Sojourn - Thoughts From The Band

Where Are They Now?

2007-05-22T08:06:00.001-07:00

What are the members of Sojourn up to these days?

Adam

Well, my wife Marge and I (Adam) have just passed the application phase of being accepted for missionary service with ABWE (Association of Baptists for World Evanglism). Look at previous blog posts for more information on that or go to my missions blog at http://journey2missions.blogspot.com/.

I also keep a blog where I write about me being diagnosed with Asperger Syndrome, and my thoughts related to it. http://aspiesinc.blogspot.com/

I miss rockin with the guys. I don't know if or when we will do any kind of a formal concert, but it will be fun to get together to hand out every so often.

Dean

Dean, is an elder in his church. He is spending his spare time also serving as worship leader. Marge and I had a chance to visit his church a couple of weeks ago. Dean and I sang a couple of Sojourn songs together. It felt really good. Dean does an excellent job as worship leader, and the service was a blessing.

John and Tim:

--need infor from them--

I'll update this soon to let you know what they are up to

Sojourn Alumni:

Scott Parmenter

Scott works as a pattern maker (car parts not dresses). In his spare time he is in the Gospel quarter Imperfect Covers. He and his wife are learning how to be chocolatiers and they also have fun making gormet meals together. Their home is a nice place to visit for meals.

Steve Terwilliger

--Check back here later for an update--

Denny Jeltema

--Check back here later for an update--

2007-05-22T08:04:00.000-07:00

1) Progress Update
2) Journey to the Czech Republic
3) Please Pray
4) Donations Accepted
5) Calendar
6) Keep in Touch

PROGRESS UPDATE
We've passed an important milestone in our mission journey. Saturday 29-April-2007 we sat for the Doctrinal Oral Exam. Don Trott, from ABWE, presided over the meeting in which Bethel leadership questioned us on matters of Bible doctrine. The intent is to confirm that our grasp of truth from the Bible is scripturally sound and consistent with that of our church and ABWE. We passed that examination and are honored that Bethel leaders consider us trustworthy to communicate God's Word (the Bible) throughout the world. The following day (Sunday) during the morning church service pastor Arledge affirmed Bethel's commitment to be our sending church and to be supportive of us both on and off the field.

Then on Monday we received a confirmation e-mail from Don Trott that we have been approved to attend Candidate Seminar. We felt a mix of elation, relief and a sense of wonder. Candidate Seminar runs Saturday 7-July through Sunday 15-July, and at the successful completion of Candidate Seminar we will be recognized as missionary appointees.
We feel a sense of wonder, because God is accomplishing His work in our lives. It seems that as we are willing to move forward in faith, God strengthens our faith and becomes in our perception all the more real and powerful.

When we return from Candidate Seminar we will be putting our house up for sale. We may have to live in an apartment for a while, but we want to be ready to go when the time is right.

JOURNEY TO THE CZECH REPUBLIC
I checked on our passports, for which we applied over eight weeks ago, and was assured that they are "being worked on", so we went ahead and purchased the tickets. This survey trip is the next important milestone in discerning God's direction for our lives. The trip will cost about $2700, and so far family and friends have donated about $1,200. The trip is outside our human means, so it's exciting to see God provide for our needs.

The purpose of the trip is for Marge and me to have exposure to the culture, language, and the work ABWE is doing in the Czech Republic. It's also important for Pastor Barnes to get more exposure to us. It is critical that Pastor Barnes, his family, and we Parmenters can enjoy being together and working together. The unity and emotional health of a mission team is critical to successful mission work.

PRAY FOR US
Prayer is of greatest importance in living and working for God. Please pray for us.

*Pray that each member of our family will develop and continue the habit of daily times of quiet with God (prayer, reading and meditating in the Bible).
*Pray that we would continue to learn how to be bold in our faith while we exercise prudent wisdom. The two go together.
*Pray that the Holy Spirit will fill us with a child-like faith, trusting God for passports, finances, and clear direction.

DONATIONS ACCEPTED
We are encouraged by the gifts that have been sent to Bethel for us. Please, don't think of it as just a financial donation. All of you who have given to our support, are participating in God's work in the lives of the Parmenter family and ultimately in the lives of those whom we serve. You are also encouraging the people of Bethel, by showing us that God provides through generous people to do whatever He has in mind.

If you would like to help out with our Survey Trip expenses, please send a check made payable to Bethel Baptist Church and note Parmenter Missions in the memo portion of the check. You can send your donation to

ATTN: Donation for Parmenter Missions Bethel Baptist Church 402 South Westnedge Kalamazoo, MI 49007

CALENDAR
Sunday 6-May-2007 First Baptist Church, South Haven, MI / Adam singing, AM service Sunday 13-May-2007 Home at Bethel Baptist Church, Kalamazoo, MI Sunday 20-May-2007 Covenant Community Church, Redford Township, MI / Adam singing, AM service Sunday 27-May-2007 Home at Bethel Baptist Church, Kalamazoo, MI 2-June through 11-June Survey Trip to Czech Republic

Parmenter Missions

2007-05-12T07:19:00.000-07:00

I'm sending out a monthly newsletter that covers the Parmenter's progress. Send me an e-mail if you want to get a copy of it.

adam(at)parmenterclan.com

In the e-mail address above replace (at) with @ so that it will work.

Adam

Parmenter Missions March Update

2007-03-18T16:09:00.000-07:00

This is a reprint of the Monthly Parmenter Family Missions e-Mail Update

To see more regular postings on Parmenter Missions efforts go to http://journey2missions.blogspot.com/

PROGRESS UPDATE

Marge and I have two requirements before we are cleared to attend Candidate Seminar. One is to complete a doctrinal oral exam. The second is to go on a survey trip. The more we learn the more we feel a draw to Eastern Europe, and the Czech Republic in particular. So, I'm committing time each day to beef up my understanding of the core teachings of our Christian faith. The idea being that Marge and I will be able to articulate what we believe and point to where that belief is supported in the Bible. It's a little daunting to think of such an exam, but the study has invigorated my mind and heart, and brought into a deeper sense of awe and wonder at who God is. I'm also taking a leadership training course with the deacons at our home church Bethel Baptist. Marge is studying for the doctrinal exam as well, but is also kept very busy learning how to cook for the kids and me with our new diet restrictions. No gluten and no mild proteins (and a few other restrictions). The diet change has improved my health and mental function measurably. It's had a big impact on the children as well. My wife is an encouragement to us.

JOURNEY TO THE CZECH REPUBLIC

My weekend with Pastor Barnes from the Czech Republic went well (see previous update). It was sobering to realize that Marge and I are feeling more and more drawn to this place. I spoke some more with Don Trott the Missions Mobilizer from ABWE and with Pastor Barnes, and we agreed that now is the time to schedule a survey trip. I also found out that applicants for service in Eastern Europe are required to take a survey trip and ABWE wants us to do so prior to attending Candidate Seminar. We've set a date for 2-June-2007 through 12-June-2007. I don't have many more details about it yet, but those will develop as the time draws near. The survey trip will differ from a typical missions trip in that the purpose is to get as big of a dose of the culture and ministry as possible. So, I'm hoping that we use mass transit, do things like shop in the grocery store and make our way around town. That gives us a feel for the first year on the field. I also hope that we can meet as many of the families from the church there as possible. The trip presents challenges of financing and locating a competent Christian adult to stay with the children while we travel. It will be exciting and affirming to see how God provides. PLEASE

PRAY
Pray that we as a family each will develop and continue a daily time of quiet with God. Pray that we would grow to enjoy these times, and guard those times.
Pray that we would continue to learn how to both step out in faith, and exercises prudent wisdom.
Pray that we would trust in God to provide our finances. Pray that we would have a trusting child-like faith.

DONATIONS ACCEPTED

My family and I are grateful for those who have chosen to send money. I haven't seen a list of who has donated yet, so I can't thank you personally. However, enough generous donations have come into Bethel to cover the cost of my trip to Newark last weekend, and to cover the cost of purchasing passports in preparation for the trip to the Czech Republic. I don't have the exact costs yet, but it could cost us as much as $3,000. We are thrilled over how God has provided so far, and know that he will equip us to do all that He has planned. As always, please don't feel any pressure to give money. Your prayers and friendship are most important. However, if you feel God leading you to help monetarily, send donations to:
ATTN: Donation for Parmenter Missions
Bethel Baptist Church
402 South Westnedge
Kalamazoo, MI 49007

FINAL THOUGHTS

I'm not afraid any more. I just realised that today. For quite a while I was having missions panic attacks. When I decided to travel to Newark to meet with Pastor Barnes, I was very worried. Now I'm getting this feeling of calm. I'm realising that I'm safer taking risks with God than living in my own will. This experience has made me a better man and drawn me closer to God.
In Christ,
Adam Parmenter
On behalf of Marge and the kids

Guys Night Out

2007-03-05T14:10:00.000-08:00

Last thursday, the guys in the band got together for an evening together and a little jamming. We mostly talked as we hadn't been together for a long time. It was great just to hang out and catch up with each other.

We jam for a bit. A bit rusty, but it still sounded good. Out "set list" was
Faith
Here With Me
For Today
All My Dreams
Cats In The Cradle
There Is Hope
Seasons

It was a great night.

Adam

Talking Dog for Sale

2007-02-27T11:57:00.000-08:00

There is no real point in this posting other than I thought the joke below was funny.

------------

It was late afternoon near Savannah, Tennessee. Johnny was riding back from a gig in Nashville. He sat with his head against the window of the bus looking bored at the roadside as it passed. A sign in front of a house changed his boredom to curiosity, and he had his driver turn around. The sign said:

“Talking Dog for Sale”

He rings the bell and the owner tells him the dog is in the backyard. The guy goes into the backyard and sees a yellow Labrador retriever sitting there.

“You talk?” he asks.

“Yep,” the Lab replies.

“So, what's your story?”

The Lab looks up and says, "Well, I discovered that I could talk when I was pretty young. I wanted to help the government, so I told the CIA about my gift, and in no time at all they had me jetting from country to country, sitting in rooms with spies and world leaders, because no one figured a dog would be eavesdropping. I was one of their most valuable spies for eight years running."

"But the jetting around really tired me out, and I knew I wasn't getting any younger so I decided to settle down. I signed up for a job at the airport to do some undercover security wandering near suspicious characters and listening in."

"I uncovered some incredible dealings and was awarded a batch of medals. I got married, had a mess of puppies, and now I'm just retired."

Johnny is amazed. He goes back in and asks the owner what he wants for the dog.

"Ten dollars," the singer says.

"Ten dollars? This dog is amazing. Why on earth are you selling him so cheap?"

"'Cause he's a liar! He never did any of that stuff!"

----------------

Adam

Missions Update

2007-02-12T06:58:00.000-08:00

I have been corresponding via e-mail with Pastor Ron Barnes for the past couple of weeks. Ron Barnes is an ABWE missionary involved with church planting and training in the Czech Republic. Several years ago the president of the Baptist Union in the Czech Republic invited ABWE to assist them in the work of church planting, Bible training, and leadership training in the Southern Bohemia region.

The Czech Republic is one of the more stable post-communist countries in Eastern Europe. However, 60% of adults identify themselves as atheists. It is the least evangelized country in Eastern Europe. In Southern Bohemia there is only one Baptist church which is in the city of Ceske Budejovice. There are few other Bible believing churches in the region. Pastor Barnes is currently supporting the work of the Baptist church in Ceske Budejovice, and two other church plants that will be starting up within the year. He is also coordinating work on starting a Bible Seminary in a nearby city.

I sent Pastor Barnes some information about me, our family, and our call to missions, and we corresponded a number of times via e-mail. The work in Southern Bohemia is of great interest to us, so I made arrangements for Pastor Barnes to call me via internet phone on Saturday morning. I was on one phone and Marge and the children were on the speaker phone. We spent about two hours getting to know one another, and working to get a broader sense of the work and culture in the Southern Bohemia region of the Czech Republic. It turns out that he will be in the states for about one week, and will have the afternoon free on Sunday 18-Feb.

After Marge and I spoke with him on the phone, we really felt like working with the team in the Czech Republic could be an excellent fit for us. Typically the next step is to take a survey trip to meet the team there, spend time with the church members and leaders, and experience the culture. However, since Pastor Barnes is going to be in the states, I decided the best next step would be to fly out to Newark where he will be and spend the afternoon with him. We’ll share a hotel room together and then go our separate ways. Choosing a field of service and joining a missionary team is something like a marriage.

If my meeting with Pastor Barnes goes well, and we all think we should take the next step, then we will schedule a survey trip. This is all very new for me, and asking for help is not something I am accustomed to do. That said, I have already received several offers to help with travel expenses, and that help will be needed. These trips are completely outside our budget, so we are trusting God to provide, and believe He will.

Donations Accepted

Bethel Baptist Church has set up a special account for anyone who would like to donate toward our missionary expenses. This account is only temporary in that when we are officially appointed as ABWE missionaries, then we will have an account set up with them. We will be appointed as ABWE missionaries upon successful completion of Candidate Seminar.

In the meantime we will have several times when we will need to travel. I’m already starting to set up dates to go share my testimony and sing at some churches where I have family or I have been to before. I’m not officially raising support, but this gives me an opportunity to make contact, encourage people, and share with them how God has been working in our lives. We will need help with the expenses of traveling to churches, the trip this weekend, the survey trip, and travel to Candidate Seminar.

As always, please don’t feel any pressure to give money. Your prayers and friendship are most important. However, if you would like to give some money, please send it to:

ATTN: Donation for Parmenter Missions
Bethel Baptist Church
402 South Westnedge
Kalamazoo, MI 49007

Keep in touch.

We would love to hear how you are doing. The best way to get in touch with us is via this e-mail link. If you would like to send us an old fashioned paper letter, I promise one of us (or several of us) will write back to you. You can write to us at Parmenter Family 1512 Bank Street, Kalamazoo, MI 49001.

Finally, let me know how we can pray for you. We want to support you with our prayers even as you are so kindly praying for us.

In Christ,

Adam Parmenter
On behalf of Marge and the kids

Czech

2007-02-09T09:46:00.001-08:00

I've been corresponding with the missionary who is the country coordinator for the Czech Republic. He is getting a new work going there in the Southern Bohemia (a region of the Czech republic). There is only one Baptist church in Southern Bohemia.

ABWE reports that in a survey 60% of adults identified themselves as atheists. ABWE was invited in to work in Southern Bohemia to train national believers as maturing believers, leaders, and church planters.

I've been reading a little about Bohemia and learning what I can. Marge and I are very interested, and are scheduled to have a phone conversation with Pastor Ron Barnes who is the team leader/country coordinator in the Czech Republic.

Pray that if this is the best place for us to serve the Lord that God will clearly draw our family to the work there.

Adam

Baby It's Cold Outside

2007-02-06T07:58:00.001-08:00

It's been wind chill of up to 20 below the last several days here in balmy Kalamazoo, Michigan. Marge and I are finishing up an assignment called "Grey Areas". It's a tape series about dealing with life style issues to which scripture does not make a definitive statement.

Obviously, this will be an issue requiring maturity on our part as we join with a team of missionaries who are from various background in a culture that is foreign to our own.

After that we will be studying up for our doctrinal oral exam. We also are supposed to review a book that is designed for study with new Christian. They would like us to go through it with a new Christian. We are going to go through it as a family first, and then think through who else we could study it with.

The other preparation work is financial. We are looking at our debt, which is small by most standards. If we sold our house today, we would likely pay it all off. We aren't waiting or that, so last night we sat down and planned out our savings and checking cash flow, tax returns, and some reimbursements that we'll be getting and what we'll be able to put toward debt.

We've cut out things like home internet access, and video rentals. We are also checking with each other before we spend any money not on the list. That's no fun. However, the cool thing is that we are planning on building up a small cash reserve. We haven't had that so that unexpected expenses always turn into credit card debt.

We'll shortly be developing a missions wish list, because there are certain items that we'll never be able to afford. We're discovering that there are people that want to help out. Things like a projector and lap top for Presentations at churches. The lap top will also help with studies, etc. It feels funny asking for gifts. I want to earn everything on my own, but I know that part of the way others participate in our missions journey is by giving. So, I'm learning how to receive.

By, the way, I'm setting up a missions newsletter. If you would like to receive it, please click this link, send me an e-mail, and request being added to the e-mail newsletter.

Adam

Join the Journey

2007-01-15T10:41:00.000-08:00

I used to wonder, how does somebody get from thinking, "Hmmmm, wouldn't it be cool to be a missionary?" to finishing up their first term and heading back for home assignment.

Well, I'm finding out, and going about it a little clumsily. There are people to guide us, but we still need to stumble our way through. I hope my blog entries are interesting and informative.

If you want to get updates directly to your e-mail please contact me at this link. I'll try to keep them to once per month. More frequent updates will be in the blog.

Adam

Waiting On God's Timing

2007-01-15T10:40:00.000-08:00

Well, Marge and I were racing to be ready for the February Candidate Seminar at ABWE, but just recently have decided to wait until the Candidate Seminar that will be held this July. I'm disappointed, and a little frustrated. At the same time, I have every confidence (and Marge does too), that it is the right choice. Our "Missionary Mobilzer" at ABWE also felt that it might be best. He, Don Trott, was thinking of our children. If we are at the July Candidate Seminar, it won't disrupt the children's schooling. It will also be cheaper for us as we can send the children off to visit family while we are gone. It will also give us time to pay off our credit card debt. I doubt very much that ABWE will appoint us as missionaries with Credit card debt. It also gives us more time to study for our oral doctrinal exam.

It felt like a crash, as I was eager to discover where God would be sending us and the work that He had set aside for us to do. If we had gone to the February Candidate Seminar, would could have started raising support in March. Everything seemed to moving very fast, and I believe God is slowing things down for a reason.

"O Lord, though has searched me, and known me. Thou knowest my downsitting and mine uprising, thou understandest my though afar off. Thou compassest my path and my lying down, and art acquainted with all my ways." Paslm 139: 1-3 (King James Translation)

I believe God is sovereign, and that He really does have a plan for us. He knows that we have been delayed, and this was not outside of his control. Rather, I think, that He is working in the circumstances in order to re-shape us, and make us more like Jesus. Being more like Jesus is to my benefit, and also brings God glory and pleasure.

I'm still a little confused. I believe that God has some unique things for us to do, but it's not clear to me right now. It's quite difficult for me to wait and pray. I tend to either do or freeze. God used Paslm 139 to shift my thinking and build my trust.

"Thou compassest my path and my lying down . . ."

A lot of people prefer the newer translations of scripture, but the old translation is what I grew up with and it is that to which my heart returns. It isn't really difficult to understand: The Lord has my path surrounded and surrounds me even when I am asleep. The scripture doesn't even say that I am supposed to ask for God's protection, it is something that He does.

Paslm 139 goes on to talk about God's exhaustive knowledge of me and his everpresent spirit. I am never alone. He never leaves me. Since I know that God is absolutely loving, absolutely wise, and absolutely holy, I know that the Lord will do what is best for me and His glory.

I want God's best. I want to willingly submit to His timing and trust His will.

Thanks for reading about the struggle.

Keep the Parmenter's in your prayers.

Adam

Ice Ice Baby

2007-01-15T04:21:00.000-08:00

Today is the day honoring Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. So, my employer is closed and I get a day off with pay. The children still were to have school.

The alarm went off and I turned on the radio. My wife and I will often lay in bed and listen to the half hour news cast on NPR. That means I fall in and out of sleep and miss most of it. My wife said, school is closed because of ice. Suddenly I was awake as I saw flashes outside my window.

Venturing downstairs to the front door and stepped in the morning chill. The branches on every bush and tree creaked in the gentle wind like the bones of a 95 year old man.

If that gentle wind becomes any stronger the wheight of the ice could start breaking off those branches, and the power lines strung outside our house.

This happened once before, during an early October ice storm. Then the ice added wheight to both the branches and all the leaves that were still on the trees. Branches were down everywhere, and so where power lines.

Right now everything is covered with an eighth to quarter inch of ice.

Curious what happens next.

Later

Adam

Today I Cursed God

2007-01-12T11:23:00.000-08:00

I've never done that before. Not like I did today. I just poured out. Not a string of curse words, just a single two word phrase, and I said it with invective.

I'm not even sure if that's correct word usage. Saying it with invective. But this is a blog, so I can make up words and use them if I want to.

I had an experience that shook me to the core. For a day, I stared at God in disbelief. Unwilling to believe that He could allow what He had allowed to happen.

I don't remember much else of what I said. I'm sure I said something like "How could you do this to me!?" Then, to add to it I got angry all over again about the chronic pain of fibromyalgia and the frustration of Asperger syndrome, and I could feel the frustration building up in me like Mentos and a Diet Pepsi. Just at the moment of critical pressure the cap exploded off and I cursed God.

I immediately thought of Job, who had learned of the death of all of his children, and the complete loss of his entire business. Then to top it off, Job came down with a painful case of boils all over his body.

Job was a tough act though. He scraped the boils with a scrap piece of pottery, and then sat in a pile of ashes. The ashes was to signify sorrow and repentance. You remember the saying, "sack cloth and ashes". His wife saw him there being noble and she said (I'll paraphrase), screw your integrity, just curse God and die!

You can read the actual account in the Bible in the section called, "Job". Job didn't curse God, but he struggled to come to grips why God had allowed such evil to befall him.

I didn't experience one little sliver of what Job had to go through, but there I was practically flipping God off. I'm disappointed in myself actually. I say that I'm willing to live and die for Christ, but when He allows some extreme disappointment and hurt to enter my life, I turn on Him like a made dog.

I had been thinking how much I had grown spiritually lately. I have actually. My perspective is changing, and it is a rich and rewarding experience. That said, God gave me a glimpse into an ugly cesspool, that I had careful kept concealed from myself: I don't trust God to be good to me. In fact, I actually expect God not to do anything in my life. My faith is growing, my trust in God's sovereignty, and my sense of adoration and wonder is in its healthy infancy. My sense of enthusiastic trust is quite missing.

In the back of my mind was the motto: If at first you don't succeed, try and fail, try and fail again. So, when one of the rocks that I place my trust in was swept away from me this week, I was left with only God to trust in, and I was shaken to the core.

The drama and heartache of that day was resolved by that evening. Resolved completely, yet my emotions and intellect are still smarting from the experience.

How do I desire God above all else? I want such a desire.

How can God come to be the one and only rock, the foundation of my life? I want Him to be.

How can I trust God at all times, regardless of what circumstances He allows into my life. I believe that the Bible is true, and it says to trust in God with all my heart. That means, when the worst possible circumstance is sprung upon me, God is allowing it for my good and His ultimate glory.

I know those things, and believe them to be true, but I don't presently live inside them. That implicit trust hasn't become an integral part of my grid through which I view the world. My paradigm.

Time for a paradigm shift.

Gifting

2007-01-08T18:11:00.001-08:00

So what are spiritual gifts? I've been reading about these lately, and have been considering them. Wiser men then me have written large books about them, but what strikes me most is that they are given to all believers in varying measure in order to serve and build up other believers. The purpose is so that church (i.e. the gathering of believers) may be taught and mentored into being like Jesus.

For me, that states what I want to be as a missionary: I want to be an equipper. I want to use my skills to teach, train, and mentor people into a mature relationship with Christ. A relationship in which those I serve will in-turn mentor, teach, or train. I feel drawn to work with young men and children. I think, I enjoy the openness of children and their sense of wonder.

It's exciting to investigate and discover the treasures hidden in God's Word. They're there for anyone with the time and willingness to dig for them. For example, the first chapter in Genesis is a vast treasure trove of wonder. I've made several presentations on the wonder and vast artistry of God's creative power. Using Microsoft PowerPoint and pictures drawn from the internet, you can expose people to that very wonder buried in the text of Genesis chapter 1. Frankly, I've only scratched the surface. Romans 1:20 says that God's invisible attributes can be perceived from what He has made. It's like an art historian telling you about what a certain painter was like by looking at the paintings. So, I had a PowerPoint slide show that took a glimpse at the vastness of outer space to the minutia of sub-atomic particles called quarks. In both those macro and micro scales there is an orderliness and system to all things that betrays the hand of a maker. There is no evidence of random chance in the created order of things. There is also an indication of God fierceness in the roaring rage of the lion or black bear. There is also an indication of God's tenderness in the gentle warmth of a kitten and the trust of an infant.

I could go on and on, but these sorts of visual tours of creation fascinate and awe me as they introduce me to the God who both gave his life for sinners in Jesus Christ and indwells all who believe in God's Holy Spirit. The God who made the universe is the same God who raised Jesus from the dead. The same God whose Spirit dwells in all believers.

Anyway, I've gotten distracted.

I want to spend my days introducing people to the fullest wonder of my Lord Jesus: God and Lord, Savior, and King. I'm not sure what that gift is, but I'm eager to use it more.

References and Reactions

2007-01-06T12:08:00.000-08:00

It's funny how some of the people reacted to being asked to provide a personal reference to ABWE on Marge, myself or both. I felt honored that a brother-in-law of mine wanted to talk to me first and then give it some prayer. He wanted what he had to say to be "spirit lead". It humbled and honored me that he took it so seriously. Others were really excited to be part of us going to the mission field and couldn't wait to find out where we finally decided to go. For me there are a couple people who were willing to do the reference, but made it clear that they didn't understand why I would want to do such a thing.

Speaking of reactions, it has been curious the variety of reactions that I get. Frankly, I see myself as just an average guy. Really. I think that I'm fairly bright in some respects, but far from brilliant or monumental in any way. I will say that there are times recently when I've said or sung something as an act of humble service to God and it has come out as profound and moving. I credit that entirely to God's work. Even as a singer I am average. I am good at singing and song writing, but I am in no way great. I'm not using some kind of false modesty. Compared to singers or song writers in the business, the great ones stand far above me.

So, you can imagine that the fact that ABWE (or BGC for that matter) encouraged us in our pursuit of missions was a surprise. I kept expecting some one at some point to make us put on the breaks and say, "Why don't you just stay here in the states and support missions." That hasn't happened. Quite the contrary with ABWE, I have been looking at some of their various works and there are a number of opportunities for some one such as myself.

So, for me it is an honor and a privilege to be considered for service as a missionary. It is a natural extension of my relationship with Jesus Christ and how it is growing. Also, it is a response for my desire to have more time to do church stuff. I want to spend time mentoring and teaching people. That's my reaction to this whole journey to missions: surprise and gratitude.

There are some at work that are in "awe", so to speak, that I would even attempt such a thing. There is one that looks at me as sort of some kind of hero of the Christian faith. That always throws me to hear that kind of response. I think any Christian who has even a little desire to serve could turn the skills God has given them toward missionary service.

We have some friends and acquaintances that have told us, when you start raising support, come talk to us. We want to support you financially. That is humbling as well. For any missionary candidate it is important that they build a support team around them, but understanding what that is has taken a great deal of thought on my part.

I have to confess, that for me, my level of "support" to many missionaries has been their prayer picture card is stuck to my refrigerator by a magnet. Is that how those of us at "home" participate in the work of a missionary?

Our parents are cautiously supportive. For both sets of parents it makes them a little nervous to see their children and grand children flinging themselves into the unknown. This process all started in April, and at the very earliest we will be on the mission field in early 2008. I'm hoping that gives enough times for all of our friends and loved ones to get used to the idea, and for us to communicate a sense of why we are going and how they can help.

Adam

ABWE - Pealing Me Open Again

2007-01-05T12:30:00.000-08:00

I feel like I'm getting pealed open again, but this time it's different. When Marge and I applied for the BGC Missions Assessment Conference, I felt like we were getting pealed open like a can of beans. It was a little unnerving.

As we are making application with ABWE it feels different. One reason it feels different is that I have done something like it already. I've kept making a point that the BGC event wasn't strictly for the purposes of screening BGC missionary candidates. That said, it was very much that.

Going into it Marge and I understood that they might very likely have an opening for us to consider. At the conference itself, however, of the five couple there, only one couple was specifically planning on pursuing a BGC missionary position.

Looking back on the Missionary Assessment Conference, it was three days well spent, but I still feel disappointment at the outcome. I'm not sure why. Perhaps a certain amount of embarrassment that they offered us a short term position and then the team in the field said that they didn't want us. Frustration that they so far have had nothing more to offer.It's hard when the assessors at the conference confirmed, "You are clearly called to missions", and so enthusiastically told us we would be perfect for a certain position, then that position fell through and the process stopped. I wish they would have said that they weren't sure what to do with us right away.

So, in a way, were approved as candidates for BGC with no position to which to go. They did throw out some other ideas, but nothing fit. In contrast, ABWE has such a broad spectrum of positions and countries that they are working with us to seek out God's will. That has been refreshing. They have a nurturing quality in their interactions. So we are nearly complete in the application process for ABWE.Some of the application information has been similar to what we completed for BGC. The nice thing is that all the forms are web forms that you "submit" online. So, I have a little web site that I log into to complete forms or check my progress. At the initial stage there is a preliminary application. If the prelim app hasn't been accepted by ABWE then the links for all the application stuff on the page don't work. Once the prelim app is accepted, then the long form application unlocks as do some other links.

The long form application asks about family, job, and church history. You also provide health history, and answer questions about major influences in your life. They ask you to provide at least 17 names for references. If you provide them with an e-mail address for a person then that person gets a web link via e-mail and the reference form is completed online.Another part of the application process is reading a text book on missions, a book on the history of ABWE, watching a DVD on ABWE, listening to a tape on conflict resolution and using a discipleship book with a new believer. I haven't done the discipleship book with the new believer yet. I don't really know any new believers.Probably the most unnerving part is the doctrinal exams. The first one is a multiple choice point and click 100+ question exam that you take online. Later we will be an oral examination before the ABWE Missions Moblizer. He is coming to Michigan to meet with us and others who are applying to be sent to missions by ABWE. They require your pastor to be present. I was told that during the oral exam they not only expect me to tell them what I believe, but have an idea of the general area in which a verse supporting my belief is found. Such as my saying Jesus and God are one is taught in the first chapter of the Gospel of John.Needless to say, Marge and I are studying vigorously.Also had to have some extra medical tests for stuff I would never have considered. I've never had a reason to get an aids test, and was a little embarrassed to get one.

We are nearly complete with the application process. The Missions Mobilizer, Don Trott, said that it can take three months to complete the application process or a matter of weeks. Other than a few things Marge and I will have completed it in about six weeks.I believe that we are on track for the Candidate Seminar in February. That is the final step before being "recognized" as a missionary by ABWE. Pray for Marge and I. We want to move in God's timing. If it's His timing, then all the pieces will be in place for us to attend the Candidate seminar.

Pray that God will help us make good financial decisions, and that we will grow in our faith and relationship with Christ.

