Theater Church | Blonde Antithesis

Tag Archive for 'theater church'

Seeing the Sunset….

So, I’ve been “down” again….this has been my personal “code” for when my immune system experiences a glitch and I run a weird fever….feel fatigued, glands get swollen - yeah, I know, it’s like I’m 16 again and have come down with Mono from drinking hot chocolate after the wrong classmate…..(Seriously, that really happened!!)

Don’t worry, people who may come into contact with me: I’m not contagious - well, except to myself….but, when I’m like this it’s like my body just says, “Anyone have any infections and/or viruses to share? Anyone? Anyone?”….

and I have FOUR KIDS IN PUBLIC SCHOOL - need I say more…..?

So, anyway, I’m “down” again…..

And I was sitting here thinking, “I would love to blog something uplifting and encouraging…but, I got nothin’”

Then, Byron received a message that said,

“Your church just fed my family this week…I plan to join you Sunday, God bless.”

Then, I received this comment from Zindia on my last blog - (This is just a portion, you can read the whole comment HERE):

“…when I see the sunset now, I think of you, Angie, and see it in a whole
different way. I see the way you look at me when I tell my story and
can not avoid feeling you are honestly caring and touched by it, EVERY
TIME. I appreciate your compassion and your kindness. Thank you for
what you and your husband are doing. Keep up the good work and don’t
let the negativity bring you down. If I can be of any inspiration to
push through it all, I hope I can. My life has been changed by this
movement and there is a lot more to come to me and I believe sincerely
that it is because of what this movement truly is, it is for people
like me and I am proud to say it. I will continue to invite others
because I want to share in my happiness and my new life….Peace!”

And…so, I thought I would encourage others….with my little musings…

But, instead, I had nothing to offer…just quiet…stillness….and right in the middle of that quiet:

YOU ENCOURAGED ME!

All of you. Each one of you who:

Invited a neighbor…even though your days are so full and you’re so weary…still you reached out!
Prayed for a friend in need…or maybe someone you don’t even know that well….still you prayed!
Took food to a stranger…even though times are hard for you as well…still you served!
Shook a hand, hugged a child, changed a diaper, moved a “case” of supplies, pulled a trailer…..even though you had worked all week and Sunday is your one day off….still you worked!
Showed the love of God to someone seeking…desperate - even though you know you don’t have all the answers…..still you loved!

You see, I understand that I get to hear these stories of life-change…I get to receive hugs from people every Sunday who thank me for a church, a place….a movement like C3 Church….

I get to feel the love - but, I understand that it’s because of you: your reaching, your praying, your serving, your working……..your loving! It is because the people of C3….are so…..C3: Connecting the Community with Christ!!

And that lifted me this evening….allowed me to:

SEE THE SUNSET…. picture-106

…and I thank you all!

Peace, peace, peace….

Published

angiebledsoe

on March 26, 2009

in church, faith and love

. 3 Comments

Good Thing…

So, I know I need to blog…not just out of obligation…I really do NEED to blog.

…and I’ve had so many thoughts lately. But, when your husband - prize “fighter”, type-A, first born…English Mastiff of the human world - says, “Oh, yeah well, maybe you should just sleep on that blog…” after you tell him your thoughts, well, you think twice!

So, here I am…thinking twice.

And, that thinking involves a lot of pondering the goodness of God…instead of pondering the stupidity of others…..it’s just that they are both so overwhelming in their abundance!!

I’m so often tempted to want to defend myself…my ministry…my church….the vision of my church….our passion. Especially when I read statements (of the somewhat negative “persuasion”) about our “style” of ministry from others…..

But, instead, I’m trying tonight to remember….yesterday. Sometimes that’s hard for me to do on a Monday…it wouldn’t seem so, since it’s only been 24 hours…but still.

You see, yesterday:

I woke up before the sun to get to C3....the only day of the week that I would be excited to be up so early!
I was greeted at the theater our church calls home by countless volunteers who had arrived much earlier than I - already putting in hours of work by the time I strolled in with my “Starbuck” in hand…
I practiced with the band - songs like “The Time has Come”, “Cannons”, “Sing My Love”……and “Stronger” - none of which are vacant of the majesty and wonder of God…or the person of Jesus Christ. (Look ‘em up!)
I heard Byron preach…from the Word of God - straightforward yet, applicable….and from the Old Testament!!
I watched as lives were changed….8 adults praying to receive Christ as their personal savior.
I saw little children running to go to learn about Jesus…happy….the diversity among them staggering.
I saw a “sea” of Black, White, Asian, Hispanic…a tapestry of colors reflected in the faces.
I witnessed C3 members picking up “Feed the Children” boxes to deliver to families in need - many of these members struggling themselves under the weight of these economic times.
I welcomed other couples into my home for “Community Group”….and heard stories that made me weep.
I sat across from couples who were completely “unchurched” just months ago….listening to them discuss scripture!
I went to bed worn out, but humbled by such a day….to be surrounded by such a people….such a church as C3.
I went to sleep reminded of the awesomeness of God.

And, as I focus on these things….

…as I list them out - and there are so many others from just ONE DAY….

I can’t seem to remember what I was so bent out of shape about….something about the stupidity of….I can’t recall……

Oh well, must not have been that important after all!

Isn’t God great like that?

I guess I just needed to remember…

…good thing He’s more gracious to me than I am to others at times.

Peace.

Published

angiebledsoe

on March 23, 2009

in church, faith, grace and sunday

. 6 Comments

The Remains of the Day…

It was nice to be back at home at C3…

I’m ready to just be “at home” for a little while. This morning was good. Byron spoke about forgiveness…which is also what I heard last Sunday in Nashville - I guess I’ve got some work to do in that area (Ya think?!). It’s definitely a daily struggle, at times.

I sang, “None but Jesus“, and for some reason find it hard to sing that particular song…it’s a bad key for me or something…

But, this morning - especially in the second service - I could hear the people singing along with me (sometimes that’s hard to do in the theaters… the acoustics seem to throw sound the other direction), anyway, I could hear the song of the people and it lifted me somehow…gave me strength to sing a song that my heart loves, but my voice…not so much.

It’s amazing how the energy in the room affects me. I’ve been totally deflated by the room when it’s “cold” and unresponsive, no matter how the music turns out - but, I can be so lifted by feeling the Spirit and knowing people are with me as I worship…even if I’m having a bad day.

My back held out through both services, so that was great. Then, after lunch, I got a short - but deep - nap…one of those where you aren’t sure where you are when you wake up….and no migraines yet today. So, all in all - it’s been a banner Sunday.

It was just great to be back with my peeps again…it’s always good to come home.

C3 is for me….

Thanks to all of you who “invest and invite” to make it all possible…you’ll never know what your sacrifices mean.

Peace to you all.

Published

angiebledsoe

on September 21, 2008

in church, faith, forgiveness, life, music and sunday

. 2 Comments

Happy Wednesday…and a few of my favorite things.

Happy Wednesday! One thing that makes me happy is C3 Sundays at the theaters - exhausted, but happy. Here are some of my favorite pics of the services: