Experiencing GOD: Life Adjustments

Henry Blackaby notes, “Understanding spiritual truth does not lead you to an encounter with GOD; it is the encounter with GOD.”

In Unit 5 & 6 he continues with a discussion of how GOD speaks through the Holy Spirit, Bible, Prayer, Circumstances, and the Church. I was struck by the many methods that GOD uses trying to get through to me. I find myself looking for a “burning bush” experience, but sense that I will find Jesus speaking to me in the ordinary days. Maybe I need not look for GOD in the miraculous, but instead pay attention to His revelations in the mundane. Blackaby affirms, “That GOD spoke is the most important factor, not how He spoke.”

Repeatedly through these sections, Blackaby gives emphasis to my adjusting my life in response to these GODencounters. It is not enough to agree with what GOD is saying; My response is “crucial.” In fact, at one point Henry asserts that until one responds with a life adjustment, “GOD will continue to see you as wicked.”

WOW. That’s harsh.

But thinking about it, I find it to be true. If someone I love seemingly agrees with an admonition I have shared, but makes no effort to change or alter their course in response, I certainly view that someone as stubborn or rebellious. I can see how GOD would view my unrepentant, unaltered ways as wicked. Wicked aptly describes my heart when I don’t yield to GOD’s will.

I am reminded of that deviant shopping cart, seemingly possessed by some grocery-parking-lot-demon. You make efforts to guide it a certain direction and it seems to fight you, curving for the deli. It’s the resistance of that lone wheel or a conspiracy of cart wheels that has that “wicked” cart going where you did not intend.

Personally, I tend to trade up that rebellious cart for a more obedient cart. Let that wicked shopping cart roll right into hell.

I am glad GOD is not like me. He doesn’t trade me up for the more obedient. He works with me.

It is a good thing that GOD not only reveals His will, but also provides the power for me to make the life adjustment. Philippians 2:13 says, “It is GOD who works in you to will and to act according to His good purpose.”

Dear GOD, thank you for working in me as I make efforts to not only agree with You, but also to make life adjustments. Help me respond to GODencounters, following not fighting the spiritual truths You reveal.

IGNITION @ 2009 Adventist Ministries Convention

IGNITION: Young Adult Ministry Training

We shaping a young adult ministry training experience for: Conference Directors, Ministry Professionals, Chaplains, Church Administrators, and Pastors.

Come — How do we create inviting spiritual environments for new generations?
See — How do we foster an authenticity of faith life that draws young adults?
Go — How can we ignite the discipling of new generations, sparking a revolution?
Tell — How do we express the story that will transform young adults?

2009 Adventist Ministries Convention, January 18-21, 2009, Myrtle Beach, South Carolina.

* Young Adult Ministry Seminars with Dr. Tim Elmore of Growing Leaders, Inc.
* General Sessions including George Barna of The Barna Group
* Resourcing/Networking – Bringing home the best and latest in young adult ministry tools
* Young Adult Ministry Advisory [YAMA] – Exchange, consult, and interact…sharing best practices and advising a division-wide vision.

Register today at http://www.comeseegotell.com or call 800-732-7587.

2009 GODencounters Retreat – Atlantic Union

Speaker: Lisa Hope, Director of Advent House, UTC, Knoxville.
Comedy: Bean & Bailey
Music: Maria Gomez Long
Praise & Worship: Scott Campbell
$75 – Bring your own linen
$35 – Sabbath only (2 meals provided)
http://www.atlantic-union.org/godencounters2009.html

To register call 978.368.8333

For more info email youthministries@atlanticunion.org

Dear Jimmy

Dear Jimmy,

Congratulations on your recent graduation. By the way nice suit and tie. We are elated with the exceptional experience you had at Union and know that it was very significant to your becoming who you are.

California is a different place and you are at a different time in your life, but I dare say people have some things we all have in common. So as you begin the church shop [which some may deem a church hop], let me share with you a few responses to your letter.

You’re right, it’s likely that we’ll assume you have it all figured out, and we may also assume you feel you don’t need us. But the truth of the matter is that we need each other. All those meaningful ministry experiences and creative worship moments that helped mold you and remind you of GOD’s embrace are really needed here in our world, outside of the bubble. We need your fresh thoughts about Jesus and your ability to stay up late at night [I'm already needing a nap]. You may benefit from our stories and experiences, but even if you don’t, just know we simply find joy in sharing how it was “back in our day.” As vital as it was for you, we too need random signs and creative reminders to spiritually grow.

You’re right, it’s likely we’ll go through the small talk and the Adventist cultural rituals. A greeting of “Happy Sabbath” will likely result in the knee jerk response in kind. We may just talk about the weather or possibly ask you about your sport teams; superficial as it may seem this is where we feel we can start. But the truth of the matter is that we want deeper relationships too. So forgive our awkward conversational cop-outs, and our seemingly aloof manner. Risk taking us further in conversation. We want to hear what matters to you and hope you will appreciate what we have to share as well.

You’re right, it’s likely as you come by our church we’re going to slip up. Just like you, we not always sure if our failings are something we’re really conscious of. Just like you, our struggle is that it’s all too easy to stay on autopilot church programming and glide by on spiritual cruise control. But the truth of the matter is that we need you to catch us too. Help us be more graceful, gently infuse your personality, your gifts, your love for Christ — Let us know when we flub up and kindly collaborate with us to find a better way. We admit it, we need you too.

Yesterday feels far away to us too. And for us, tomorrow looks pretty grim if we don’t figure out a way to be the church together. So today, would you join with us to become a better community of like believers…a church of believers who are invested in learning to like each other more. Would you help us today?

Oh, and don’t let my old suit and out-of-style tie fool you into thinking I’ve got it all figured out. Those were just graduation gifts from my parents too.

-Allan, one of your church family relatives in Niles, Michigan

let’s talk

After reading the article by Jan Paulsen in the Adventist World, it got me thinking about ministry to young people. It reminded me how helpless, angry, and frustrated I felt in my teens to look around and see many of my friends no longer attending church. If you had told me that I could have ministered to my friends probably more affectively then my church pastor I would have scoffed and told you you were crazy.

Today’s generation is all about keeping it real. They know plastic people when they see them. Sad to say, many of them view the church as being just that – full of plastic people hiding behind a plastic steeple. When they enter the doors a church, they aren’t looking to be told that God is love, they want to see it. They want to experience it. They know that the church is not made up of four walls, but of the members within. If you ask why they don’t attend one church or the other, a common response is, “that church isn’t that friendly” or “I don’t feel like I belong there.” What they are looking for is a place to belong, where they are part of a community and family.

If I’m anything like the youth in our church today, then they feel just as helpless, angry and frustrated about the number of youth leaving the church. But its the youth of today, currently in church, that are probably the best underused resource and channel to reach their fellow peers. Yes, you have those up and coming leaders who are doing their part, often over worked and overwhelmed, but the the vast majority are untapped. A lot of has to do with perspective, trust, training, and empowerment, but its more.

Its physically impossible to minister to every individual young person, but that doesn’t mean they can not be reached or that they are not capable of ministering to one another. I recently met with our youth director and the young leaders he has chosen to reach the youth of today. I learned that a lot of it is getting back to basics. Regardless of when many may think, the methods and means for which Ellen White ministered in the days of her youth, are and still can be affective. The times have changes but biblical principles still apply.

It is said that it takes a minimum of 15 hours per week to establish a good friendship with someone. Think about how much time the church spends together through out the week. If its no more than the hour or so during the main service on sabbath morning, prayer meeting, and vespers, then not only have we failed our youth, but the church as a whole – and we wonder why so many youth are leaving and many churches are dying. Sometimes we try so hard to attract people and compete for the attention of the people we try to minister to, that we fail to retain them. We get them through the door, into the baptismal tank, but fail to connect and build the relationships needed for their growth.

Jesus ministry was personal, that hasn’t changed. Its personal, always has been and always will be.

Young Adults and Church Hopping

Benjamin Baker comments on the phenomenon of young adult “church hopping” in the Adventist Review.

Here are his reasons why you shouldn’t. What do you think? (I’d like to see some Scripture texts that support point 5).

1. Relationships not developed:  Church hopping does not foster relationships because the hopper is not consistently around to know and be known.  She simply sees and is occasionally seen.  Going to one church, however, provides an opportunity to know fellow members on a personal and consistent level.

2. No accountability:  Hoppers are not spiritually accountable to anyone.  They are spiritual desperadoes, wandering from town to town, only occasionally learning someone’s name.  But when people get involved in a congregation, others can lovingly monitor their spiritual state.

3. Spiritual gifts not maximized:  When one church hops, their spiritual gifts are rarely available to a congregation.  In fact, no one ever knows them well enough to discover their talents.  What could be a powerful tool in the hands of God and the church is often unused.  Thus the capacity for service shrinks.  But a person in a church family finds ministries to be involved in and can fully utilize his talents.

4. Mate harder to find:  Believe it or not, a hopper has a harder time finding a mate than a settler.  When one settles they can see, meet, and get to know potential prospects.  They can also glimpse the hoppers who rotate to their church.  Hoppers miss out because they move too fast.

5. Jesus did not hop:  Jerusalem probably provided the opportunity to hop, but Jesus probably did not do it.  Jesus likely was at the service shortly before it started, bringing others with him, and ready to help out anyway He could.  He knew others in the congregation and worshipped with them each Sabbath.  After church they ate together, Jesus conversing with whoever wanted to talk.