Adam

ABWE

2006-12-09T06:03:00.000-08:00

Well, after a number of weeks and a couple contacts, it looks like things have dried up for us at the Baptist General Conference. Marge and I felt we should work with them from the Missionary Assessment Center through whatever possibilities they might put forward.

They had just about one option that they really put forward to us as a reality.

In retrospect, their size may make it difficult for them to give us personal attention and to work with an out-of-box couple such as ourselves. They have about 150 missionaries and only two people for all of their missionary recruitment. Curt Hanson coordinates their career missionaries and Deb Castig coordinates their short term missionaries.

So, Marge and I returned to pursuing ABWE. Association of Baptists for World Evangelism. ABWE has 1,000+ missionaries and 2 staff just for working with and guiding applicants through the process. Those two staff also have an admin. and an assistant. In addition once a missionary is appointed, there is a training staff who develop a personal training plan for missionary to help build up any areas where growth is needed. This training includes mentoring, classes, and even financial or marital counseling as needed. ABWE also pursues continuing education for all their missionaries.

I'm not attempting to bash BGC. Only to point out that ABWE is more equipped to work with an a-typical couple such as ourselves. We aren't late twenties with a seminary degree. Nor am I a medical professional. I'm a self taught preacher/teacher and largely on-the-job trained project manager. I have very little in the way of credential to commend me to any organization.

ABWE didn't bat an eye at my lack of an official credential. Their expressed concern is to help us discover God's leadership for our lives. If God is directing us toward missions, they want to help us locate the work that best enables us to serve and glorify God.

That's cool. Marge and I have something to offer. Everybody does really. I'm excited that ABWE has the staff to provide personal attention and guidance.

Marge and I are filling in the applications right now. There are also reading assignments as well as a face-to-face doctrinal interview. I'm praying that all of this will be done enough to allow us to enter Candidate Seminar February 3-11, 2006.

I have great hope for our relationship with ABWE. I told Marge, if for some reason it doesn't work out to go with ABWE, then we need to hit the breaks and take a hard look at our lives. Maybe a hard look at my life. I always have this fear that my lack of formal schooling or experience will create a road block. I wonder if maybe my health (fibromyalgia) will give them pause, or maybe they've never sent an adult (or children for that matter) with Asperger syndrome to the field before.

These things are all in God's hands, but it is a worry that niggles at the back of my mind.

Keep me in your prayers.

Adam

Journey to the Field - Bump in the Road

2006-11-13T07:11:00.000-08:00

What a weekend.

There was a specific assignment that Marge and I had been gearing up for, for weeks. They had asked us to consider running a mission house in Cebu, Philippines. We really, had given it serious consideration, and had sort fallen in for the idea.

unbeknownst to the Baptist General Conference (BGC) coordinator and us, one of the Philippine missionaries had found "the perfect" retired couple who had already agreed to run the mission house and was already in contact with the mission team in the Philippines.

So, when the BGC short term coordinator, Deb Castig, contact the team in the Philippines about us, they said no, they didn't want a family with two kids to come, they wanted the other couple.

So, we got that news on Wednesday.

It was a test of our commitment to trust God and continue toward missions. It also was a test of maturity. When I first got the news I was crushed. I had really got myself ready to do this thing. My immediate thought was, "forget the BGC! We'll just go somewhere else!" Fortunately I didn't say that to the BGC staff. Several hours later, I mellowed out and realized that God has been teaching me lately to look for the root issue and address it.

The root issue is that Marge and I felt we had formed a relationship with the BGC missions staff. So the next step would be to go to Arlington Heights (Illinois) anyway, and just ask lots of questions about what happens next.

It also occurred to me that Curt Hanson, BGC Career Missions coordinator, had spent three days with Marge and me during the MAC, but Deb Castig had only met me on the phone.

So, we went over there on Friday, and met with both Deb and Curt for several hours. It was pleasant, and my assessment is that Deb is a very competent and organized person. We discussed a number of possibilities of areas where we could use English in ministry and have opportunity to learn the language.

As always, my lack of credentials raises questions. There are possible teaching or preaching positions that I could do, but it would be a question of if the team on the field would balk at my lack of formal training.

So, now it's Monday, and my typical reaction would be to call Deb at BGC headquarters and say, "Any new ideas!". Instead, I've committed that I would simply wait, and pray for this week. If Deb Castig calls me, great! Marge and I both would like to have a target to consider, but we both know the target is the glory of God, and in every situation we can honor Him through simple trust.

I've been feeling bad lately, because I have trust, but I also have mistrust at the same time. Joy at following his design, and fear at leaping into the unknown. It made me feel fairly carnal. You know the drill, "OH, some Christian I am! I would rather stay, live a safe predictable life and earn good money." It didn't make sense that I had the desire and willingness to go anywhere and do anything for God, but had all these doubts and fears as well.

I read a great article that said (I'll paraphrase): Everyone knows how to do two things at once. Drive and eat lunch. Excited about a presentation and fearful about it at the same time. Yet, we feel like in matters of faith we have to be all or nothing. It shouldn't surprise us to have trust in God, and faith in His plan along with fears and doubts at the same time.

That was liberating to read. I am gripped with fear at times. I call them missions panic attacks. I'm leaving everything (or so it seems). We've talked about this as a family, and each of us can list things we will loose, things we will miss very much. Yet, I want to get on with it. I want to hit the road and start the work that God has for us. So, I am confident, and doubtful, eager and fearful all at once.

It is a tribute to how God has changed me over the years, that I'm willing to tolerate such ambiguity with out absolute panic or turning back to old "habits". I'm thankful too that God is "big enough" to know my desire to serve and please Him, and tolerate my failings as a patient heavenly Father.

Adam

Adam

Journey to the Field - It's Getting Serious

2006-11-07T10:50:00.000-08:00

This Friday, Marge, the children, and I will travel over to Baptist General Conference (BGC)headquarters in Arlington Heights, IL to meet with Deb Castig. Deb is the BGC director of short term missions.

Short term missions encompasses both the two week type of trip as well as the one, two and three year assignments. We want to get more information on the process of pursuing such an assignment with them (See MAC - Day Three near the bottom of the page). The BGC may have a specific opening for us that fits in with their suggestions. The idea would be to get some experience serving in a foreign culture before committing to a career missionary assignment. For our case, my wife and I heartily agree with the wisdom of that.

What happens after that short term assignment? Only God knows and I'm certain we'll have more clarity as that particular time gets closer. For now, I am consumed with study and preparation for this next step.

Also this weekend: the family that held the position prior to us is currently engaged in ministry in Cincinnati Ohio. So this Saturday we are hoping to be able to visit with them as well.

Tonight (Tue 7-Nov-2006), I will be meeting with the missions committee at my home church, Bethel Baptist. We want to bring them up to speed on developments, and verify that they continue to support our efforts.

Adam

Halloween - Playing Dress Up Everyday

2006-10-31T10:10:00.000-08:00

This post isn't really about Halloween. It's about playing dress-up.

For me there has always been this struggle over how much of the real me I reveal at work and how much I put on an appearance for the benefit of the people around me.

As an adult with Asperger Syndrome (read more) I have to carefully filter out a lot of who I am so that I can successfully interact with the neurotypical world. Unfortunately, I have a hard time turning off the filter at the right time.

I know, you thinking, everyone has that problem.

Granted. So help me understand how to quit play acting and starting sharing my faith at work in a dynamic and compelling way. I'm busy enough reminding myself not to rock back and forth at my desk and not to say half the stuff that comes into my mind. There's a million other things.

I can't be myself and keep my job. So, how do I let enough of my faith seep through that I have the opportunity to plainly and clearly share Christ?

I don't know, but I want to.

Adam

What If I Weren't Afraid?

2006-10-24T18:12:00.000-07:00

What if you had nothing left to fear?

I’ve been wondering how often we decide to do something or to avoid a particular thing because we are afraid. I read a book recently that encouraged me to keep asking the question, "What would I do if I were not afraid?"

Terror has become a common feature of American life. No one knows where or when the next strike could happen on American soil. Bridges, government buildings, shopping malls, communities, anyplace could be a target. We used to feel powerful. We used to feel safe from enemy invasion. Now nearly anybody could sneak across borders and destroy all that we enjoy.
What I wonder will happen on the West coast? Tornadoes in California? I didn’t think they got those. Has there ever been a Tsunami as devastating as the one that recently hit Asia? Tsunami wasn’t even a word that most of us used until the beginning of this year? What’s next? Tsunami hits America? Earthquake in the Midwest?

The news recently expounded on the growth of hate groups in the U.S. These are clubs of people that hate . . . I think they hate other groups of people, and want to drive them out, hurt or kill them. Am I safe from them.

I don’t even need to speak of domestic policy issues such as social security, job losses, and violence in our schools. Where and when will the next school shooting be? When I was growing up, school was a safe place.

Isn’t there some way we could be safe again? Some way we could be in control of our lives again?

The answer is no and yes.

Truth is we are never in control, and we never have been safe on our own. There never was a good-old-day. Violent men have always used aggression to have their way. Oppressive organizations have forced their will upon communities from the early days of our nation and throughout the world. Abuse and manipulation are not inventions of the twentieth or twenty-first centuries.

On the contrary, A September 9th, 2002 USA Today headline cheered, "Violent crime rate in America continues steep decline" An October, 25th, 2004 CNN headline also mentioned "crime in the United States dropped 3 percent last year, continuing the downward trend in the nation's crime rate over the past decade, the FBI announced".

So why am I so afraid?

I believe that one of the keys is that in America Christians have become more and more distant from the living impact of God’s word. Most Christians believe that the Bible is the infallible Word of God, true in every way. Unfortunately they believe it in the same way they believe that in 1492 Columbus sailed the ocean blue. I consider the existence of Columbus a fact, but it has no impact on my attitude, actions or relationships. In the same way I believe that we’ve allowed our belief in scripture to be divorced from whatever it is that drives our attitudes and actions.
II Corinthians 5:7 says, "We live by faith, not by sight." (NIV translation)

The impact here is that regardless of circumstances in which we find ourselves, our lives are based on unyielding beliefs in God’s goodness and love. We can go into the world without fear, because we believe that nothing can come into our lives without God allowing it. When tragedy strikes we can approach God and say, I’m hurt, I’m confused, but I’m also convinced that you only allow things in my life that are for my best and for your glory.

If I’m living by sight, then I’m also living by what I can control. I can barely control events that come up in my daily life. I know I can not control world events or the destiny of other people. If I live by sight, then this world and this moment are the focus of my life and the center of my worship. If I live by site, I am doomed to live in disappointment and fear, because this world is falling apart, burdened in sin, and destined to face God’s judgment.

Living by faith means that I act upon the belief that God’s word and eternal plan are more significant and powerful than any event or circumstance that I may face. If I’m living by faith, I’m also believing that this present age is a tiny slice of nothing; a mere moment, compared to the endless joy of eternity. Just as I dislike my bimonthly allergy shot, I know that it is for the best, and it is only a momentary pain. That is how God sees our brief span on this earth. When I live by faith I will strive to view my life in the same way.

Living by faith comes by prayer, and by deciding to live by God’s word even when I’m afraid to. Living by faith may require enduring some very tough times, but the result is like that of Gold refined in the fire: A life more beautiful, refined and pure: fit for God’s glory and eternal purpose.

Journey to the Field - MAC Day Four

2006-10-21T07:32:00.000-07:00

Day four was quite brief. Curt Hanson gave a brief devotional to encourage us, we gathered for a group photo, and then each couple had a final interview in which the assessors gave us a printed summary of our their recommendations. It contained a summary of what they believed to be our strengths and areas for growth.

We hit the road and sailed straight home. My brilliant plan was to take I-94 all the way back. The first surprise was that I-94 literally detoured through Milwaukee and then onto Milwaukee's Lake Shore Drive. You could tell that the road crew had pieced together on ramps, off ramps, and laid new asphalt to shunt the highway into Milwaukee. It was something like a rollercoaster ride.

Note to self: Avoid I-94 in the Milwaukee area for about the next year. Major highway reconstruction.

We got stuck in a little bit of rush hour, but once on the highway were up and sailing again.

I'll say it again, it was a pivotal event in our life and we are still digesting what we learned about missions and discovered about ourselves. It has confirmed to us that God has called us to missions. We are taking additional steps to thoroughly consider that assignment that they suggested to us, and as soon as we think we are close to a decision I'll be completely clear about what it is.

Adam

Journey to the Field - MAC Day Three

2006-10-14T08:51:00.000-07:00

Wednesday, Day three of the MAC was the shortest. From 9 to noon we continued to work on our missions strategy. Several of us had hunted for more information on the internet, and found some helpful things.

The Wolof in Senegal are a chiefly Muslim people group that live primarily in remote villages, but also are present in major cities. It was discovered that while they practice the five pillars of Islam, they have mixed in a healthy dose of animism. They have daily habits and rituals intended to ward of evil spirits. It was noted that if a Wolof adult turns to Christianity, they are not only alienated from their family, but may be beaten or killed, and will likely have their children taken from them. Often Wolofs who are newly converted to Christ, escape to the city which tends to be less culturally restrictive. It was also discovered that the literacy rate among the Wolof people is only about 27% and that only about 30% of the Wolofs have access to clean water.

As part of our simulated missionary team we decided that as a simple act of mercy and a cultural bridge to the Wolof people we would work on a water project and literacy as well as teaching the Bible chronologically starting in Genesis.

during all of our planning couples were pulled out for two one hour interviews: A missions interview and a psychological interview. This disrupted the planning process, but as Curt Hansen mentioned there are regular disruptions on the missions field as couples return to the states or other needs arise.

By 2:30 our missions simulation team was ready with several PowerPoint presentations (including a slide show of the Wolof people), and presentations from our team. I thought the point was to see how realistic and reasonable of a plan we could develop. That wasn't really the main point. Curt got up and pointed said, "Yesterday, you didn't even know who the Wolof people were. Do you see how much can be accomplished in just a short time by a team?" It was quite remarkable. It had also given us a sense for the amount of little things that need to be planned. Things if missed will become road blocks or show stoppers for a mission team.

Here are some things that stood out to me:

Understand the impact of your work on the indigenous culture. A Wolof could be persecuted or killed for turning to Christianity. What should a missionary do to prepare for such an event? Do you just charge in full speed and if people are killed or displaced, Oh well? Or is there another way? One suggestion was to first set up a support system in the city, so that if needed a Wolof could find refuge there. The other suggestion was that by building bridges first through a water project and literacy training, the misisonaries would be able to gain some trust and acceptance. However, all that said, there may always be the risk of dangerous consequences for Wolof people who accept Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior. They need to know that so that they can make their decision with their eyes open.
Americans are viewed with suspicion. Individuals from Arab, Asian and even Latin American countries are more easily able to integrate into Muslim dominated countries. Americans feeling called to such countries need to enter in a creative way or partner with others who will have an easier time entering.
I also saw how a team of focused, committed people will tend to drift into complimentary strength areas. When the focus is placed on the goal on not on whose in charge or who has control.

The Missions Interview was conducted by Curt Hansen along with Steve and Kay Abelman. Steve and Kay spent many years in church planting in the Philippines. They asked probing questions about our call, our health, any concerns about our children and our children's needs. It was quite practical. At the end of it, they made some suggestions for a possible field of service and approach to missions life.

What they suggested was along the following lines:
Because of our age, health concerns and lack of cross cultural experience, we would be well served to first commit to a short term assignment that would allow us to minister in English and have access to support systems that we may need (i.e. medical, educational, etc.).

