Development

I feel like I have learned exponentially since my last blog post. God is shaping me and molding me as clay in His hands. It's been an exciting couple weeks. Here are a few snapshots:

• Leadership Coaching

Understanding Context - I am a passionate and assertive person. I have lots of ideas, dreams, goals, tweaks, and comments. However, as a new young guy, I have to earn/gain respect and trust in order to have a voice at the table. My co-workers/supervisors don't always know from what knowledge or experience I am coming from when I spout out my plan. Additionally, I need to fully understand the context into which I am inserting myself, before inserting myself and my ideas. This advice surfaced from a one-on-one coaching session with the Leadership Development Pastor - Josh Dix (formerly the head of the Worship Leadership Department). I'm excited to be learning more about managing myself and others.

• Design/Branding/User-Interface

I have been reading a lot about web design mostly from an art director's perspective and less from a web designers perspective. I've learned about what makes a good website-blog. For example: the importance of spacing, lists, consistency, using subtle changes to make a point (without distracting from the content). I'm going to attempt to apply my newly discovered awareness and continue to build on my taste for efficient and excellent designs.

• Entrepreneurial

Small businesses vs. Church planting vs. Non-profit exploration - I'm learning a lot about how this church operates in many ways like a business. And, there are three 501c3 organizations that have spawned from this church: an arts space, an empowering mercy ministry, and an affordable/free counseling center. There are several "business" tools that The Journey employs to operate smoothly. For example, we use Basecamp to manage projects; we use Google Apps as a database/server to house documents and communicate about collaborative projects and manage calendars; and we use Planning Center Online as a tool to organize volunteer scheduling. In addition to these tools, I'm also learning how to lead and care for people as well as how to communicate with "clients" (i.e. across campuses or departments or from staff to volunteers to congregates).

It's really exciting to see how God is using this internship to shape me for His plan for my life. From event production to business management, I'm learning many things that will spur me on as a laborer for the Kingdom, whether I work for a church someday or I start a Christian, theatre arts organization.

Please pray for Rachel and I as we wait to hear from the Lord what's next. With about seven months left in this internship, the real need for direction and next steps is beginning to surface. Pray that I will patiently rely on Him as He determines my steps, in spite of (or resulting from) my dreams and aspirations.

Hope: Fully

Adam

Life Update (sorry I'm late)

This update is a long time coming and I sincerely apologize.

A ton has happened in the month of November. Shortly after my last post, Rachel and I attended a Weekend to Remember with Family Life. The conference was a generous gift from some supporters helping to equip Rachel and me for our new married life. We grew closer together and learned some shared vocabulary for us to better communicate.

The following weekend Rachel was in Philadelphia, PA where she had the opportunity to attend an English Teacher's conference (paid for by her high school). Since Rachel's difficulty teaching, and her questioning whether or not she can persevere in her present situation, we entered into this conference as a test and for her to gain insight. When she returned, neither of us were convinced she needed to leave or staty neither of us felt God's specific direction for our next steps.

The following weekend, Rachel and I traveled to Pittsburgh to be with our families. Her family came down to PA and my parents hosted all of us. It was a delightful and restful trip. We were able to process a lot of information with our parents and listen to their advice.

We're still unsure what God is asking of Rachel. It is possible that her hardship is a storm that she must withstand, by relying on the Protector. It is also possible that He may deliver her from the wreckage. So please pray that God's path for us be revealed soon.

In the mean time we are being obedient in both directions: planning daily lesson plans and assessments for her student(s) at Vashon High School and turning in job applications at other institutions.

Fun Fact: Rachel inadvertently walked into a christian school yesterday (their website didn't have any positions available). After looking at her resume, and finding out that both she and the interviewer attend The Journey, she was given a tour of the school and invited to apply for a position in the spring. There are perhaps two positions opening up in March at Central Christian School, a presbyterian christian school that Rachel fell in love with and saw Jesus in the classrooms and hallways. Please intercede for us inviting God to place Rachel in that spiritually healthy environment.

Most Rewarding Piece of this internship (to-date)

Just under three months into my internship, the most rewarding characteristics of my internship to date needs to be shared with you all.

I have thoroughly enjoyed serving as the production volunteer coordinator for the Tower Grove campus. Within the first month of my time here, I was delegated to serve as the Service Producer of the Reber Chapel (new name as of fall 2011). This service is for a selected number of Community Groups (or small groups) to gather together in a fellowship-hall/art gallery space and experience the Sunday morning service via video venue in a more intimate environment; different from the seeker-aware attractional style of the larger Tower Grove sanctuary service.

Like every other Journey campus, the Reber space requires three production volunteers to operate the equipment: Sound Engineer, Media Engineer, and Lighting/Service Producer. After I learned the equipment on a heightened fast track, I became responsible for the scheduling and training of our production volunteers. With brand new Community Groups attending the service as of October, I had to build a team of specially-trained volunteers to run the service.

This team-building, individual-empowering experience has been truly beneficial to my leadership development. My rate of growth is extreme; I remember the first time I dumped every detail on my first "trainee." He was overwhelmed and rightfully so. I buried him with information. The next time we met, I slowed way down and built upon a foundation, one lego at a time. There was a visual difference from the look on his face. I could tell he was grateful that I didn't dump a truck filled with bricks on him.

Since then, I've managed expectations and properly equipped groups of interested volunteers to achieve the service production needs.

Thank you for praying for me and for supporting me in this developmental process as I build my character and skill-sets for God's plan, for God's kingdom.

ROAD JOURNAL

Read - 1 Corinthians 12:4-7 "Now there are a variety of gifts but the same Spirit, and there are varieties of service but the same Lord; and there are varieties of activities but it is the same God who empowers them all in everyone. To each is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good."

Observe - Paul tells us the church functions best: first of all by the power, presence, and empowering of the Holy Spirit; secondly by being many and still one. In other words, the church requires the Holy Spirit's gifts as distributed to everyone and, in the same way God is three whats and one who, the church requires many parts enacting many activities for the benefit of each other and for all.

Apply - When have I most felt like I used by gift to contribute to the accomplishment of a mission? The first experience that stands out most brilliantly in my head is when I was "cast" to deliver a gospel message to a large crowd on the beach in Virginia. I directed and choreographed a battle scene that took place publicly on the beach, in order to draw a large crowd and illustrate the truth the Jesus conquers all of his enemies and brings the dead back to life. At the completion of the battle, I shared the gospel with a script from the Spirit as loudly and lovingly as I could. I wonder if that is a revelation of my spiritual gift and how I may use it more regularly for God's glory (and not my own). Reading this passage has rekindled a curiosity for me nail down my spiritual gifts and my place in the God's church. The chapter mentions helpers and administrators alongside healers and miracle workers. It seems to imply a top down org-chart of apostles, prophets, and teachers. Which of any of these am I? I don't speak in tongues nor interpret, and I haven't healed anyone or conducted any miracles. I seem to have rubbed shoulders with stuff that resembles the other gifts; however, I do not want to misappropriate my gifting and I am still young. God is refining me and He will unveil his role for me when he list.

Depend - "Holy Spirit, my Lord, my God: of all the various ways that you can use me, please use me. You have given me a desire to serve you, to be active for you among your children, your bride. Shield me from over-zealousness, from over-ambitiousness, from and over-sized desire for something good. You alone are worthy of sizable desire. You deserve the position of glory, honor, and praise in my life. You promise to distribute gifts of your Spirit and you command us to earnestly desire the higher gifts in and with love. Well up within me a love, as is described in your Word. And from that place, that love, may I be used by you and for you. Amen."

Worship

It's been a pleasure serving with an Acts 29 church. We value God and His word. We value worship music that proclaims the truth of Christ; the message is never sacrificed for the sake of a rhyme or rhythm. Furthermore, the "old hymns" come to life for today's music preferences in ways that cater to the desires of multiple people groups/generations.

