Posts Tagged ‘Opportunity’

backpacks–not to be confused with kidzpacks

Saturday, July 21st, 2012

Each year we participate in the Back to School Fair by providing backpacks for the children (this is school supplies –see the item of the month for the list; not kidzpacks–which are sent home on Fridays for children who don’t have food for the weekend).  This is a great opportunity for you to take your children or grandchildren to the store and shop for those less fortunate than you.

Here’s the recent report we’ve received from our volunteer coordinator for this ministry.  “We have 58 empty backpacks and nearly enough supplies to fill them. We have 15 filled backpacks with what I’m guessing is the proper supplies, still need to go through and check them. Our goal is 85.  Last year we had 120 and the year before that we had 105. 

The fair is Saturday, August 4.  I will pack the bags August 2 and deliver then August 3.”

We are anticipating more children at the fair this year so we’d like to add 25 or 30 more bags. In other words, we are just over half way there.  We need all the backpacks and supplies before August 2nd. Please drop your donations off at the doors or in the foyer at the Serve Station.

Thank you for caring for people in our community!!!

Yet another book…

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.

don’t have church at home…

Friday, September 30th, 2011

…at least not in Kazakhstan.  And don’t try to be a church without receiving official recognition from the official department of religion in the Kazak governmental system.  5 Baptist churches were raided last month. Huge fines (10 months salary) were exacted on any who were arrested.  Some for meeting in homes, some for having a religious festival, some for meeting in public buildings.

‘Mereke Myrzabekova of Zhezkazgan’s Internal Policy Department told Forum 18 they would not have been raided had they been watching football or drinking vodka together “because that’s not religion”.’ Just think how many Americans would have to be arrested if “watching football” was illegal!!

You can enjoy sports and you can drink…but you can’t worship. At least, not without permission.  While I realize that our freedom is sometimes our greatest nemesis…it is also an incredible blessing.  We are free to stay home…that’s true.  We are free to believe we don’t need God…no one can stop us.  We are free to be irreligious or non-religious…it’s our right.  But we are also free to gather and worship and read our Bibles. We are free to talk about Jesus.  We are free to invited friends to worship with us.

Thank God for our freedom…pray we don’t abuse it.  Pray for our persecuted brothers and sisters around the world…pray they are faithful

Creation Care Resources

Friday, August 26th, 2011

I’m making a list of resources for those interested in pursuing the idea of “Creation Care” further. I have not read these and can not vouch for any of them. If you have a critique of them, please post it for the benefit of the rest of us. If you have other suggestions, please post those–with as much explanation of their perspective as would be helpful.

Wright, Christopher, “Mission and God’s Earth” in The Mission of God (I’ve read this and it’s outstanding)
Wright, Christopher, Old Testament Ethics for the People of God
Elsdon, Ron, Green House Theology: Biblical Perspectives on Caring for Creation
Nash, James, Loving Nature: Ecological Integrity and Christian Responsibility
Bridger, Francis, “Ecology and Eschatology: A Neglected Dimension,” Tyndale Bulletin 41
Schaefer, Francis, Pollution and the Death of Man: The Christian View of Ecology
Guinness, Os, The Dust of Death
Brown, Edward R., Our Father’s World (Mobilizing the Church to Care for Creation)

http://post-apocalyptictheology.blogspot.com/search/label/Schaeffer
http://www.surfinthespirit.com/environment/stewards-of-earths-resources.html

Dreher, Rod, Crunchy Cons
http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=5256754

http://www.foodincmovie.com/about-the-issues.php

www.arocha.com
www.earth911.com

These are resources I’ve had suggested to me or I have looked at briefly. I look forward to your responses with more suggestions for us to think about when it comes to creation care.

i wonder why?

Wednesday, August 17th, 2011

I confessed a troublesome truth to my class yesterday.  I’m choosing to reveal it to you, too. Maybe you can help me with it. I’ve been trying to analyze it to see if I can figure out why it’s true.  So far, no solutions.

When I’m here (Eastern/Central Europe) I have this deep yearning to know whether or not every person I see is a Christian.  It’s like I want to stop every person on the street and ask them about their faith. I know they can’t understand me…or me them…but for some reason, I just feel I have to know.  Is it because they’ve endured so much? Is it because the west has intruded so blatantly? Can it be simply that they can’t answer me?

Okay, so that’s half the issue.  The problem is, I don’t feel that way at home. Oh, I want to know to…but I don’t have that constant state of near anxiety. I’m driven to find out. It’s a question that sometimes haunts me but often is simply silent. And I wonder why. Is it because I could understand them?  Is it because I could talk to them?  Is it because faith is so common?  Do I just take it for granted by life is pretty normal when I’m home and total in upheaval when I’m here.

I want to want to be driven to know. I want to feel compelled to ask everyone, somehow, if they know Jesus. Maybe that’s why God allows me to be here…to remind me of that deep longing.

echoes of a little church…

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.

I was really there…I’m really back

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.

It’s over…or is it?

Thursday, November 4th, 2010

21 papers; 21 oral exams; some good-byes; some prayers; it’s over. At least the formal part is; for now. Students began leaving today–Moldova, Kosovo, Russia, Czech Republic, Estonia, Bulgaria, Poland, Romania, Hungary, Tunisia and I’m not sure where else. What they’ve learned here about preaching (from Konstantine), about ministry (from Scott) and about Bible Study (from me) has been supplemented and reinforced by what they’ve learned about service (from the American short term workers) and hospitality (from TCM’s staff). And it’s all being carried from here into dozens of churches and schools and ministries. It’s being taken to dozens of countries. It’s work is just getting started.

If all goes well, 54 hours from now Gail and I will be safely back in our home, adjusting to new weather and new time. And if all goes well, I’ll not forget what I’ve learned about perseverance, determination, generosity, motivation, compassion, sacrifice and humility. If I’m careful, I’ll not let my renewed spirit flag in the busy-ness of life and rushing to catch up. If I don’t forget, I’ll bring something of what I’ve seen and heard and felt and it will make itself felt in your life as well.

I know I’m repeating myself, but I have to say publicly, one more time, how grateful I am for leadership that allows this to happen. Few churches are as generous with their preacher (and other staff) as this one. I hope never to make them regret it.

A Little Taste of Heaven

Monday, October 25th, 2010

One of the goals of TCM is to provide a little taste of heaven for the students.  Many of them have never had a vacation, never left their country, never had the chance to meet those from other countries who share their faith, never had someone fix their meals for them.  It’s a peaceful, pleasant environment, here in the Vienna Woods.

But it’s a different taste of heaven for me. Here, the Bible comes true. When the Scripture speaks of people “from every tribe and tongue and nation”–this is it. When the Bible pictures men and women “from every the four corners of he earth” standing before the throne of God–this is it.

Tonight, after supper, we’ll have our final orientation meeting with all the students present.  I’ll have my 23 students in the room.  Moldovans, Romanians, Hungarians, Estonians, Czech, Kosovan, Tunisian, Bulgarian, and Russian. These next few days we’ll pray together, eat together, laugh together, cry together, read, sleep, study and dream together. My life will be the one that is enriched.  I’ll be the one just a little more prepared for what’s to come. I’ll be the one who has a “taste of heaven.”