Steve suggested that we consider serving at the mission's guest house in the Philippines. It's in a major metropolitan area which would have more medical and educational resources. Also we would be able to start out right away in English. We could make a one or two year commitment, get our feet wet and then go from there. We would run the guest house, and would also have opportunity to teach at the Bible school.

That was the third person who suggested something like being a house parent or running a guest house. Another mission agency rep. suggested much the same thing. It was not what I was expecting, but I listened carefully just the same.

The psychological interview was revealing, but not shocking. No skeletons in our closet, but there are areas that the pressures of living in an unfamiliar culture could exacerbate. We both have parts of our selves to strengthen.

After the day came to a close we both felt a little emotional and tired, so after a nap we went to dinner. We discovered a little place called 318 The Mill. It was a little coffee house that just so happened to be featuring a jazz combo. It was a great change of pace.

Adam

Journey to the Field - MAC Looking Back

2006-10-14T07:59:00.000-07:00

Whew.

I'm a little worn out. Marge and I came straight back on Thursday. I'm happy that I had already taken the following day off of work, because Friday I just sort of napped and recovered. The day evaporated. Here it is nearly lunch on Saturday, and I've just started rolling.

So, I'll recap days three and four, but first I have to take a look back at the completed event. It ranks as one of the most intensely revealing and rewarding events of my life. Frankly, it was almost as if Marge and I had left the American culture and were at some missions assignment. Perhaps part of that was being with others who held a similar passion and love for the lost people outside of the U.S.

It feels strange to be back. I feel like I don't belong.

We received confirmation to continue toward missions. They issued some cautions due to our age, medical history, etc. They also let us know of some areas in Baptist General Conference (BGC) missions for which we would be will suited.

I thought that so much would be clear to me once I returned from the MAC. So much is quite clear, but not what I expected.

So, I promise tomorrow I'll go back to the MAC day three and follow the story all of the way through as best as I remember it, but I wanted to end this post with something I noticed yesterday: quiet.

I was driving the car to run an errand, and it occurred to me that during the entire 10 hour drive home and throughout the morning on Friday, my mind was absent the normal chatter and scenarios that normally pack my brain.

Instead there was an odd silence. It left me strangely alert and ready [not completely certain what I mean by that]. A verse came into my head, "Be still and know that I am God." It was a moment of pleasure: freed from worry or fretting, wondering or planning. Moments to simply, be. It lead me to spontaneous worship as I drove. I often wonder if other drivers think I'm some kind of crazy man as a speak and gesticulate to no one visible in the vehicle with me.

I just googled on the phrase, "Be still and know that I am God." It is found in the Bible in Psalm 46:10. Psalm 46:10 says some other things as well:
"God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. Therefore we will not fear, thought the earth be removed, and though the mountains be carried into the midst of the sea. . ."

The Psalm goes on to paint a picture of people groups who have rejected the one true God attempting to wage war against Him. Here is how God dealt with them: "The heathen raged, the kingdoms were moved: he uttered his voice, the earth melted."

I know that it is not policitally correct to call non-Christians "heathen" nor is it correct in America to say any disparaging remark about other faiths, but there is a universal truth here: It is God's perspective, values, and laws that are final. No other faith system is valid from God's perspective, and there really are no other God's. Before God every other system political or religious melts into nothing for it lacks a foundation in God's Word.

The one true God is so expansive and amazing that in the Bible He is given many descriptive titles. He is described as the Lord of Hosts, a commander of a powerful army, "The Lord of hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our refuge."

What does this have to do with "Be still and know that I am God?" First, God's Word, the Bible, is the truth and without it all are lost. Secondly, God does not lack the power to break through any system of thought with this life giving truth of His. It is not I who must some how convince others of the truth, but it is God Himself that does so by the power of His Word.

There is no reason for me to worry about where God is sending us and if we will be successful. It is my role to enjoy the honor of being called to God's service. It is my priviledge to serve and labor, watch God working through and around me, and render back to Him the praise for His abundant mercy.

One other thing, if you have never experienced the calm, stillness it is a wonderful thing. There is so much fear and fretting in our world, but none of it is out of God's control or beyond His ability to intervene.

"The Lord of hosts is with us, the God of Jacob is our refuge."

Journey to the Field - MAC Day Two

2006-10-10T20:11:00.000-07:00

I don't imagine for a second that I can provide a complete or knowledgable summary of the day. Hopefully I can give you an indication of what we did with our time. Today's session generated much food for continued thought and consideration. This week of study and assessment is clearly a starting point as well as a point of clarification.

Today was the long day. We started at 8:30 am and won’t wrap up until about 8:30 pm. I’m really coming to enjoy the assessors. The presenters possess a wealth of insight born out of years of success and failure in a non-American culture.

One of our first activities of the day was to review an assessment tool that indicates how each of us prefers to work in groups. Marge and I both tested as fairly colaborative. This is neither good nor bad, it just is. Knowing our natural style will help us when we are in a team setting, and will help us understand when we need to adopt a different style (as best we can).

The largest chunk of the morning focused on the impact of culture.

Our job as missionaries is to take the truth of the Bible into the culture and communicate it in a culturally relevant way. The presenter/assessors referred to it as contextualization. Contextualization as a practice has caused some controversy in Evangelical circles, because taken to an extreme it can become syncretism (my opinion. maybe more on that later). That said, Jesus always spoke using methods that were deeply embedded in the Jewish culture (makes sense, as to His humanness he was born a Jew). Other Bible writers wrote within their own cultural context. The truth of the Bible, however is supracultural: Above culture.

The presenter made a striking comment, “God is beyond culture, God’s truth is beyond culture, we are not.”

He also read a story from a book called “Anthropological Insights for Missionaries”. In summary the story recounted a man in a tribe that practiced polygamy. The Christian church in the area condemned polygamy as a sin. The tribal man had two wives and third wife he had taken in when his brother died. The man claimed to be a Christian, and had several thought provoking things to say. One, he said, “My pastor prays that I will give up polygamy so I can become a church member [which would mean divorce for two of his wives], my wives pray that I will never become a church member.” The other comment was this, “The Bible condemns divorce, but not polygamy.” In a society in which polygamy is normative, and of practical benefit what do you say to men and women who turn to the Christian faith? Divorce all but one of your wives? Which wife? From scriptural principles how do you counsel this man?

My guess is that you would quote this Bible verse, “Husbands love your wives as Christ loved the church. . .” That indicates that a husband has a sacrificial love for His wife, caring for her and giving himself for her nurturing and growth as a person and (hopefully) Christian believer. How could a man serve his wife if he divorces her, and sends her away?

Weird, huh?

Missions Reality Check, was about counting the cost, before committing to the field. Realistically taking stock of the demands of life in an unfamiliar culture. Scripture says to “count the cost.”

What are some of the difficulties?
Food: In some cases refusing certain foods causes deep offense, and cause the missionary heart burn.
Climate
Personal and Physical Danger
Disease and Sickness
Lack of emergency services (no ambulance, not necessarily the same level of skilled care)
Raising children on the field and how the culture reacts to them
Distance from extended family
Sense of isolation because of a unfamiliar culture
In some cases isolated from other Christians
Frustrations of learning another cultures psychology, sensibility and modes of communication
Political unrest
Observing the locals that have embraced Christianity being persecuted for their new found Christian faith.
A missionary’s actions or intentions being misunderstood

He closed with a discussion of II Corinthians 1:8-10 which spoke of being pressed beyond what we can handle, but God providing the grace for us to over come challenges. There is that balance between practical assessment and an act of faith.

Just before dinner we did a conflict mode analysis tool that is designed to reveal how each of us deals with conflict.

After dinner, we began a missions strategy simulation. We were given the task of going as a missions team to the Wolof tribe in Senegal. In fact, before I go to bed I need to do some research. It was a blessing to have in our group individuals who had already spent time on the missions field and specifically with remote tribes.

The missions strategy simulation will take most of the day tomorrow. We will actually finish it by presenting a PowerPoint of our strategy and plan. During that time as we are all working together as a team, periodically couples are called out for assessment sessions with one of the psychologists, and a BGC mission assessor. This breaks the continuity of the team, but also simulates the fluidity of field work itself.

That’s a quick summary.

I’m sure after this is all done I’ll be writing about this for a while.

Adam

Journey to the Field - MAC Day One

2006-10-09T20:28:00.000-07:00

It is a little after 10 pm.

We are sharing the MAC (Missionary Assessment Center) event with four other couples. Each couple was asked to name five adjectives for their spouse. In each case the wives used the word passionate as one of the adjectives for their husbands. IÂm certainly guilty of that. The first day started at noon and concluded after dinner together at about 6:30pm.

It was mostly a get acquainted in the sense that each couple took 30 min. to describe their testimony, their call to missions, and to answer questions. It was a powerful and touching time. We also got to know the assessors. They all seem knowledgeable, friendly, and eager to provide us with useful information.

A touching moment was when one of the individuals described having to hide under the bed to pray and secretly read the Bible so that the mom and dad would not know. This person had an unquenchable desire for God, and as a child risked punishment to seek Him.

Tonight we filled out another personality profile that we will review as a groutomorrowow. The other test instruments will be reviewed and discussed with each couples privately with an assessor. One of the psychologists discussed why she believes the psychological testing is of God and an important part of the path to missions. She quoted the scripture about how a man building a tower counts the cost before he lays the foundation in order that he be able to complete the project. She said, a full awareness may help rule out some area of missions, but more importantly point to where the mission candidate will be able to best serve. She also noted that there is ainordinatelyly high number of missionaries that leave the field due to a variety of stressors.

I remember a couple weeks ago when Marge and I had dinner with Don Trott from ABWE, he said that their work (the mission staff) is to help us determine the placement that will allow us to best and most fully achieve GodÂs glory and purpose. I think that is what is happening here. I look forward to continued assessment and discovery.

The conversations during break and dinner have been just as rewarding as the sessions. Had dinner with some veteran missionaries who know work with churches on their missions programs. Also enjoyed conversation with the other candidates. Three of the couples brought their babies with them. The babies are a pleasant distraction. Some of the candidates had already been in the field. Several were born and raised on the mission field. One candidate was a poor child growing up in a Latin American country and is now working to spread the Gospel and alleviate poverty. Over and over the point was made that poorly trained missionaries who donÂt understand the culture can do more harm than good. They stressed the importance of listening and discovering the context and discovering what the local believers or culture wants. Missionaries need to live out the question, "How can I help?" If the indigenous church exists in an area we need to support and equip them in the work of reaching their own people.

After the session Marge and I went back to our room and read a little bit. Marge leaned back against the head board of the bed as she was reading and it fell off of the wall. The hotel manager kindly moved us to a better room. We watched a DVD on my laptop and now we are settling in for a restful night's sleep.

When we first started getting prepared for this event, we thought that through it we were going to make a final go or no-go decision on missions. That is not the case. We have already made the go decision. Now we are hoping that God will give us a little more clarity on a people group and the work that he would have us do.

More tomorow.

Adam

Journey to the Field

2006-10-09T09:00:00.000-07:00

Marge and I have been thinking through and process what we believe to be God’s call on our lives for missions since April. You’d think that there wouldn’t be that much work to do in order to make such a decision. I’ve been known to say, “Is you is or is you aint?” Nike says “Just do it”.

So what does it take to make such a decision, and is that decision characterized by a yes or no?
There isn’t a simple yes or no. It’s not like flipping on a light switch or signing on the dotted line, but a series of decisions, an extended time of assessing me, my life, and my relationship with God. So as part of that my wife and I registered to attend an event hosted by the Baptist General conference (BGC). The event is called the Missionary Assessment Center. From the schedule on the BGC website, it looks like there are several of these each year hosted by BGC churches in a variety of areas.

The registration form…… it was more like a registration process (ordeal?) was as rigorous as if we were applying to be BGC missionaries. In order to register for the event there was a three part application. The first part was a 10 page General information form covering everything from job and school history, family history (including what they do), health, giftedness, doctrinal beliefs, etc. The second part was two write a two page testimony of your Christian faith, and the third section was a set of confidential question about everything “Do you have a criminal record” to “where you sexually active before marriage”.

After the registration packet we had to provide about 15 references. Our references where asked thorough questions about our character and faith. Finally we completed three professional personality and marriage tests that will be assessed by a professional counselor.
Marge looked at me this morning and said, “These people already know a lot about us.” I think that there are about eight people attending this (don’t know for sure), and then a BGC staff and contracted professionals who make up a team of “assessors”. That is truly one aspect of this event: To give us an unbiased, undiluted assessment of our readiness and giftedness for the life of a foreign missionary. I’m hoping and expecting that they will ask a lot of hard questions, and be quite forthright about the areas in which Marge and I will struggle. Moving to a culture foreign to my own will create stress, regardless of how much I may love it or love what I do there. Working in ministry in a third world country also creates stress. What am I saying; being in ministry in the U.S. is stressful. Pastors and church leaders get bashed around all of the time, and that’s by their own church members.

So, it seems to me that “Forewarned is forearmed”, and hopefully we will be given some wise counsel on how to best prepare and guard ourselves.

So, Marge spent several weeks arranging for the children’s care in our absence. She arranged for a woman from church to come stay with us and provided her with very detailed information. I charted out our route to get there and made sure that Marge got all the info on the hotel, etc.
We said goodbye to the children after the morning service at Bethel and sent them off to Sunday school. It was actually easier for them to say goodbye at church than at home. The morning service was a rich send off. The music seemed to be moving and subtle and drew me toward a sense of worship even though I was playing drums. I especially enjoyed it since Michael has taken up the percussion (conga, tambourine, shaker) while I holding down the drums. It’s been an opportunity for me to teach and learn as Michael has a growing musical ability that compliments mine. There was a song called Grace Flows Down that sounds like a touching jazz ballad to me. It’s very smooth, and the lyrics are such that it would be easy for the percussion to prove distracting. Michael held down the percussion with the conga, and I abandoned the drums in favor of shaker and light decoration with the tambourine. It add to the soothing qualities of the song in a way a smooth jazz song can help you unwind. The lyrics took that soothing quality and steered it toward the comfort of God’s grace flowing down to us. I feel privileged to be part of music in church that way.

After a challenging message from Moises Gomes (missionary in Portugal), Marge and I said our goodbyes, gave a friend a ride home (it was on our way), and hit the highway. That first turn on to the highway was the hardest part. Driving on to the highway felt like hitting the point of no return. It wasn’t really, but it felt like it.

Other than getting stuck in traffic near Chicago, we sailed along enjoying each others company. We talked our hearts out, and it was really good. I can’t even remember everything we spoke about, but it is just so good to spend time with my wife, and talk through . . . . everything.
We made it all the way to St. Paul in one shot, enjoyed a swim and had a great night’s sleep.
This morning I got up early and worked out, we enjoyed a leisurely breakfast and time to read, and think in our room.

We’re about to head for lunch and then on to a noon start for the MAC. I’m nervous about it. I’ll let you all know how it turns out.

Adam

Driven to Distraction

2006-09-28T07:31:00.000-07:00

I'm sitting in an intense, albeit collegial, meeting assessing corporate quality requirements and the plant where I work's compliance approach to those quality requirements. Again, an open and useful discussion for this context. It's also an important discussion since as a pharmaceutical manufacturer our compliance with government regulations and corporate requirements insures that the products we make are safe and affective for patience who use them.