Following the steps taken by other churches of today, such as Sojourn Community Church (an A29 church in Louisville), our Worship Pastor, Josh Dix, just released a Worship EP. This CD was produced as another means to capture the Sunday morning, gathered worship experience for folks. It puts a needed reminder in our hands, in our iPods, to worship the Lord every day and not just on Sunday ... and not just when worshipful music is playing.

My passion for worshipping the Lord continues to grow as I rub shoulders with these talented musicians. It brings me back to the pleasant memories of leading worship at Huron Hills with Brian Surguine. It's guys like him that illustrate God's gifts used for God's purposes. I hope it's in God's plan for me to be ushering people to the throne of the Lord, through music or whatever God asks of me.

Rachel and I are pursuing membership at The Journey and are looking forward to auditioning for the worship team in December.

If you want more sweet music, check these two albums out (as mentioned above):

The Journey's EP featuring Josh Dix at Amazon (or iTunes).

http://www.amazon.com/Have-Thine-Own-Way/dp/B002PMFYHU/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=dmusic&qid=1256141975&sr=8-1

And also, look for "Over The Grave" by Sojourn.

http://www.amazon.com/Over-The-Grave/dp/B002SANAJ8/ref=sr_shvl_album_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1256142013&sr=301-1

Hope:Fully

ROAD JOURNAL

At The Journey, and more specifically within my department, I was recently introduced to an easy way to hone the spiritual discipline of bible study/devotion. The tool we use is called ROAD Journaling. ROAD is an acronym for "Read, Observe, Apply, and Depend."

Occasionally, I want to post my ROAD Journal entries for you to see what God is teaching me and also to equip you to pray for my spiritual needs.

They won't always be this long, I promise.

Read - 1 Peter 5:1-11
"So I exhort the elders among you, as a fellow elder and a witness of the sufferings of Christ, as well as a partaker in the glory that is going to be revealed:

shepherd the flock of God that is among you,
exercising oversight, not under compulsion, but willingly, as God would have you;
not for shameful gain, but eagerly;
not domineering over those in your charge, but being examples to the flock.

And when the chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the unfading crown of glory.
Likewise, you who are younger, be subject to the elders.
Clothe yourselves, all of you, with humility toward one another, for “God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble."

Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God so that at the proper time he may exalt you, casting all your anxieties on him, because he cares for you.

Be sober–minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour. Resist him, firm in your faith, knowing that the same kinds of suffering are being experienced by your brotherhood throughout the world.

And after you have suffered a little while, the God of all grace, who has called you to his eternal glory in Christ, will himself restore, confirm, strengthen, and establish you. To him be the dominion forever and ever. Amen."

Observe - Peter is writing to instruct the elders, to guide those in the care of elders, and to give some perspective with regard to suffering and the promises of God. This passage is both in the moment and casting vision. It goes deep and wide.

Apply - As I desire to lead within the context of a church, this passage is eye-opening. It both casts vision for me by defining what I aspire to be: "shepherd the flock" "willingly exercise oversight - not for shameful gain." These are great truths to meditate on and to strive towards as I refine my character. AND it grounds me in the present to remember that I am young, I need to be subject to authority, I need to humble myself, I need to submit to God's will and God's proper timing, and I need to cast all my cares/anxieties on Him because unlike the imperfect way that the people of this world attempt to care (sometimes succeeding) ... God's compassion and care for me is perfect and worthy of the highest seat.

Depend - Dear Lord, please guide me to depend on you. You are continuing to paint my future on the canvas on my mind; but help me to remain in the present, to engage deeply with my present responsibilities and with my present relationships. Lead me to rely on you and you alone for my future, for my desires, for my worries. Steer me away from selfish and shameful gain. Holy Spirit, you are crafty, you are deft, you are wise, you are always available, you are always reliable, you are dependable, you are perfect in discernment and wisdom. Why do I neglect to come to you? To seek You in all of your glory? To come to you with fear and trembling, with awe and wonder, with my joys and my sorrows? Father, please bring me to yourself. Reveal the sin in my life that needs to be sanctified, that needs to be redeemed. Humble me Father, and destroy my fear of humiliation. I love you Lord. Amen.

