicle approaching us. As I lift my head up I notice it’s a U.S. Mail truck pulling up to where we are standing. We begin to drop our hands and the “mail lady”, Judy, says ”oh don’t stop praying, I would like to join you.” So Judy joined us in a circle of prayer…. And I might add Judy gave Lauren an inspirational message on life. The U.S. Mail had a special delivery. It was truly God at work.
So my vision is seeing people in the community around us coming together in circles of prayer. Complete strangers coming together as a branch of the body. – DP
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.
Kiss Dayton Servant Evangelism Fun
January 28, 2009
Kiss Dayton! Servant Evangelism
A couple of years ago I went to the gym on one of my usual gym days. (My wife tells me it’s a good thing.)
When I arrived I asked the receptionist, ‘Have you been kissed today?’ She smiled and said, ‘Nope, not today.’ I then gave her a pack said, ‘Well you’ve just been kissed.’ She laughed and exclaimed, ‘You’re from the Vineyard right?’ I replied, ‘Yep. We are kissing people all over the city this week.’
On Valentines Day we’ll head out to a couple of strip malls near the Vineyard. We take the packs of kisses, and several buckets of carnations. We pop into the businesses and head to the customer service desk and ask, ‘How many ladies are working today?’
We then count out the flowers and Hershey packs…and say, ‘We are from the Vineyard and you’ve just been kissed.’
Usually some of the other assistants are around and join in the exchange. Often, a male worker will ask for a carnation for his girlfriend or wife. Some guys say, ‘Thanks for the reminder.’
Most people are open, curious, laugh and catch the vibe.
One Vineyard group went to a high end Spa/Hair place, all of the working ladies gathered to receive their flower. ‘Who are you guys? Others exclaim, ‘This is so cool.’ Or sigh, ‘This will be my only present today.’
Flowers and kisses were also handed out to the ladies who were becoming beautiful-er.
One of the team noticed one of the ladies getting her hair cut didn’t receive a flower. So being the sensitive, thinking person she is, made an extra special effort to find another team grab a flower and run back to the shop…when she gave the lady the flower, the surprised and delighted lady exclaimed, ‘You’ve just made my day! Thank you.’
Really? Made her day? Makes me wonder what one of her days looks like? Makes me wonder if she was ever loved, or had a caring boy friend, or had husband, or is now connected to an uncaring guy?
What’s in a gift of a small flower and a pack of kisses?
I think serving others in a fun, creative way sends an upbeat message to the people in our stressed out world.
Serving others often is a small action that sends a signal that says, ‘Hey, someone cares for you.’ The action preformed with genuine love somehow touches the heart.
My friend Scott, said, ‘Agape love revealed… my love is demonstrated as I serve others through the choices I make, and by the actions I take.’
Process for Kiss Dayton:
4 weeks out: have connect cards printed (www.marketplaceprinting)
4 weeks out: order Hershey Kisses (snacc foods Cincinnati)
4 weeks out: order 4”X4” zip bags (BGR bags West Chester OH)
4 weeks out: order boxes of Carnations for pick up (Cleveland Plants and Flowers Dayton)
2 weeks out: have kids or teens pack the bags
Week of: have packs placed at all exits
Valentine Day Outreach
3 days out: pick up flowers, cut stems and place in buckets of water so they will be open on the day
3 days out: design maps with instructions and contact phone numbers
3 days out: make name tags
3 days out: gather Kiss packs and place in a larger bag or container
Day of Valentines Day Outreach
Gather at 10am
Give Instructions: go to shops, go to check out or customer service, ask, How many ladies are working today, count out Kisses packs and flowers give to workers, Say, ‘We’re from the Vineyard and you’ve just been kissed.’ Also, be open to need and pray with people if *God space is created.
Divide up into teams Load up and head out.
After project head to Caribou Coffee, or Starbucks for download and great java.
