Posts Tagged ‘Life Change’
Monday, August 27th, 2012
Started reading The Divine Embraceby Robert Webber. He says, “I ask you not to subscribe to the relativism that all paths lead to God but to a countercultural affirmation that God, the Creator of the universe, has cut a path into our history and, having become one of us in Jesus, unites us with himself. Look in all the religions of the world and you will find no better story than this. God has come to us in Jesus so that we may come to God through Jesus. That is Christian spirituality. And living in that union, that divine embrace, that is the spiritual life.”
The way of Jesus is a narrow way. It isn’t for the faint of heart. It isn’t for the uncommitted. It is for the trusting. It is for those willing ot let God be God. God longs for everyone to know Him…but on His terms. He loves all people, but He accepts only one means of coming into relationship with Him–that is, Jesus. In Jesus, God reached out to us. Through Jesus, we reach back to Him. The meeting of these events is the Divine Embrace.
I’m looking forward to reading the rest of the book and thinking about the Spiritual life. I’m looking forward to exploring the Divine Embrace and discovering just how good God’s hugs are. God is incredibly gracious and kind and I’m looking forward to experiencing that even more.
Tags: Compassion, Divine Embrace, focus, Life Change, Spirituality
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Monday, August 20th, 2012
I ran across that quote this morning as I was reading. What a powerful thought–”God’s arrival is never without incident.” It captures so well what we mean by our Encounter strategy. We believe that if people are brought into the presence of God, something will happen. As this author says, “…the landscape will change…”
We serve a God who is bigger than our methods and efforts. We serve a God who is more capable than we often give credit. We don’t need to create a perfect place, perfect experience, perfect anything…all we need is to give God room to work. If we can just get people into His presence, He’ll do something.
Of course, that can be frightening. Sometimes His presence drives people further away. They rebel against His presence, are uncomfortable with it, react to it. Sometimes they are drawn near. When they are…life changes. God works and good things happen. Even though those “good” things may not feel good, they are. God is working.
Changing a landscape requires heavy equipment. Scrapers, plows, bulldozers, trucks. It requires removing objects, adding fill, digging in and often down. It requires painful processes (if what we were working on wasn’t an inanimate object). When God goes to work on a spiritual landscape, it requires the same hard work and painful efforts. But, when He’s done, wondrous beauty occurs, efficiency improves, life gets better.
I just wonder how many of us are willing to get out of the way and let Him work. How many are okay with the pain and the change? How many are open to His activity?
Tags: Discipleship, Discipline, Growing, Life Change, maturity, shaping, Spiritual Growth
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Saturday, July 28th, 2012
Many of you have heard or read there’s a “Pray for Rain” gathering at Madison Park. Several times over the past two days I’ve had to explain that it’s at the actual Madison Park–24th and Maine. We’re using the band shell there for a podium. Only once before has my dream come true…now it seems more true than ever.
My dream? That when people in Quincy (is the tri-states too much to wish for?) hear Madison Park there first thought is: Madison Park Christian Church. I dream that our people are so contagious, our actions so imitable, our spirit so infectious, that people just tend to think of us when something good is about to happen. It isn’t that we are so popular, or so visible, or so anything selfish; it’s just that we’ve done the right things, acted in the right spirit, made a palpable difference in enough lives that “Madison Park” means the church.
Then Jesus wins. It’s not about us…it’s about Him. It is always about Him. That’s all we want…for people to experience a life changing relationship with Jesus. That will happen when we are each a means of Encountering God in a meaningful way. That will happen when we are each an avenue through which others can Connect with God’s people around God’s word. That will happen when we are each Serving each other, the community and the world. That will happen when each one of us is visibly demonstrating Life Change.
Thank you for making this dream a reality. Thank you for being people who infuse our community with confidence that a church matters and would be missed if it didn’t exist.
Tags: Character, confidence, Connect, dreams, Encounter, Life Change, Madison Park, serve, Transformation, Witness
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Thursday, July 19th, 2012
I know you already know this…but I’ve been reminded again of what an incredible staff God has brought together at Madison Park. Watching Tyler lead this week of experiences has been a blessing. He “gets it” and helps the rest of us do the same. To see students respond to the worship leading that Kyle does (along with the band–Alli, Trent, Jeff) and to the preaching of Andrew (“the new guy”) has been a blessing. Keith connects with everyone and students turn to him in crises and in blessings. And Rachel is a trooper–high ropes, rafting (out of the boat), the whole nine yards.
You know this too…we have incredible sponsors. I can’t name them all because I’m sure I’ll overlook someone and that would be a mistake I wouldn’t want to make. But seeing them interact with students is amazing. All of them bring something unique to the table and offer themselves so willingly. While some are younger, there are some for whom lack of sleep is a hardship. But they do it. Wow. We are so incredibly blessed by people who will give a week of their time to hang out with students and facilitate life change.
One more thing–and this goes without saying…we have remarkable students. Look out world, they’re coming. I know not all of them will keep it up–it’s hard being a disciple. But they are really remarkable. Getting out of their comfort zones, stretching their faith, standing up and speaking for Jesus. I love watching them in their devotional times. I love watching them play. I love watching them worship (this more than anything). I love watching them make life-altering decisions for Jesus. From Marion County to Liberty and everywhere in between, the schools better look out…Madison Park students are coming!!!