Prayers answered: progress

Pray for us.

Your prayers matter to Rachel and me. We appreciate you so very much, and especially as you take time to go to the Lord on our behalf. Thank you for thinking of us, and for being on our prayer/support team.

The rest of this blog infers an understanding of Triperspecitival Leadership.

A brief explanation will suffice for now: Like Jesus, a good leader can be defined as modeling and excelling in three categories, or offices, of leadership - Prophet, Priest, and King.

Prophet - one who brings the Word, justice; truth motivated.

Priest - one who counsels and cares for people, compassion; relationally motivated.

King - one who commands order and structure, organization; systems oriented.

Some of you know that I have been asking for prayer with regard to my "priestliness." By nature, I consider myself to be King first with Prophet trailing behind. I want to care for people; and occasionally, I do well in the Priestly area but it requires the most attention and intentionality.

The blessed answer to yours and my prayers is, that in the eight weeks that I've been at The Journey, I can see my relational skills growing and surfacing more naturally/organically.

Thank you for your prayers and please continue to ask the Holy Spirit to reveal more fruit of gentleness, love, patience, and self-control in my life.

Cooking Class, New Friends, and Affirmation

This past week I had some really great, intentional, conversations:

Rachel and I are taking a cooking class, one of our favorite wedding gifts from a very special group of friends. There are about 12 people in the class, and the environment absolutely encourages friendly communication. What kitchen doesn't have people standing around enjoying conversation? As a result, Rachel and I were able to get to know several people in the class. This was refreshing for both of us because we have only interacted with people from work and people from church. It was nice to get to know some people without any pretenses whatsoever.

As we were leaving the cooking class, I was talking to a young couple who have been dating a while, recently out of college, and encouraging us to go to the bar(s) with them. They invited us to their kick-ball games and over to their apartment sometime. Rachel and I are excited to spend time with them and to speak openly about our faith.

Then after finding out she lived in our general neighborhood, another lady mentioned that Rachel and I should come over to her house to meet her husband and try out one of these recipes we were learning. It was so interesting to me that after such a short amount of time, many of us were very interested in getting together for some sort of fellowship.

And then, Rachel and I were walking to our car alongside yet ANOTHER woman from cooking class who asked what Rachel and I do and why we are in St. Louis. When she found out that I was working for a church, and in the Worship Leadership Department no less, she got super excited because her husband is the associate (soon-to-be-lead) pastor of a church in Nothern St. Louis. With great joy, she asked for my email address and couldn't wait to put me in contact with her husband, who is also a musician. What a God moment!

Her husband and I met on Friday and talked ministry and life for two hours. It was so amazing, to sit down with a brother in Christ without ever meeting him before and to talk openly about our testimonies and our passions for God's bride, the church. The conversation included stories of conviction as well as sharing resources with one another. My position at The Journey has already opened my eyes to several resources for churches (of many sizes and ages). I was able to point him in some useful directions from church fundraising to fellowship with like minded, men on mission. Praise the Lord for the vastness of the Kingdom!

Our dialogue was a big affirmation that I was doing what I am supposed to do. I am obeying my Father in heaven as I pursue a life in ministry. And He continues to bless me with a fervent desire for His work, His church, His will.

Thank you for reading. Please continue to pray for Rachel and I and for our new friends.

Deliverables

Last week I built and painted a set for the new

sermon series at The Journey.

"SOLID" Knowing you know God.

