"How to Start A Riot"

I really loved this book! It made me think- stop in my tracks, reread, and chew on pieces of it. Pastor Jon takes a fresh look at the book of Acts and the lives of the early Christians, then compares it to how today's Christians are perceived. While the first Christians were known as the ones who "turned the world upside down," Storment proposes that their modern counterparts are more frequently seen as seeking to maintain the status quo. His book is a challenge to modern day Christ followers to live like Christ and stop using their faith like it's the Home Shopping Network. To realize the riot-causing power the reality of Jesus' resurrection and ascension holds, and live like we actually believe it.

Storment dives into the atmosphere of the Bible to make sense of a culture we tend to misunderstand in today's world, and presents it in an easy-to-read, easy-to-understand manner. He mixes in enough pop culture references to keep it fun (comparing key players in the early church to Tupac or Yoda? Yes, please!). My one complaints about this book is that Storment has a bad habit of writing a powerful paragraph, then throwing out this silly one liner that distracts and ruins the moment.

You should definitely pick this one up! I have a handful of favorite quotes from this book, but I'll leave you with this one that makes me (and I hope you) think: "Everywhere the early Christians went they started a riot. Everywhere I go they serve tea" (page 28).

Highly Recommended. 5/5 Stars

I received this book from LibraryThing's Early Reviewer program in exchange for an honest review.

Represent

Last Sunday, I was teaching my kiddos a lesson about "Secret Servants", people who do good without expecting any rewards or recognition, simply because it's what God says is right. The memory verse was one I know I've heard a billion times in my life, but it hit me in a new way:

And whatever you do or say, do it as a representative of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks through him to God the Father. (Colossians 3:17, NLT)

We're not told to simply do all things for God, but representing God. Just as an ambassador for a country travels the world representing their home country, we represent our true home, the Kingdom of God. The ambassador is seen as typical of what people from that area are like. They are known for making decisions that best benefit their home country. They are the only glimpse of that country some people may see. The same is true for all believers.

In the words of my Pastor from a sermon this week, "You don't work for God, you work with God." God doesn't call us servants, but friends (John15:15). He lets us in on His plan and encourages us to use our gifts with His resources to effect change in our world.

So the question becomes, who are you representing with your words and actions? Would people be surprised to learn you are a Christian based on the 'you' they see everyday? Or do your actions express your passion for Christ?

As I shared last week, this month is Compassion Blog Month! I just keep getting more and more excited about this! Sponsoring a child is such an easy, rewarding way to represent Christ. (Note: This post didn't start as a plot to talk about Compassion. It just happened that way. Sponsorship is obviously not the only way to represent God in your life. It's just one.) For the price of one meal out, you can change the life of a child forever. The money will help send that child to school, provide clothes, healthy food, medical care, and everything needed to help that child grow and thrive! Plus, your sponsorship will open doors for you and your family to connect with another person and family that you may never have met otherwise. There are so many positives, there are really no negatives!

I just bought a birthday present for my Compassion child on their website, and this is what waited on the confirmation page:
Thank You Sponsors! from Compassion International on Vimeo.

How great is that! Made me smile like a dork. So if you're not a sponsor and want to have this kind of impact, head over to Compassion's website to make a difference in the life of a child!

Most of us will have no problem sparing the $38 each month. That's less than $10 a week. A lot of people spend more than that on coffee each week. But maybe you truly don't have it in your budget. Or maybe you're a child or teen yourself, and can't come up with that kind of money. If that's you, I have a suggestion. Find a friend (or two) and sponsor a child together! I even know of several classes that sponsor a child as a group. You all still benefit, and this child now knows that several people love and pray for them! I challenge you to take another look at how you spend your money, and see if you can help one of these children in need.

Aspiring Ashley

Why Aspiring (because I hope the Ashley part is self-explanatory)? Well, I am aspiring to be and do so much in my life. There are the things I can explain: like I am aspiring to be a nurse, to make beautiful cakes, to be a good example, to try new things. Then there are the things that I yearn for in my spirit but can't really put into words for other people. The best I can do is to say that I want to follow Christ with all my heart, soul, mind and strength, wherever He might lead, without fear or hesitation. But see, that doesn't really take whats inside and express it very well. Oh well. So this blog is simply a place to write and grow and record what I'm learning and doing. Like I said in yesterdays post, I might record a day's events, or what I'm reading...I'm actually really excited for that part. I have a site where I review books (click here to see it) but one of my favorite things in this past year was when I lead a book study with my girls. There are some books I've been meaning to read, so look for some book discussions here soon. So, I guess that will be it for today. Thanks for stopping by and reading :)

**Ashley**