Would you join me in committing to continue to support these students… We need to be encouraging them, backing them, stretching them, tolerating them, blessing them! When you see them on Sunday mornings, greet them, love them, pray for them, encourage them, smile at them, and thank God the next generation is so incredibly strong.
Tags: Discipleship, Element, Life Change, Madison Park, Student Ministries, Students
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Wednesday, February 1st, 2012
Ecclesiastes reminds us that “of the making of books there is no end…” For a reader like me, that’s not a negative comment. I still have a dozen or more on my floor, stacked and ready. I’m nearly finished with the one I’m working on. It’s well worth your time to consider it.
Jonathan Morrow’s think Christianly: looking at the intersection of FAITH and CULTURE, is a helpful look at the world in which we live and how the follower of Jesus should be interacting. Morrow says, “My prayer is that God will use these pages to refresh your vision for engaging your specific sphere of influence with the good news of the kingdom of God–and that you will be encouraged and equipped to do so.”
He initiates his discussion of culture, world views and faith with the claim, “Out there is already in here.” Every chapter ends with a list of resources (books, articles and websites) and an interview with someone doing something to intersect our culture with faith and values.
The section I read this morning dealt with sex, media, and injustice. It’s powerful material–the kind I wish I’d read as a young parent. His section on teens and media is worthy of every parent’s attention. His conversations about the Biblical view of sexuality is very helpful. You’ll be hearing in upcoming sermons some of that plus what he says about addressing injustice. Simply said–good stuff.
Books like this make my morning “bike session” a lot more enjoyable. Hopefully, it could make your interaction with the world much more profitable.
Tags: Bible Reading, church, Commitment, Discipleship, Faith, Life Change, Media, Opportunity, Parenting, reading, serve, Sex, Spiritual Discipline, Spiritual Growth, Transformation, Witness
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Tuesday, May 24th, 2011
I hope the young woman realized it wasn’t really our fault. And I do feel bad that she made a trip all the way out here just to find out we had no idea what she was talking about. And I hope she feels she was treated well. But, in spite of her inconvenience, the more I’ve thought about what happened, the more excited I’ve gotten. I hope you’ll understand and share my excitement.
This isn’t about fame or notoriety. It’s certainly not about attention grabbing. It’s just a simple reality I have prayed would happen. Several years ago I realized that Madison Park church had the potential for incredible impact in the community. We could (and should) make difference. Not because we are flashy or noisy…but because we are faithful to Jesus and because we love and care for people.
Anyway, it finally happened. A delivery person with a carry-out order came here looking for someone who wanted food. She gave us the name and no one recognized it. We asked around, no one knew who it was. We tracked down some guests in our building to see if they knew…no one did. Finally, we asked for clarity. Her response, “Someone from Madison Park called in an order. I have their name, their phone number and Madison Park as the location.” So, we called the number.
You’ve probably guessed by now. They were in the actual “Madison Park”–the actual park on Maine street across from Madison School. I have longed for the day (still do) that when people hear “Madison Park” their first thought is the church…not the park…not the school. Not for our sake. For their sake. Because then they’ll get to hear about Jesus and experience Life Change.
Tags: church, Community, Hospitality, influence, Life Change, Madison Park
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Friday, April 15th, 2011
It’s both encouraging and frightening. It’s testimony to the power of acceptance and the power of story. It captures the past and impacts the future. What is it? It’s the story of a church with a powerful love for those who don’t know Jesus.
A good friend who lives and works in Poland just posted this note on my Facebook page: “adam szumorek recently spoke to our staff about a “young man who walked into a church with cut-off jean shorts and no shirt. apparently his name was chuck. greetings from poland. . . 
” Yep, that’s me. But it’s not about me. It’s about a small church with a big heart.
I’ve told that story all over the world in the hopes that it would compel believers to be as accepting and open to others as that church was to me. I mean, who would have thought that the kind acceptance of a little church in a town of 400 people in southwest Idaho could possibly influence churches in Poland and beyond?
I believe we are that kind of church. I believe we can change the spirit and dreams of another young man or woman. I believe that in fifty years there’ll be a story told of someone coming to faith, here, that will be influencing generations in other places of the world.
Tags: Acceptance, church, Compassion, Discipleship, Encounter, Faith, Grace, Hospitality, Life Change, Opportunity, Transformation, Welcome
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Friday, April 8th, 2011
The commitment amazes me
I walked from the train station in Moscow until I found someone who could speak English. I asked for Red Square and they said, “That way.” So I went “that way.” A bit later I asked someone else if I was headed in the right direction. He said, “20 minutes that way.” He was exactly right. 20 minutes later I was there, standing in the very spot I’d watched Russian tanks and military parades occupy during the Cold War.
At one end of Red Square is St. Basil’s Cathedral. It’s a fascinating building, consisting of a central cathedral and multiple chapels around the outside. The initial building took about 6 years to build. The remaining additions came as countries were conquered by Ivan IV.