Yet, as I sit here, I have this overwhelming urge to open the meeting with prayer, and then suggest we remove the quality document from the projector screen and instead commence with a detailed discussion on best approach and content to teaching Bible topics to children, and youth.

"Let's start with the Old Testament books of Genesis. From the context of our unique culture how can we convey the most deep and powerful truths of Genesis chapter 1 and 2?"

My heart rate speeds up. How long can I effectively focus on my current employer's business? That is one of my big challenges right now. I've always been more interested in Bible study, teaching, preaching and ministry (like singing, drama, outreach, etc). I've always struggled with not letting ministry outside of work interfere with my paid work. It seems to be getting impossible these days to even keep my mind off missions and on to my paid work.

I enjoy the work that I do for my employer and my manager and colleagues have given me positive feedback on my quality and productivity. I want to stand on a table and shout, "I'm not here any more! Sure, you see me at this meeting table, I'm commenting and listening and contributing, but I'm on the streets of Calcutta or Guadalajara talking to and mentoring street kids. Then, IÂm at a childrenÂs outreach, there are about 50 kids there. Most of them are from broken homes, and some of them live on the street. Marge and the kids are working the puppets, and IÂm dressed up as a clown. Then IÂm visiting young men in prison or helping young girls get off of the ÂstreetÂ and into a dignified job and life style. Then IÂm teaching others to do what I do.

IÂm not sure the point of this posting. ItÂs just a ramble. I really should pay attention to this meeting.

Adam

Kidnapping the Unborn?

2006-09-22T09:55:00.000-07:00

Read the following on MSNBC.com
"A . . . woman is to stand trial next April in the abduction of an unborn girl taken from the womb of Bobbie Jo Stinnett in December 2004 in Skidmore, Mo. The baby survived."
Copyright 2006 The Associated Press.

I don't understand. If a woman pays a doctor to "take" her unborn child from her womb in an abortion, it is called a paid medical procedure. If a woman forcefully takes a baby from another woman's womb it is kidnapping (and murder if the unborn baby dies).

Why is it o.k. for a woman to pay to have her child killed? Shouldn't that be illegal too? Doesn't the kidnapping charge legally demonstrate that an unborn "fetus" (i.e. child) is a person? If the unborn weren't people then they couldn't be kidnapped. If I stole your arm it wouldn't be kidnapping, it would simply be asault.

Our society continues to boggle and twist all rational logic in this (and many other) areas.

Adam

Fear?

2006-09-20T17:43:00.000-07:00

Fear.

It locks me up.

Locks me up cold.

Fear can be healthy. It is a natural emotion. It's important to be fearful of touching a hot stove or stepping out in front of speeding truck. That would foolish.

The opposite of fearful is courageous and confident. Courage and confidence, however, are only as powerful as the source from which they are drawn. An unarmed man running naked and shoeless through a pitched tank battle has no basis, no reason for confidence. His courage would be misplaced.

In the same way, I would not be inclined to place my confidence in poorly built home that is in the middle of a California earthquake. The foundation would be constantly shifting and probably breaking.

When I place my trust in the power and character of God I have every reason to be confident and courageous. God's immense power is beyond any obstacle. His wisdom and goodness mean He always makes the best choices and does the right thing. Also, we know that God never changes his ways. He is dependable.

The more I invest myself in a relationship with God, the less the circumstances of life have power to lock me up cold. There is a greater power at work, and I am in an eternal relationship with a loving heavenly Father.

You Can Not Silence The Truth

2006-09-20T17:32:00.000-07:00

"MEXICO: DEATH OF A CHRISTINA RADIO MINISTRYJuly 31 (Compass Direct News) Â Some 85,000 people listened faithfully to Radio Nueva Vision in Nogales, Sonora. At times the station reached the No. 1 spot in ratings." (From Compass Direct. For the complete article click here)

Vandalls succeeded several times in cutting the transmission lines to the ratio stations tower, and each time the staff would climb the mountain and repair the damage. Finally, vandals destroyed the radio tower. This was in addition to vulgar threats on the station manager and his family.

Mexico isn't known for its religious persecution for the most part, but even in our southern neighbor, persecution against Christians is on the rise. It reminds me of the unending repression and persecution of Christians in China or the threat ofcensurer, beating or even death for individuals in Muslim countries who follow Christ. It doesn't hit the news much, but every day believers are being persecuted and even killed for their faith.

Yet simultaneously, the Good News of Jesus Christ and the eternal life that He provides is rocketing throughout the world. This too doesn't hit the news much. In some cases the missionaries don't publicize their work for fear of placing the lives of Christians in danger.

In one case a Christian radio broadcast into a Muslim country wanted to offer listeners the opportunity to receveive a Bible and study materials via mail. Their solution was to buy a bunch of disposable cell phones. Each day they would make the offer and encourage listeners to call a phone number, and at the end of the day throw the phone away. The Bible and other materials are also discretely mailed through some intermediaries so none of it is traceable or easily identified. Their are many Muslims quietly studying the Bible in the secrecy of their own home.

That's just one of many stories. There are many others of missionaries doing simple works of kindness and preaching the Bible. Their stories won't even make it into conversation at church, but they faithful do the work and new people are deciding to follow Christ every day.

You can not silence the truth.

TOO MUCH STUFF?

2006-09-14T03:14:00.000-07:00

I spoke to a woman from Kenya. Her husband was in the U.S. finishing his seminary degree. In her country there are many people eager to hear teaching from the Bible, many come to church. So many that typically each pastor has about five churches to serve.

Unfortunately, in his country one must have an accredited seminary degree in order to train and ordain ministers. So, for the last four years this man has been separate from his wife while he obtained his Bible degree.

She has come for his graduation. They return to Kenya, where they were born and raised. Their home has no electricity nor running water. They take a sponge bath to keep clean and have an outhouse in back. Individuals do not own vehicles, and are thrilled if they can own a bicycle.
This woman as she spoke of her country didn't seem sad or beaten down because of her lack of possessions or conveniences, instead she was eager to return and begin the work of training much needed pastors.

I wonder, how much of the stuff that I have and think that I need is just a hindrance to me? Are all the necessities in my life really necessities? The poorest families in America are among the wealthiest in the world. Yet I think that I'm being deprived when I don't have cable TV nor high speed Internet.

I'm not saying that these things are bad, but what if we denied ourselves just some of the snacks, and stuff that we enjoyed and supported ministries in the third world?
Maybe I’d be better off with less stuff.

Adam

Where Is The Music?

2006-09-11T12:53:00.000-07:00

I never had any idea how much of an adjustment it would be not to be with the guys each week, but it's a big change.

The open practice night is already going to fill in with Spanish lessons come late October or early November. Also, as my wife and I investigate where God wants us in missions, we are starting a small group study in our home called Missions Minded. It's for people who have a passions or interest in missions. It will meet two Fridays per month.

So missions preparation and personal growth have jumped into the gap.

It's the right thing to do, but there is no replacement for Sojourn. There isn't any equivalent thing or activity that I can do that is what Sojourn is (or was). My wife used to tell me that change, even positive change, involves an element of loss. She always said that in order to have one thing you have to forgo something else, and that you should take the time to "morn the loss".

So, I'm in this searching out and learning phase of my trip toward the mission field. It's fairly ill defined, and involves more reading and thinking than anything else. I suppose the other thing that is happening is the process of letting go of Sojourn, a 14 year companion.

Hope that doesn't sound overly dramatic.

Adam

Never Enough - Contentment

2006-09-08T02:30:00.000-07:00

I wrote the post below about a year ago on the old Sojourn blog. It still rings true.

"But godliness with contentment is great gain. I Timothy 6:6 (King James Translation)

Huh?

I WANT a big fat raise so that I can get some things that I actually need. I need stuff for my family. Not talking about luxuries (to me at least).

I read that scripture, and it seems sort of inside out. If I really think it through that means following the example of Christ and exemplifying God's characteristics is better, more desirable than MO MONEY!

Think about it though: would you rather have $1,000,000 or "godliness"?
Our expectations and thinking are so earthly and limited that we fail to understand what is really going on. Our lives are but a small blip on the time line of all eternity, and each of us has an eternal soul. There will come a point in our existence that our time spent in this current life will be a distant and minimal memory.

Remember when you were three years old? If you CAN remember that far back, do you remember what was important and valuable to you? No one who has attained the age of 40 (for example) would sacrifice and work overtime for a rattle or little rubber ball. That is exactly what we do when we put physical things or power or anything of this earth BEFORE our relationship with God.

Imagine a 50 year old man paying his life savings for a PlaySchool teething ring? Fool? Absolutely. Even more so the individual who devotes the best of his/her time on job, or wealth, or anything other than knowing and enjoying the one, true, living God.

Weird huh?

Adam

In The Moment

2006-08-30T19:15:00.000-07:00

In The Moment
by Adam Parmenter

Time races so fast
My hope laid on somedays
My eyes fixed on the past

The present, I ignore
Dreading moments gone
Craving something more

So, I've missed the moment
I've missed the moment

A moment
To breath in fresh spring air
Enjoy
The glory of God's creation there
Find
Pleasure in my daughter and son
Play
Games or just laugh and run
Enjoy
The sweet sunlight while it lasts

Without
My feet in the future
My head in the past

The Last Hoorah?

2006-08-28T05:29:00.000-07:00

I rolled into the parking lot at the Kent County Fair grounds at about 8:45 am (ugh) right as Steve Reid was pulling into the lot. Steve Reid is something of a local Christian music promoter and the expert on the Southwest Michigan Christian music scene. Steve has been a good friend of Tim Hamm (Sojourn bass player) and of all of us in the band.

My son Michael and I were gathering a few things out of the trunk of my car, and Steve said, "
So, this is the last hoorah?"

I stopped for a second and said, "Huh?". . . . "Oh! yah. I suppose it is. I'm sure the band will do something again in the future. I said that too several people. It could take a year or two for us to get to the field, I reasoned, certainly Sojourn will get back together for something.

The rest of the band didn't talk that way.

I don't know how I feel about that. I don't doubt my decisions, but it feels so strange to think that Sojourn would ever end. I am experiencing this mixture of hope and sadness. Oh yes, and fear. Am I crazy? What guarantee do I have of success? How do I know that my case of fibromyalgia won't flair up and incapacitate me as it did my oldest brother? What if my children don't adapt well to the mission field? What if? What if?

I have no guarantee of success. I must be an idiot. I'm nearly 42 years old. I'm supposed to be settling in, not uprooting and changing course!

I have no guarantee of success. Accept that God has a different definition of success than I do. God see with an eternal perspective. So, during the 1700s, when a group of missionaries followed God's call, but some died of local disease within months of arriving where success or failures. How about the family that returned from the mission field after only two years because their baby had an illness?

God does not judge success or failure on the same outcomes as I do. He looks for a willing heart, an obedient servant, and His perspective is eternal. In view of eternity things must look different.

Back here on earth, I'm struggling to come to terms that my obedience pleases Him. My struggle to know and enjoy Him pleases Him. If sending us off to a foreign field so that we can "fail" and return is a means by which He tests and displays our obedience and willingness to follow, then that is what will please Him most.

I think I got that one right, but it doesn't make sense to me yet.

Here's what I do know for sure. It's something that the Pastor at my church has been teaching me. God is more concerned about the process than the outcome. God is pleased when I struggle to be like Him, to please Him, to know Him, to enjoy Him. That the outcome of my efforts is noticeably flawed or mistakes are made is the definition of being a human who is not in heaven yet. So as my family makes the effort to pray together about missions and take steps of faith it will be the process of seeking God with which the Lord is pleased, not if I goof up the outcome or not.

Sounds crazy maybe.

What do you think?

Adam

How could I ever give up Sojourn? - From Adam

2006-08-21T10:28:00.000-07:00

Some of my deepest thoughts and highest aspirations have crept out of my inner mind and into Sojourn lyrics with the help of the guys in the band. For nearly 15 years we have enjoyed music, laughed, traveled, and shared an important ministry. Like really true friends we have
irritated, supported, confronted, and stayed faithful through good and bad.

Sojourn was born before all but one of our children. So, for our families, Sojourn has been the soundtrack of our marriages. It has been a consistent privilege and at times burden through changing times, jobs, health and finances.

So, how could I leave something this good? Is it because I am pursuing something so much better? No. I've fought the call to go for many years. It has been a good fight as God has refined me, matured me, and given me a closer walk with Him. Sojourn is both a ministry and a tool that God used to help me grow up in Christ.

I believe that God is now taking all those words and ideas that I hold to be true and asking me to live them out in a new arena. Am I willing to give up everything, even Sojourn in order to dive into a largely uncertain future? Am I willing to give up an excellent job and risk failure in ministry? Do I trust God to do something new?

You see, in my growing relationship with Christ, I see the next level for me is to learn to rest on faith in God, and follow this calling. I believe God is calling me and my family to the mission field to teach men, women, and children the Word of God, and (more importantly) to teach them how to teach the Word of God others. To do this involves walking away from some very good things, and some wonderfully rich relationships.

Yet, I and my family are compelled to follow this new path.

I am grateful for the opportunity to follow God into the mission field regardless of where it will be (don't know yet), and I am so very grateful that God let me be in Sojourn.

Dean Newell (guitar/vocals) is a life long friend, example, and in many ways, a spiritual mentor. I am grateful for his example and for being the voice of reason in Sojourn and often in my life.

Tim Hamm (bass) has been my friend for 14+ years. Tim is my reality check. He doesn't mince words, but deals it straight. I admire that. I may be the "front man" and a co-founder of the band, but Tim has become the leader, and under his leadership Sojourn's level of quality and artistry has flourished. I also appreciate Tim's leadership in the local Christian music scene. I know that he is a blessing to other local Christian musicians.

John Chapman (drums)is the newest guy in Sojourn, but has become a close friend and inspiration. He has a simple, uncomplicated faith. His positive outlook helps balance my natural cynicism. I've enjoyed it.

Thanks guys.

I love you all. Guys aren't supposed to say that and I doubt I'll say it to your face, but once in 15 years it should at least be in print.

To all of you that have enjoyed Sojourn over the years, thank you. It's because of you that we had a reason to show up and play our music (sometimes for 1, sometimes for 100).

I'll keep blogging, and keep you posted on what comes next.

"The Lord bless you and keep you; The Lord make his face shine upon you and be gracious to you; The Lord turn his face toward you and give you peace." numbers 6:24-26

Adam Parmenter
The Journey Continues

No Pain - No Gain

2006-08-16T11:34:00.000-07:00

I was thinking about pain as I rode my bike home yesterday.

Pain was shooting out of my hips, and it hurt to take deep breaths. Much better today. It was a flairup of Fibromyalgia.

I had to preach to myself the same thing that I had preached to others. The times that I am in pain will seem quite minor when I am with God in eternity. The Bible refers to pain and suffering as "light and momentary affliction".

Can you remember things that happened to you when you were 3 years old? I think when we are in Heaven with God, our memories of our time in the here-and-now will be dim memories like a 25 year old remember things that happened to him when he was 3.

Even great suffering will be only faintly remembered when we are freed and enjoying eternity.

For the first time, the Lord helped me stay out of the pity pit, and instead I struggled to have that eternal view. I didn't quite get that eternal perspective, but I experienced my trust in god growing.

I don't know why he let me get a chronic pain disorder, but I do know that God always does what is right, everything He does is good, and He knows all.

Me, the three year old, still doesn't get it, but I do trust Him. I'll get my teeth and look forward to eternity with anticipation.