1 John

The set is made of styrofoam insulation panels (from Home Depot). I started with five 48" x 96" x 1.5" panels. Next, I distressed the hard edges by ripping chunks off the foam and using a wood file. I also scratched the front surface of the foam to create more texture. After I primed the panels (hint for the future: styrofoam is very thirsty and takes more primer than you would expect; and it doesn't dry as quickly either), I used a light gray as a base coat. Next, I used a two-color scumble painting technique and lots of water to push the texture coloring around the panels.

I very happy with how they turned out; and so are my supervisors.

Just 1 Word

I recently discovered a website to help me with my daily bible reading.

www.just1word.com

Just1Word.com is the hip and trendy, user friendly, creative little brother (no real relation) to BibleGateway.com's resourcefulness. The bible site is very interactive, which you don't often get from online bible reading, and which is why most people prefer to read the bible from a printed text. The trouble, i.e. laziness, we then run into is not taking the time to open the book in a quiet place and read.

In the same way many people spend idle time on Facebook and Twitter (and yes I am equally guilty) we can navigate to Just1Word.com and browse the scriptures. So next time you are just surfing the web, checking Facebook, playing Solitaire, or reading blogs (like this one), mosey on over to www.just1word.com.

Now that the unofficial commercial is out of the way, allow me to share with you a little about what I read recently.

Proverbs 2

"The Lord gives wisdom ... and guards the path of justice"

"you will understand righteousness and justice and equity, every good path."

(wisdom will) "deliver you from the way of evil, from men of perverted speech."

Our world is filled with men of perverted speech. These men have a false understanding of what it means to be masculine. They tell jokes that are inappropriate and use language that is offensive.

Sure there are some, those who are Christians, who might justify their words and deeds with a line like, "well, the gospel is offensive, the cross is offensive, Christianity is offensive" excusing themselves of ill-manners and behavior that leaves many in disgust.

The nugget that I find in Proverbs 2, is that with wisdom, we are delivered from the temptations of Satan and the sin of our flesh. With wisdom, we are out of excuses; for the Lord reveals His righteousness, justice, and the good path.

Someone once likened the way we obtain wisdom to the way we learn to drive = in the same way that we learn how to drive a car in order to respond properly to any situation that might occur on the road.

Dear Lord,

I pray that I might live in such a way that in times of oncoming traffic, fog, black ice, and DWI's I will respond rightly.

Thank you for promising wisdom to those who ask.

In your name,

Amen

Hope Fully

You may have noticed a minor subtheme to this blog in the form of titles and salutations.

Hope:Fully

One day this summer as I was thinking about ministry and God's provision, I realized the absurdity of the common use of the word "hopefully." Most of us spout off this word as a meager and doubt-filled answer to questions about our future (e.g. "Are you going to be a pastor some day?" - "Hopefully.")

I find this to be dreadful. Consider the trust that is implied by such a powerful word.

"Let your steadfast love, O Lord, be upon us, even as we hope in you." Psalms 33:22

So, have hope. And know that you are assured by the grace of God. He is ruler of all things and perfect in power and justice.

There's no need to doubt when our hope is in the Lord.

"Delight yourself in the Lord, and He will give you the desires of your heart." Psalms 37:4

Hope Fully,

Adam

Emersion

With the internship underway, I have been thrust into the mix, downloading information at record speeds. I didn't know I could digest so much and so quickly; yet another evidence of God's miraculous power.

The focus of my work this past week has been assimilation and emersion into WLD culture and technology. Timelines, deadlines, software, hardware, my brain is desperately trying to get completely caught up to everyone else. At times I have been too hard on myself thinking, "I'm supposed to be making everyone's life easier and helping things move quicker but instead I'm slowing people down as they take the necessary time to train me." I forget that training is necessary and I demand immediate results from myself. Please pray that I grow more gracious and patient with myself.

On the plus side, I'm learning a ton. For example, The Journey uses "Planning Center Online" to schedule their services, their worship set-lists, AND their volunteers. It takes the administrative headache out of coordinating volunteers and makes "serving in the church" user friendly. True it doesn't create a servant-heart, but it certainly helps the church as whole from the top down.