As I’ve seen cathedrals in Europe, my appreciation has mounted. Many of them were under construction for years. Undoubtedly, many who designed them and initiated their construction were never privileged to see them completed. The commitment amazes me. To start something, uncertain of seeing it’s completion, is an incredible act of faith. I’m challenged by that in my Christian life.
Colossians 3 confronts me with that deep need for a similar commitment. The process of “putting to death,” “getting rid of,” and “putting on” is a long term commitment. Eugene Peterson uses the phrase, “A Long Obedience in the Same Direction,” for this kind of commitment. To begin the process of being a disciple of Jesus is to begin moving in one direction for a long time. It means that we will have days when we are not sure we’ll ever see the completion. There will be times when we let others down, when our faith flags, when we are sure God must be disappointed, but we keep plugging along.
The text arrests our attention when we read, “You used to walk in these ways…” Obviously, they were in transition from an old life to a new one. So are we. Whenever I speak I realize I’m speaking to people at every stage of development. There are some that have not started to change, some in the midst of change, some demonstrating the wonder of change. So, every time I speak I know I face the potential of hurting someone, embarrassing someone, reminding someone.
Let me take this opportunity to issue this statement, “I honor and appreciate your changes. I’m sorry if my mentioning things like unfaithfulness is painful. Please, know that I deeply appreciate the progress you are making. I’m grateful for the intense forgiveness and forbearance that goes on in marriages where couple survive unfaithfulness and move to a beautiful new level of relationship. Thank you for not giving up. Your story is all our stories–’We used to be…’”
Tags: church, Commitment, Disappointment, Discipleship, Faith, Faithful, Grace, Growth, Life Change, Perseverance, Response, Spiritual Discipline, Transformation, Witness
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Friday, April 1st, 2011
Back in the day, ‘pumped’ was the word. It meant excited, into it, ecstatic, over the top. I have no idea what the word is today. Whatever it is…I’m “pumped.” We have worked incredibly hard to develop and communicate our vision for Life Change. We’ve concentrated on Encounter and believe our worship is making it possible for people to meet God. We’ve poured ourselves into Connect and we are now seeing dozens of new people engage in study of God’s word with God’s people.
However, every time we’ve talked about our strategy (Encounter, Connect, Serve), we’ve had to say, “Serve is still under development.” Well, it’s here. It’s not fully developed. We have a lot yet to learn and sharpen. But we’re unveiling this Sunday. And I’m pumped.
You now have a place to go to find out what you can do in serving here, in the congregation. We have a place to let you know of ministry opportunities in the community (those we sponsor as well as others). There is a place where you can become familiar with our world outreach (this month we’re featuring our international ministries). There is an “item of the month” which we believe will overflow in generosity.
The gifts of our staff have come together to produce a great place to see what God can use us to do. My dream is for all of us to become like Jesus (Life Change). He was a servant (our goal and our method); so we will serve. This is a major tool for accomplishing that. Come by…look…ask questions…get involved.
Then, put some word with it… I’m going to stick with ‘pumped’ until one of you gives me a newer, more accurate word.
Tags: Benevolence, blessed, church, Community, Compassion, Discipleship, generosity, Life Change, Opportunities, pumped, serve, Service, Transformation
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Tuesday, March 29th, 2011
A Final Blessing
This was my final word…a blessing on the class and the churches they serve. A prayer that God would “bless and keep them” and “make His face to shine upon them.” He did for me…through them.
My life is always significantly altered by these trips. I’ll remember the food, the questions, the challenges, the fun, the sights, the prayers. Mostly, I’ll remember God’s people are everywhere and they face the same challenges we face here.
But I’m back…really back. The challenges of the week are no different here. Worship God…study…pray…anticipate…try to follow. I’m in my office and the desire to serve God in meaningful ways is no different than it was a few days ago. I long to make a difference for the kingdom. I want the church in Quincy, Illinois to be strong and powerful and effective…as a testimony to the power of God to work in any situation.
One of the things that struck me is that no matter how different things can be (e.g., macaroni and cheese for breakfast) some things are always the same. The challenge to be a Christ-following, Christ-honoring, Christ-proclaiming church is difficult in every culture. The external forces change according to the culture. They face hostility, we face apathy; they face enculturated atheism, we face overwhelming cultural seduction; they face lives turned off to God, so do we.
The internal forces seem to never change. The problems I’ve found appear to be universal. The need to change accompanied by the fear of change; the desire to grow challenged by the changes growth brings; the need for leaders balanced against the desire to not be led. I know it’s an over-simplification, but the conflict often revolves around the tension between past and future. What do we keep, what do we discard? How do we honor our heritage and yet create a legacy? How do the younger exhibit patience with the older, while the older make way for the younger?
I back…really back. With every intention of trying to be a part of the solution, not an addition to the problem. God is at work among us. Of that I’m positive. How we make sure we are not a hindrance to what He’s doing…that’s the challenge. I’m up for it. I believe you are too.
Tags: Challenges, Community, Culture, Discipleship, Europe, Growth, Life Change, Opportunity, Transformation
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