News from the Front

2006-07-29T21:15:00.000-07:00

Sorry I haven’t been prompt with my reviews, recaps, and thoughts regarding our last couple of performances. Life happens…

Sunday, July 16, we performed at the St. Joseph Venetian Festival. It was hot and muggy. It was also quite a trek, not to get to St. Joe, but to the stage. We all had to park in other parts of the city and walk our equipment to the riverfront where we were playing.

We were on stage as part of the Sunday morning Christian set. We went on just as the sun was starting to really get hot and a handful of pastors had just spoken. The praise band with them was cool, just no original material.

We got to the stage and this is where time enters the equation. It seems like we are always the victim of another act running long then being hurried off stage before we reach the end of our planned set. I guess that is the way any musician feels if they love to perform.

I used the drum set provided to me and was very thankful that I didn’t have to lug anything but my sticks. However, it was a digital kit, which I have very limited experience with. I’m sure if was noticeable from the river. The other guys said they could hear everything they needed to hear as far as stage audio, but my monitor was strange playing the ride cymbal with my right hand but hearing it in my left ear. Everything was in my left ear. After the 45 minute set I felt like I had water in that ear! The guys held everything together well and I don’t remember Adam stumbling for any lines. As we were playing, we were reminded of our surroundings by a train crossing the rail bridge and blowing its horn just after one of our songs.

Overall, it was nice to just come in, play, and get out of that busy town!

Saturday, July 22, 2006 we played at Faith Fest in Taylor, MI. A couple of years ago, Bethel had a community outreach event with all the groups doing something. Cooking, playing music, wall climbing, basketball, everyone was there to meet our neighbors. The atmosphere was like that in Taylor; carnival-esque. But there was one thing missing.

I rode with Tim and Dean drove Adam and we all arrived virtually together. We were the first band to play Saturday so we were able to take our time (and make everyone else the rest of the day hurry.) So we set our gear up, I acclimated myself to another set of loaner drums, acoustic this time. We did a sound check and I had a fun time with this drum set. Just the different tuning and a piccolo snare made everything I was doing sound more lively. Everything seemed really loud on stage. We all were quite comfortable with the surroundings. After all, we were the only people there.

Show time came and we were announced and greeted with a loud: “ “. Nothing. We drove to Deeetroit to play for the sound guy, his kid, and some other people who were playing later. This was quite disappointing for me. I had fun with the time the four of us got to spend playing together. Tim took some pictures with my camera and we all were on ‘rehearsal behavior’ but without the usual bathroom jokes. I was excited to play at a festival of all Christian music, but it turned out to be less than hoped for.

See you soon-

John

www.SojournBand.com

Mystical Experiences - Mushrooms Not Required

2006-07-12T09:12:00.000-07:00

The Associated Press reports that participants in a John Hopkins study of hallucinogenic mushrooms related mystical, spiritual feelings. Some reported a deeper sense of compassion, love, and a deeper spirituality even two months after the study.

Oh well, to bad they aren't willing to try a study of people truly engaging in a relationship with Jesus Christ. Such a relationship produces compassion, love, and a deeper spirituality in ample supply for as long as you live (which is forever).

That's all I have to say to that.

Short but snide maybe, but as I sat here reading it and thought, the study participants were so amazed. Many thought it was the most significant event of their lives. As I grow older and my relationship with Christ deepens, I sense changes in myself that are permanent and significant. My connection with Jesus grows deeper and sweeter nearly each day. It is the most significant part of my life.

No mushrooms required.

Want to know more? Check out the 1-888-NEEDHIM.org website.

Adam www.sojournband.com

Independence Day Celebration- Cadillac Style

2006-07-05T20:30:00.000-07:00

Sojourn performed in Cadillac, Michigan on Sunday, July 2 for the town’s annual Independence Day celebration. The day saw a couple musical acts, a festival in the park, a parade, and lots of other stuff happening around town capped by fireworks at dusk.

I got to town a tad early, Noon. This gave me plenty of time to check out downtown Cadillac as I have only passed through on previous trips. Many of the downtown buildings are quite historic and photogenic. I enjoyed my afternoon strolling around with my camera in the beautiful warm weather with a gentle breeze floating in off of Lake Cadillac.

Later in the afternoon, the rest of the band arrived and it became more of a family thing. Personally, I enjoy having friends in Adam, Dean, and Tim and their families as much as performing and making music with them. So, I got to spend some time with Marge, Linda, and Michelle and just be a part of the Sojourn Family. I’m sorry my wife couldn’t take part.

As we ended the softball, picture taking, and lunchtime activities, the guys started setting up equipment. This venue was quite spacious especially compared to what we are used to in coffee houses and the like. I had an entire step of the stage to myself! We had both of Tim’s subs in place and we were ready to rock, or something…

As we prepared and even when we were just goofing around, the Parmenter Clan were handing out fliers containing information on our performance, a little bit about the band and some lyric of our music. I’m not sure how well this worked, if one worked and they stayed to listen to the whole show, the seed of the Gospel of Jesus Christ has been planted. That’s worth the trip.

It became close to our scheduled time and Adam got his usual nerves in place and we were still ironing out a feedback problem in the PA. I’m not even going to speculate on what the issue was or was not, but I got to ‘test’ the bass drum about a million times! Later, on the way back home, I noticed my right leg felt different from my left. As we became satisfied, we were introduced to a great crowd of mostly folks from our host, Temple Hill Baptist Church.

Off we go. Adam opened us with a rousing, and accurate, rendition of the Star Spangled Banner which the audience jumped right in on. The first part of the show was quite energetic. I felt great in front of that many people. I also had this feeling when we were doing our sound check on stage at the GR Rain Festival but didn’t get a chance to capitalize on it! Maybe I had too much energy because the tempos seemed unsure. We weren’t together, but our onlookers were appreciative of the music. Musically, our performance was lack luster. I dropped the ball, as I think we each did from time to time; nothing new on that front.

The best part of the show was not the music, but between. Adam was in the zone. He was good during our songs but during the gutter between the songs he was great! If Tim wanted to tweak something, he would just point at Adam. Now, most of us that say we love Christ, love to witness, and want to tell the world about Jesus will fall on our face it we are put on the spot. This Sunday, Adam delivered the message, aided by our music, that you can be saved through Jesus Christ. Our songs are almost a complete spectrum of the Christian life which helped to form the purpose of the evening’s performance. It’s almost as if the spoken words were the black and white outline of a picture and our music was the color filling the outline, brining it into perspective, fleshing out the message.

On the whole, I look at the entire trip as a success. I was prepared for rain and it didn’t, we didn’t have to stop in the middle of a song, and we delivered the good news about Christ. Sounds easy to do, but man, there was a lot of work and heavy lifting involved. I can’t wait to do it again.

John

http://www.sojournband.com/

More photos from downtown Cadillac:

http://pictures.kb8sfr.net/Sojourn-Cadillac

So What's New With The Band

2006-06-21T08:10:00.000-07:00

Some of you may be wondering what's new with the band, and what's going on.

Well, this past Sunday, we had our annual performance at the Newberg Norton Drive-In Bible Church (www.driveinbiblechurch.com). This is always an enjoyable evening for the band, as Bob Tomlinson and the congregation have always been very supportive of Sojourn. We appreciate that. This particular performance was a special "unplugged" performance, due to drummer John Chapman having a previous commitment. To help augment the sound, we invited along special guest lead guitarist Jim Cash, from the group Crosswise (www.crosswise.us). The day was filled with rain, so the typical "outdoor" service was moved inside, which meant two straight concerts where "rain" was an issue (we got rained out at Festival, but at least Drive-In church has an alternate plan). Jim and Dean held down the guitar parts, Tim was on the acoustic/electric bass, and Adam did a fine job handling both lead vocals and hand percussions. The evening went fairly well, with the exception of a major lyric mishap on the song "Not The Same Thing". For the first time I know of, we actually stopped the song and restarted. We recovered, and it became more of a comedic moment for the evening.

Coming up for July 2, we are going to be performing in downtown Cadillac at the city pavilion. This is the same day the city is celebrating Independence Day, so there will be plenty going on. This is a return invite for us, so we are looking forward to it. We are always encouraged by invitations to return to a particular event, and this one was quite a bit of fun last year. If you are in the central West Michigan area and have the time, stop out on July 2. Music starts at 6pm, but community events are going on all day around the park downtown.

The rest of the summer is has performances coming at St. Joseph Michigan's "Venetian Festival", "Faith Fest" over by Detroit, and August has Sojourn booked at the first "God Is Movin" Fest at Kent County fairgrounds in Lowell Michigan. So, we have quite a bit going on this summer.

At this point, consideration is being given to taking the fall off from live performance, to write and develop new material with John Chapman. This year has mostly been comprised of performing material that has been with us for over a year, so new songs need to be added.

Thanks to all who continue to support Sojourn, and we welcome any comments or suggestions.

Contact us at www.sojournband.com

Thanks for reading,

Tim Hamm
Sojourn bass guy
tim@sojournband.com

Suicide: Despair and Decisions

2006-06-10T15:45:00.000-07:00

"Japanese suicide rate is the highest in the world. Recently a group of nine people in their 20s and 30s committed suicide in Saitama prefecture. Such suicide pacts are now common in Japan.
Source: Overseas Missionary Fellowship"

I wish that I could say that suicide is unknown in America, but that is not the case. The New York Times called suicide the second biggest cause of death on college/university campuses (http://www-tech.mit.edu/V124/N58/long3_58.58w.html).

For years as a highschool and college teen I regular thought through ways I could kill myself and make it seem like an accident. It was all very matter-of-fact. It seemed logical that killing myself would solve my problems. No more feeling stupid or wondering what my value was. No more loneliness. Death seemed like a place of peace.

Obviously, I never did kill myself.

There were two things that kept me alive. One was that I didn't want to upset my family. I thought for certain that I was of little importance, and my death wouldn't mean much, but I knew that my parents at least would cry and be unhappy.

Beyond that I've always believed that God has a purpose for every person. He has something for me to do. I didn't want to screw God's plan up for Him, so I never followed through with my plan. Granted, my thinking was a little doctrinally off. I can't really mess things up for God, but there is a rock solid truth that stood between me and suicide: God made me for a reason. As long as I am alive, He has a reason for me to be alive.

I remember one day when I was about 20 that I realized that I didn't feel like dying any more. It just hit me out of the clear blue sky. I'll never forget that day, though it was unremarkable in every other way.

As simple as it sounds, the good news of Jesus Christ, is the strongest weapon to prevent suicide, because it is a message of hope. I can only hope and pray that the message of the Gospel gets to these places of despair, before many more make life ending decisions.

Adam Parmenter

P.S. Sojourn has some cool songs about hope. Check'em out when you get a chance:
Hope In The Presence of God
There Is Hope

Grand Rapids Festival of the Rain- 2006

2006-06-05T10:45:00.000-07:00

The Grand Rapids Festival of the Arts defines itself on it’s website as:

A FREE community showcase of the arts!
A feast for all the senses!
A community-wide celebration!
The arts come alive at Festival!
Festival is the largest all-volunteer arts event in the nation!

It was a great event of food, music, and all sorts of visual art. Unfortunately, it was also a stormy, rainy weekend with a Kenny Chesney concert at Van Andel.

As the others of us, I left work a little early on Friday to get my gear and head down to Festival. The skies were foreboding but were clear enough for me to take photos from the work parking lot. I went home and loaded up. As I got home, the skies opened. I loaded my drums in the torrential downpour but luckily not the hail. That happened on the way into town!

So I got to the City Stage where we were scheduled to play about an hour before our set. Adam Pringle and his rock quartet were playing. These guys sounded good. I was actually a bit intimidated by the sound system and how loud his bass drum sounded between the buildings. The sky was beautiful blue with graceful clouds hovering over the buildings above us; until we were ready to play.

When we got onstage the rain picked up again, not like it had before, but a nice soak. We did our sound check and apparently none of us want to listen to Dean’s voice! The sound system was fun to play with a little and I felt like we were going to have a nice groove. The stage was leaking a little on my back but it would have been fine. Right then the skies opened. Again.

The guys told us we couldn’t play because of the high voltage sound equipment. We were all a bit disappointed but had a good time anyway. Adam and I wanted to play acoustically but the other guys couldn’t. We waited for the rain to pass with lots of onlookers under the awnings along the sidewalks. It was difficult for me to think that they wouldn’t be able to hear our message if the rain didn’t let up.

After watching Adam squeegee the stage for a while, the rain subsided. We were sound checking again, the MC was asking Adam his name and details about the band again, the sun was shining, but there was still one glitch in the sound system. We were announced, introduced and given the green light (both figuratively and literally since we were at an intersection) to begin our music when one of the stage workers told us that we are going to have to let the next group on the stage.

Adam gave the crowd a gracious ‘thank you’ and we began disembarking the stage. I was frustrated. My frustration was deepened by all the little girls in pink tutus that were waiting backstage to go on after us. We were trying to move equipment and they were trying to tie their shoes. Doesn’t seem like it, but I guess it all falls under the ‘arts’ umbrella. My face must have shown my disappointment because both Tim and Dean were quick to give me all the “It’s OK” and “We’ll try again next year” lines. I just wanted to get my drums back home and dry off.

Overall, I think the whole Festival was a rain out. There were lots of folks out on Friday night, but if you were there on Friday or Saturday there’s a good chance you got a good shower. As for Sojourn, the people didn’t get to hear our message. But they did get to see how we appreciatively took the opportunity we had and took defeat to the weather with poise. There are all different ways to witness to people and sometimes actions speak louder than a wet sound system.

Thanks to everyone who came out to show support!

John

http://www.sojournband.com/

GR Arts Festival: http://festivalofthearts.org/

Here's the Bean. Where are the People?

2006-05-27T06:07:00.000-07:00

One of the first rules you learn in mid level writing is to identify your audience. Then the rest of the test should be in a voice and style to communicate well to that particular group. If you are reading this, you are in one of two groups: you are a member of Sojourn or you weren’t at Essential Bean on Friday. That is to say there weren’t that many people there!

It was a nice evening with great weather on a holiday weekend. I guess that means nobody was up for coffee.

The band performed well, no major snafus. One thing that bothered me is that we couldn’t leave the mixer alone. Maybe we need a Ronco mixer that you just, “Set it and forget it!”

That being said, I believe Tim was recording our performance which will be interesting for me to hear myself with the group instead of hearing Denny. I want to be in two places at once, listening and playing.

I think the group is making progress toward the goal of a clean, tight, rehearsed sound with a great message. Those friends that did make it out were full of compliments on just such improvements.

Hope to see you at Festival, Downtown Grand Rapids, June 2 at 5:45pm on the City Stage!

John

www.sojournband.com

Mocha-N-Music

2006-05-12T08:59:00.000-07:00

WARNING- This entry is part diary entry, part performance report, and part critique. I guess another way of saying ‘blog’ since I have no idea who my audience is!

Sojourn performed at Mocha-N-Music in Hudsonville last night. It was an unseasonably cold, seasonably rainy evening. It was great to walk in from the cold rain to the warm cinnamon/chocolate/coffee flavored air of the shop.

We began setting up with our special guest, Jim Cash, and found some challenges with sound equipment. It seemed that none of us were comfortable with the ‘stage’ acoustics and being able to hear themselves with the group. I know I couldn’t hear much, but it seemed to sound good out front which is all that matters.

It was great to start playing and see all the familiar folks come in. I’m thankful to see the Wells Angels folks, the Hudsonville ‘fan club’, and my co-workers. Everyone seemed to really engage with the band and respond especially when Jim was on lead guitar. The room seemed almost silent when Adam was introducing our song, For Today, speaking of the return of Christ. I’m glad we found so many ears willing to listen.