This week in our Grudem book study, we are reading about The Atonement. My favorite quote so far:

"Was there any other way for God to save human beings than by sending His Son to die in our place? Before answering this question, it is important to realize that it was not necessary for God to save any people at all." - Wayne Grudem, Systematic Theology

It reminds me that, as God, He could have done and can do anything He desires ... and He chose to spare me the punishment that I so deeply deserve. He sacrificed His Son, in my place. He didn't have to, but He did it anyway. Praise Him.

Hope Fully,

Adam

Regular Updates: GO

I said I would keep everyone updated regularly. Today is a great day to begin those updates.

Monday 8.17 was my first official start date with The Journey. Thank you for helping to make this internship possible; I have already been so blessed and affirmed that this is God's plan and to know that you have gone ahead of me in prayer and support is fantastic. God is so good.

On Monday the Worship Leadership Department (WLD) begins the day with a book study. Each week we are to read a chapter and come prepared to discuss how God revealed Himself to us and how we can apply what we have read to our daily life. The current book of choice happens to be Wayne Grudem's "Systematic Theology." My guys from Va Beach will know how pumped I am to be diving into such a rich text on God and what His Word has to say about who He is.

After the book discussion, we prayed with one another for an hour before beginning a busy meeting the team calls: Tactical. At this time we each announce our responsibilities for the week and look to each other for ways to help with the tasks. This week I am responsible for re-designing the lighting plan in the venue at 4900 Reber Place. My next priority is assisting the Video Production head, Zak Mussig, with creating short films of interviews in preparation for our next sermon series.

I am so happy to be working alongside these driven men, striving for God's glory through excellent church production and leadership.

Please pray for Rachel and me; we are still ironing out our apartment and learning how to serve each other through the duties at home. We know God has brought us to this place and we are both looking for ways to live out the gospel.

PS. She got a job at V'shon High School, teaching 10th grade literacy. She will also be coaching girls Cross Country! I am so proud of her; she will be a wonderful role model for her students.

Hope:Fully

Adam

Welcome

Thank you for your interest in what God has been doing to and through me.  I'm really excited about what He has in store and I'm thrilled to have this opportunity to share it with you.  

Being the Lord of all things, God rules the world wide web and it is a privilege, by grace, to use this gift to communicate with you.  May you find encouragement, order, and truth in my shared thoughts.

Last summer, I grew so energized by the Holy Spirit as He used me to bring people into relationship with Jesus Christ!  I was on a gospel sharing missions trip in Virginia Beach, VA for my personal spiritual growth and leadership development.

God used this experience to show me my passion and gifting, and to give me a specific vision for my life in ministry: to remove obstacles that keep people from a relationship with Christ Jesus.  Some examples of this mission include: redefining stereotypes, using technology and other means for attractive church production and structure, equipping men to lead and serve others well, and to become a pastor of a church.

I had no idea how soon this desire and direction would become reality.  With one year left at the University of Michigan, by God’s grace I embraced several opportunities to serve and grow.  My redeemed focus drove me to reach out and disciple guys through example and truth.  I entered into a fully Christ-centered relationship with my beautiful fiance, Rachel Pedersen.  She is the most encouraging, spiritual woman I know and God predestined our life together before the foundations of the world!  

At Huron Hills Baptist Church, I stepped up my commitment to a more regular worship-leading schedule on Sunday mornings and I assisted the Associate Pastor with small group development, connection ministry, and leadership vision casting.  God used these encounters to build me up, equipping me for what I believe is a life in church ministry.  

My next step involves a one year internship at The Journey, St. Louis, with the Worship Leadership Department.  There I will be able to continue developing my passion and equipment for church leadership.

It is my prayer that God will encourage you to support me amicably, prayerfully, and financially in this direction.  

God's will is first for His Kingdom and His Righteousness; therefore, these two things I will pursue first, in faith that He will provide everything else.

Hope:Fully

Adam