The music turned out a little different than we expected. We each had our moments of folly but that is why I like live music. Since I have been playing with Adam, Dean and Tim; this was our tightest show to date. We keep growing together musically and I am learning their unspoken language of musical interpretation. Tim was jamming on a couple of his solos that he played a little different, probably just excited by all the folks that came out. Dean was solid as a rock; a master of his instrument. Adam gave everything he had, as always, and didn’t hold any of his energy back. What a fun addition to the sound it was to have Jim Cash on lead. Jim was classy on his parts mimicking his work on the album and going one step further.

A couple of my favorite musical moments were in Old Man when Adam has a fade in vocal, one of my favorite songs Sometimes We Weep, and how fun it was to play loud on our more rock oriented songs.

After we performed I heard some great things about the products that Marten and the staff were serving. I was looking forward to enjoying some of my wife’s chocolate mint smoothie at the break only to find that she had finished it because it was so good! I later had one myself and it was very refreshing. I look forward to coming to play some more music and to have another smoothie!

Thanks to everyone that came out. It is so much more enjoyable to play with people in the room!

John
www.SojournBand.com

"Why I Don't Believe"

2006-05-02T04:32:00.000-07:00

I've heard an answer to that question on several occasions. Typically, the reason people give me is, on the surface, based on a rational view of facts. Yet, when I dig a little closer I find that at all times an "unbelievers" view is first based on certain key suppositions.

Here's a few:
1) There is no God. If there is a God, the Bible hasn't accurately recorded who he is.
2) A book as old as the Bible, can't have possibly been accurately preserved.
3) The Bible is full of contradictions

These positions that people often take sound as if they are born out of a vast weight of evidence, but at their core is simply a "leap of faith". In other words, I've heard, "A book that old can't possibly be accurately preserved." That is a supposition. The person who holds it to be true figures it has to be true because it feels true. Often no evidence or rational thought will convince them otherwise.

Frankly, the verdict on the Bible has been in for years. There is far too much evidence on the reliability of the Bible to report here. Challenges such as Dan Brown's "DaVinci Code" won't topple the authority and veracity of scripture any more than a mouse could nock over the Washington Monument.

It comes down to this: people believe what they want to believe. If some one wants to believe that the Bible is to old to be properly preserved and translated, then no amount of evidence will dissuade them. If some one wants to believe there is no God, that is what they will believe. You might give them a convincing rational for the existence of God and the veracity of the Bible, but their rejoinder may still be, "But there couldn't possibly be. . . "

An individual who is willing to take the time and effort to fully investigate the claims of Jesus Christ and the message of the Bible, will come face to face with the truth: Jesus is God in the flesh. He entered into history and paid for human sin so that we would not have to pay the price ourselves. Accepting Christ as God and savior, opens the door to have a relationship with Him, and to eternal life with Him.

At that point, regardless of the proofs, you'll still have to decide if you are willing to believe. Saddly, many will face the truth of Christ and say, "I just can't believe it."

So much for intellectual honesty.

Adam

Going Deeper

2006-04-27T20:25:00.000-07:00

There are times when everything is going well and I feel like I'm in a pit. My job couldn't be better (other than I might get laid off), and things are generally o.k.

It's at times like this that I want to run away, I want God to make everything all better. Instead, God answers with silence. I am forced to trust and practice what I say that I believe.

I believe that God is all power and always good. I also believe that He is all knowing.

That means He knows I feel this way, and continues to allow it for His purposes. Now I'm put to the test: Do I really believe this stuff? Do I trust God even when He allows me to feel this retched?

In the Bible, Romans 8:28 it talks about all things (even the bad stuff) working out for the good of those who love God and are called according to His purposes.

There are times when I don't sleep well, and I feel emotionally drained. I want for God to make it all better, and typically He does not. This time around, I'm doing a little better at gritting my teeth and riding it out. I'm already on some kind of medication and more is not always better. I'm learning that depression, pain, or disappointment do not define me. Instead, my relationship with God, and how I react to trials defines who I really am.

It's a tough lesson to learn. I'm learning it little by little. It's a lesson I need.

Ultimately, I can look back over the last five, ten, and fifteen years and see the emotional/spiritual growth. It has been through God presenting me with disappointment and emotional trials that has strengthened me as a man. These times never are pleasant, but when I look back on them I know I'll see how far I've come.

Drop me a note or visit Sojourn on-line

Adam

The Inner Life - Going deeper

2006-04-23T15:18:00.000-07:00

So,

No matter how much I go around telling others about my Christian faith, I won't be able to spread peace on earth! There is that thinking sometimes. Actually, far worse is that some celebrities will go around saying that if we just all visualize world peace it will come. They think that, and say that, because the misunderstand the true nature of the inner life.

I on my own do not have the power to change the direction of world events or even the course of over all history in my own life. It is God who is the master of all that exists.

In the Bible, inProverbs 16:9 it says "A man's heart plans his way, But the Lord directs his steps"

It is God who has overall control over the events of history. God sees all from the beginning to end. The path to world peace, begins at the path to inner peace. That inner peace must be peace with God. Only God's wisdom, can lead us in the way that He knows is right.

Proverbs 3:5-8 says "Trust in God with all your heart, and don't lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight. Don't be wise in your own eyes. Fear Yahweh, and depart from evil. It will be health to your body, and nourishment to your bones."

Trust in God, by first studying what he says in the Bible.

Want to know more?

Drop me an e-mail.

adam@sojournband.com

Peace on Earth

2006-04-11T16:38:00.000-07:00

Will there be peace in our time?

No. I'm sorry to say.

If I spread the truth to enough people, would it be possible for their to be peace across the whole earth?

No, and most cultures wouldn't even think that way. Americans are a media based society. We have become indoctrinated by a culture that looks to commercials, movies, television, best selling books, and popular music to tell us what is important and what we should be like.

We dress in fads, we do what is the new best thing? We are herd animals that wouldn't dream of doing anything other than what is the most popular. Whatever the new addiction is everyone wants to try it.

The truth of God's word is not a fad or an addiction. It's a relationship. The divorce rate in our country demonstrates that as a society we don't understand the shear effort involved in a thriving relationship. A relationship with God takes a commitment of time and effort. Let me state it this way, if you want to be a Christian, you must be willing and eager to give all of yourself to God.

There are many other cultures that do not follow in lemming like fashion. Some European respect debate and intelligent conversation. Others would look down on you for your sincere beliefs and would doubt you until you proved yourself. Still other cultures might look for the evidence of power in your life, and not just words.

I find that as my relationship with God becomes deeper and more genuine, my life becomes more compelling to other people. So ultimately it isn't my efforts that will bring peace on earth or save anyone from eternal judgment. Instead it is the evidence of the living Christ at work within me that draw people to what I am saying or singing.

Adam

Please join us and post your comments at our message board at http://www.sojournband.com

"INCARCERATED FOR CHRIST"

2006-04-08T10:14:00.000-07:00

Jerry Falwell (is that a bad word these days?), in his "Falwell Confidential" recently brought attention to a situation in India that immediately caught my attention. It has to do with Christians being abused simply becuase of their faith.

Mr Fallwell said this:
"All over the world, Christians are persecuted for their faith. Some are jailed for meeting in non-state-sanctioned house churches; some are beaten because they dare to express faith in Jesus Christ; some are beaten and killed when they refuse to renounce their faith in Christ." Hope Givers International of India . EMI and Hope Givers sponsor and run orphanages in India.

Compass Direct reports "March 16 (Compass) – Rajasthan state police officers today arrested the Rev. Dr. Samuel Thomas, president of Emmanuel Mission International (EMI) and son of Archbishop M.A. Thomas, EMI’s founder. "

Michael Glenn, who directs Hope Givers said, "Pray for our ongoing efforts to negotiate the release of Dr. Thomas. His leadership is urgently needed at the Hope Home orphanages and hospital we support in Kota. The longer this harassment goes on, the more the welfare of the children and patients will suffer."

Mr. Falwell, staff and students at Liberty University have launched an international prayer chain, and are asking for anyone willing to pray for Dr. Thomas. Please, join me in praying for this courageous Christian man. However, perhaps it's best not to spend most of your time praying for his safe release. Instead put the most of your efforts into praying that he will be a bold witness for Christ at every opportunity, and that both EMI and Hope Givers will sense God's presence and direction. Pray that these two vital ministries will emerge far stronger and even more vital after this experience.

I'll be praying that Dr. Thomas will indeed be freed, and that when he is set free, that he will see clear evidence that God was powerfully directing and prospering the work of Hope Givers and EMI while he was in jail.

What more powerful message could there be to the world? "If God is for us, who can be against us?" Hope Givers and EMI are God's efforts to bring comfort and hope to orphaned children in India. No person can stop that or hinder the work if God wiants it to continue.

Comments?

Please, let me know

Adam

Lie Down In Peace

2006-04-06T20:44:00.000-07:00

"I will lie down and sleep in peace, for you alone, O Lord, make me dwell in safety." Psalm 4:8

I'm so used to working hard to achieve results, and so convinced the only things worth getting are the things that I work to achieve. It has taken me years to see the failure of that approach. I used to say to my wife, "I don't go to bed when I'm sleepy, I go to bed when I'm ready to give up."

The end of the day always reminded me of what I had not accomplished.
What a crummy way to live.

I'm not suggesting that we roll over and let God stroke our tummy, spoon feed us a wipe our. . .
What I am suggesting is that we all must be vigorously working with one goal in mind: Knowing And Enjoying God. When that it is our utmost target, all the other important things will happen.

Another Psalm says, "Delight yourself in the Lord and he will give you the desires of your heart." Psalm 37:4

Get the point here, when I am delighted by some one, my thoughts and desires revolve around that person. My direction in life changes. If I'm so into God that I find my self enjoying him, delighting in him, I'm going to desire those things that bring us closer together. I'm not going to be chasing down junk God hates.

In fact if you keep reading in that Psalm it goes on to say "He will make your righteousness shine like the dawn, . ." You see, God's ultimate design is not to give you as much stuff as possible. It is to bring Glory to Himself by making you more like Him. In that process you are going to enjoy and take pleasure in it. Not because you are supposed to or God is making you. The things of God really are cool! They are enjoyable, and it feels really good to be close in a relationship with the Lord.

God designed us to be really tight with Him. It makes sense, that when He makes us more like Himself, we are more satisfied and happy.
More later.

Do you think I'm full of baloney in what I'm saying? Please leave a comment or visit the Sojourn forum at our home page http://www.sojournband.com

Days Like These Part II

2006-04-04T11:05:00.000-07:00

I used to firmly believe that if I work harder AND smarter I will get more and better results. If I'm not getting what I want then simply do more of what I'm doing. Spend more hours, stay up later, and muscle my way into what I want.

I have spent more time working my tail off and getting no results. For a period of time I worked myself sick reaching out to some tough neighborhood kids. Over six years of contact with these children. I have seen no changes. My church has attempted to conduct outreach with very few results.

We do stuff well, and can work hard when called upon. The one thing we don't do well as patiently wait while praying with great vigor. I have to say that at that I am a big failure. I am a man of action. On the whole my actions at church have yielded only small results.

People try to console me, "Oh, you never know what impact you have had on someone's life until we get to heaven."

Nice, but that's not what I hear from missionaries from any number of places. I hear of people eager to embrace the truth/Good News of the Bible, and the evidence of lives changed. There are always those who talk a good line, but whose lives never evidence any change, but my efforts have run at nearly a 90% failure rate.

Every failure is a life.

It's crazy to do the same thing over and over and expect the different results. I know that I need to spend the greatest efforts in consuming the Bible and spending time in prayer with God. When I talk about prayer, I mean the type that is an close communion with HIM.

I'm no good at that. It seems passive. I want to be active. I want to do and achieve.

The Bible says that there is a way that seems right to a man, but that way leads to death. I'm the poster child for that verse. At least in terms of my efforts leading to dead ends. It is only when I am yielding my self to God, that I see results. It is HE who does the work, and wins the battle. I'm privileged to be the instrument in His hand.

So, I get results by giving up on my own personal agenda, and getting into close personal relationship with God. From that my desires and direction will reflect my love and devotion to HIM. My "success" will be defined by HIS will, and my results will be from HIS hand.

I think I get it.

Comments, please. Your feedback is welcome.

Adam

Days Like These - Part I

2006-03-27T15:12:00.000-08:00

Days Like These
Words and Music

These days shootin’ and fightin’
Have become pastimes of children
Mama said there’d be days
But love would overcome all of these

Lookin’ out my front door
See the people
They are dead and dying
The search
Don’t know what for
To heal their souls
So much hurt there

CHORUS:
Mama I hear you callin’
But I can’t find
The loe you sent for me
Daddy, I’ve found your pathway
But the light’s grown dim
I know I’ve lost me way

---------------------

This song is from my heart. It describes my neighborhood. It describes what I see out my front door. Teens saunter past my home each day like an endless stream of humanity happily parading to hell. I don't really know what's on kids hearts, but I have a feeling that many or most are not Christians.

I don't know who reads this blog, and some of you might be thinking, "so what if they're not Christians?" I believe 100% in saving faith. Saving, faith in Jesus Christ. Without it, I believe that you are lost. For more on that see my posts on Being a Christian Parts I and II (click the Roman numerals).

In one sense, lost means that you are going to Hell when you die. But it also relates to the fact that lost people are slaves to Satan. They have no choice. It is how everyone is born.

So I sit and watch these kids walk by my house. When I first moved here, I made the effort to get to know people, and get to a point to tell them about Jesus. Then they moved or they didn't want to hear it. Most of the kids that walk past my house are complete strangers to me. I can't just walk up to them and say, "Hey, man, you're lost. Become a Christian now!"

I pray, and nothing seems to happen, but my level of frustration goes up.

I'm posting this, because I so often post advice and counsel. I think that I need to post my struggles and doubts as well. I wish to tell everyone about Jesus, because we all need Christ, but the practical side of me isn't sure how to do it naturally so that it doesn't alienate every one at work and in my neighborhood. Or get me wacked because I'm in the face of perfect stranger telling him about my faith.

I don't know what to do. Christ is some one everyone needs to know.

I know that I can't do it. God can. So I wait and tap my foot wondering when God is going to do what He is going to do, and how I'll know what it is.

My wife and I have spoken about moving for a variety of reasons. If we do move, it will be with a sense of relief and sadness. Sadness that I had no opportunity to share in the joy of new life, new faith in the inner city of Kalamazoo.

What do you think?
You can post a comment in this blog or go to the Sojourn web site and visit our message board.

Adam

What Makes A Christian? Part II

2006-03-24T14:44:00.000-08:00

What makes a Christian? What does it take to be one? The Baseline is found in the Bible in Genesis 15:6. It says that the man Abraham believed God, and God counted that as righteousness. Later in the New Testament portion of the Bible, Abraham is mentioned again as a man of faith. God was asking Abraham to believe in God's promise even though he saw no immediate tangible evidence. Abraham said yes to God, and acted on that belief. This is important, because it's really easy to say, "I believe in God".

Most everybody believes there is a God. Satan believes in God, and he is big time enemies with the Lord. By the way, yes there really is a real Satan. He's not pretend. Anyway, the saving belief is a life changing belief. It moves one to action. Now, Abraham was by no means perfect. He messed up a lot (so glad God is into forgiveness). Nevertheless, his life was centered on trusting and following what God said.

The next thing to see is that it's not enough just to believe in something. People say that now days. "Not important WHAT you believe in, just that you have faith." That's just plain old ignorance talking. What goof ball came up with that idea. Unless you believe in and follow the God of the Bible, you are out of luck.

There's another guy that had a very basic belief. When Jesus was being crucified for our sins, there were two other men being crucified for crimes. One of them hurled insults at Jesus, the other defended Christ, and said to Jesus, "Jesus, remember me when You come in Your kingdom!" Jesus responded by saying, "Truly I say to you, today you shall be with Me in Paradise." This man didn't know anything about Jesus dying for his sins nor that Christ would raise from the dead. He didn't even have a chance to live out his new life changing belief. However, Jesus knew what was in the man's heart, and saw that the man's faith was genuine.

So, it's not how much you know that counts. It's your willingness to give your life to Christ. Act on what you know, even if it is a little bit. Make a life changing decision of faith to believe in Jesus Christ. One more thing, I know this seems basic. Perhaps too simple. In one sense it is very simple, and it does not require that you be able to perform certain activities. Jesus takes you as you are no matter what you've done. At the same time it is very costly. God is a king. He is the creator. He wants you to give him your whole life. It will change you forever. Weird, but this free gift offered by Jesus costs everything.

Later,

Adam
www.sojournband.com

Emotional Glorification

2006-03-23T06:13:00.000-08:00

It has come to my attention this week that God is in control. This week more than most due to an occurence in my own life and the events that happen in the world around us.

In the past I have written about my job. It is tedious, repetitive, and lacks any end. I'm not going to tell you that I quit my job and became a full-time drummer or a writer (obviously!) But, I have been reassigned within the company to a position that is an enormus compliment. We are trying a new business model and want the best people we can find, and they still chose me!

The only thing I can say to that is God is at work. I don't know what is going to come out of my earthly career, but 10 jobs in 5 years with the same company sure is interesting at least. He knows what the end looks like, He knows what I am feeling, and the only thing I can do is say thank you.

The other way I have seen God at work in emotions this week is in the news. First, I read a story about a muslim who converted to Christianity who could be receiving the death penalty. As a Chist follower, I know that suffering is in our contract, a part of the Christian experience. However, we have the compassionate feeling that he should not be put to death for something we can do freely in America. Afghan Supreme Court Judge Ansarullah Mawlavizada was quoted saying, "If he doesn't revert back to Islam, he's going to receive the death penalty, according to the law. " I can't imagine any Christian that wouldn't cringe at least a little at this kind of statement coming from someone in that authoritative position.

On the other end of that spectrum we see the jubilation today as three Christians were released from captivity in Iraq. The joy that their families must be feeling is beyond my scope.

I have found that in both my life and the life around us God is showing us a range of emotional reactions, only to save the best emotion for Himself. The love for God is like no other emotion on the earth.

I feel I have to make some reference to music so here it goes... It is almost like playing drums. You want to make accented notes sound more impactful so you play them louder. What you find is that all the notes get louder. What you really need to do is make the non-accented notes softer. This way, the accented notes sound even more imapctful.

Our love for God is the only accent. Our love for our spouse, nature, playing sports, computers, food, anything here is only a small fraction of what it is to love God. People often look forward to heaven as a place they will get to do all the things they have always wanted. I disagree. It will be the place we get to worshp God for eternity. That's heaven.

John
http://www.sojournband.com/

Links to the articles I referenced from BBC news:

British Iraq hostage Kember freed
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/4836218.stm

Fears over Afghan convert trial
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/4831426.stm

What Makes A Christian?

2006-03-22T19:28:00.000-08:00

What does make some one a Christian?

That's been on my mind for a while, because so often there are a million answers to that question. Sometimes we use special church words that don't necessarily make sense to the average person. Is there a formula? Are there certain steps that each person must experience in order to be considered a Christian? The first question really is who cares? Is it something everybody or anybody needs?

I have to go back to the source for these questions. The Bible. I know that there are lots of discussions and intellectual arguments about IF the Bible is true or fiction or if just parts of it are. Let's leave that one alone for now and just start with the belief that the Bible is exactly what it portrays itself to be: A message sent from God. For those of you who aren't into the Bible very much, God sends His message in two ways: 1) By showing us the lives (good and bad) of His special people: Moses, Abraham, etc. 2) Direct teaching: Like Jesus teaching or the letter from the Apostle Paul.

So, here is what I've learned from the Bible about who needs to be a Christian. Answer? EVERYONE

Let me explain. God made us to be with Him. God wasn't lonely or anything. He was enjoying creating. Everything He created (stars, planets, animals) everything was beautiful and really cool. He created people to enjoy and care for what He had created. In fact the Bible records God saying someting special just before he created the first human, "Then god said, 'Let us make man in our image, in our likeness . . .'" (Genesis 1:26). Cool huh? We are made like God in that we have a sense of person hood, we imagine and create, and we have within us a undying spirit. What some people would call an eternal soul.

So what happened. Did God make this screwed up world the way it is? Gross. No that's not what happened. SIN happened. God created humans with the ability to choose. Choose to follow God's ways, His created laws, or to reject God. Well, the first man and woman chose to reject God's ways and follow their own ways. That rebellion was what brought sin into the world. From that moment, every person born was born with sin in their heart. Our seperates us from God. Sin is anything that I think or say or do that goes against God's laws. God is so pure, perfect and holy, that even my best efforts (on my own) are filthy garbage comparied to God. Sin can NOT be removed by good deeds alone.

Sin is a like a crime against God's goodness. Everyday when God views his creation he sees all the evil and junk that human kind has chosen to bring to the goodness He created. Everyday, each of us viaolates God's laws. The punishment for that crime is eternal death in Hell. Don't kid yourself either, if you think that Hell only starts after you die, look around you. Without Christ, life is just plain old screwed up.

If the sin in our hearts is a crime and the punishment for that crime is eternal death (starting now), is there anyway to be pardoned from my crime? Can anyone save me? The problem is that if God just lets us off the hook then He would be a corrupt judge. So God entered the world as a baby. Baby Jesus grew up to be a sinless man. In fact Jesus is completely God and completely man. Weird, but if you are God, what's the big deal right?

Jesus was on the earth teaching the way to have eternal life and it ticked off a bunch of religious fakes, so they killed him buy nailing Him to a cross (go watch the movie The Passion). Hah, the trick's on them, this was God's plan. The Bible says that on the cross Jesus became sin for me. Jesus paid the penalty through suffering and dying on the cross. But, that's not the end. Paying the price for sin, Jesus died and rose again.

We celebrate Jesus raising from the grave on Easter Sunday. Dying on the cross He canceled my debt of sin. Rising from the dead He canceled the power of death. Now all that's left is for you to excercise the power of choice that God has given you. Everyone who gives their life to Jesus will have eternal life. Life eternal is enjoying God forever. Starting now.

That's the abreviated teaching. More later.

Questions? Add a comment, visit our message board or e-mail me at adam@sojournband.com Ada

Christian Faith - Would You Be Convicted?

2006-03-22T11:07:00.000-08:00

I noticed this on the Associated Press and other news sources:

"Updated: 10:27 a.m. ET March 22, 2006 Abdul Rahman, 41, has been charged with rejecting Islam, a crime under this country’s Islamic laws. His trial started last week and he confessed to becoming a Christian 16 years ago. If convicted, he could be executed"

Under duress, under the threat of death, this man has confessed faith in Christ.

What other compelling evidence will be brought to bear as the prosecution tries to paint a picture of complete infidel. Perhaps there is the physical evidence of the Bible that "allegedly" belongs to Abdul. His family may testify to his sharing his new Christian faith, perhaps he was caught praying.

This goes back to the central question of what is being a Christian and what is it worth? In America there is a Christian sub culture that provides safe and worry free entertainment and services. Is that Christianity?

What is Christianity and what is there about it that is so worth dying for?

Here's another question, if you consider yourself a Christian, are you willing to be tortured and killed for your faith? Before you answer yes with enthusiasm and vigore, here is the follow on question, IF you are willing to suffer and die are you also willing to live your whole life pursuing a relationship with God first? Are you willing to place God at the center of your passions and desires to such an extent that even your very life seems secondary to knowing and pleasing God the Father?

That's a tougher question.

Adam

Christian Faith - Punishable by Death

2006-03-19T11:29:00.000-08:00

On March 3rd, in China 17 leaders of a Chinese religious group are on trial because of their faith. While imprisoned they have been abused and assaulted. Sleep deprivation and electric shock to various parts of their body [I'll skip the details] where used to elicit false confessions. One defendant. Xu, urged everyone in the court to believe in Jesus; otherwise, they will one day face eternal judgments in heaven. He also urged his children to continue to follow Christ without fear." Government sources have said Xu and at least three co-defendants will be sentenced to death. (Reprinted from Voice of the Martyrs)

On March 3rd, two Muslim seminarians in Pakistan's Punjab province were found guilty today of murdering a Pakistani Christian, who died 22 months ago after being tortured to convert to Islam. Before a courtroom packed with Islamic madrassa students and police, Judge Javed Iqbal Warraich sentenced Maulvi Ghulam Rasool and Mohammed Tayyab to 25 years in prison for their part in torturing and killing Catholic university student Javed Anjum. Prosecution lawyer Khalil Tahir Sindhu told Compass he was pleased with the verdict, but he would appeal for the sentence to be changed to the death penalty. (Reprinted from Compass Direct)

I feel it's important to pass along some of this kind of news. All over the world there are people who so deeply and desperately want the hope of Christ that they are willing to suffer anything for it. In North Korea where possessing a Bible is punishable by public execution to Indonesia and India in which Christian organizations are burnt or vandalized. These people are attacked for their faith.

This is not simply academic agreement with a set of ideas. Their Christian faith is something so real that it overshadows and overwhelms all other experiences. In the Bible in John 8:36 it says "If the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed." INDEED! It's like an affirmation. There is not doubt. It's not a partial freedom or a temporary freedom, but a definite freedom.

Freedom in Christ does not manifest itself in the form of cash or real-estate or ones circumstances in life. Our life on this earth is but a small microscopic spec of time when compared to the incomparable wealth and beauty of eternity. In God's perspective, you free because your soul, your very self is now under his authority, and no one can take from you your spiritual freedom.

True freedom lives in ones soul. Torture and death can not take it away. It is eternal and can not be defeated.

Adam

Who's Line is it Anyway

2006-03-15T06:45:00.000-08:00

I've heard that God has a plan for me and all of us. I can understand that since He can create an entire universe, it should be pretty easy for Him do make things happen within it with His creation. One thing I am struggling to understand is why He doesn't tell us what the plan is. Why am I doing this job? Why do I have the relationships I have? Where is all this leading? Like in our song, Seasons, "If I could see the journey's end life would be so easy."

However, the song continues with, But would I need faith?" God doesn't tell us what is going to happen or what we see as outcomes like getting a new job, moving to a new location or relationships failing. It's almost like we are on the show Who's Line is it Anyway. They play a game where they have somebody, usually that Canadian guy Colin, stand in front of a green screen and act like a reporter. Then the other cast members ask him questions about the scene behind him while he trys to figure out what the scene is. Sometimes that is the way I feel. Why God do you want me to move away from my hometown? Why am I in a job where I don't feel qualified? Where are you leading me?

The place it is leading is the glorification of God. That's all the hope I need.

John

Read Seasons lyrics and others at:
http://www.sojournband.com/lyrics.htm

All My Dreams

2006-03-15T02:47:00.000-08:00

All my dreams, Lord
Dreams that I once had
For my life
For my loved ones
For my friends
I given them all to You
Lord, I’ve given them all to You

Nothing else really matters
Nothing else will be of value
In eternity
My dreams, my plans, my life
For You, dear Lord

So why, Father, should I cling
To what I thought were perfect plans
For me and mine?
What I cling to now
Is You, Lord Jesus

I had plans, big plans. Most of my plans fell through. I thought, wouldn’t it help God if I were . . . or I could . . . Everyone would finally see that I’m somebody.
I suffered through years of disappointment, trying to achieve my perfect dreams. Then came the disappointment with God, the anger at Him for not giving me what I wanted. Then finally I gave up in defeat.

No matter how hard or faithfully I prayed for that big record deal or that big string of financially successful bookings, they didn’t happen. What also didn’t happen is that I was not having an authentic relationship with God. There was nothing vital or living in my "walk" with the Lord. At the same time I was purporting to be a spiritual guide as I sang and spoke about the Lord.
God stripped away my dreams and returned to me desires and cravings that were far more satisfying and enjoyable. It hasn’t happened all at once. I learn the important lessons slowly and cling to old habits with a tenaciousness that rivals a steel vise grip.

However, lately I’ve been tasting the pleasure and satisfaction of knowing God and interacting with Him. It has a rich and filling quality to it, it’s also unnerving. Last time my church held communion I had an unusual experience. I was serving communion, but I felt that I had attitudes and thoughts that were wicked. I confessed this to God. I told Him that I didn’t feel like I deserved anything and that my confession didn’t make me feel different, but I was trusting in his promise of forgiveness. I thanked Him and shortly thereafter stepped out to begin serving communion. At that moment I felt something wash over me, and I felt as if I had just been purified. It was an exquisite and liberating experience.

I don’t expect that to happen every time I take communion, but it’s an example of a newness that is coming into my relationship with God.

My dreams used to be wrapped up in financial and public success. Now, gradually, my desires, passions, and joys are wrapping themselves around the person of God the Father and Jesus my savior. The Lord is becoming my chief joy, and consequently, in Him, life is becoming more stable and pleasurable.

Adam M. Parmenter
www.sojournband.com

You Played What? Where?

2006-03-13T09:56:00.000-08:00

You: So, how was the Library gig?

Me: It was a library and we tried to play music, how do you think it went!?!

Actually, it went better than I thought. I had no idea of what it was supposed to be like, but here it goes…

We arrived at the Portage District Library for a war-themed artistic exhibition, set up everything (near the music section), started to check stuff out sound-wise and quickly realized that we were greatly over playing the room. Of course at a library coughing could be considered over playing.

The group did well adjusting to the quiet room. I used multi-rods instead of sticks to quiet things down a bit. The other guys did what they could (turn stuff down) including Adam giving a more subdued vocal performance.

Again, some of the highlights for me were the old stuff that was already soft like All My Dreams. The group really seemed to gel together and form a unit to produce a smooth sound. On the more outspoken Big Mouth (no pun intended), it was fun to make different musical decisions than we might have if we were playing at full force. It was defiantly a learning experience and an enjoyable afternoon.

Come see us soon, check out:
http://www.sojournband.com/concerts.htm

John

Dream On . . .

2006-03-12T03:58:00.000-08:00

Had a dream one night that I was helping birth a child. I was not a doctor in the dream, but I was helping a woman deliver, and then cleaning up the baby.

My wife says that a dream like that symbolizes an internal belief that something new and hopeful is comming my way.

Later I had a dream that I was testing a road. Somehow I would drive an icepick into the asphalt, and determine the depth of the road. It reminds me of the the new Sojourn CD, "The Journey Continues".

Perhaps I believe that there is something new coming my way, and I am being careful to test it's depth or substance. Am I unwilling to so easily dive into the shallow? Perhaps it's an urge for lasting change in my life.

Birthing an infant is certainly a lasting change.

Often my dreams revolve around a decrepid old house that is very much in need of repairs (like my house now). The house in my dream is often the same one: quite tall and rather gothic in appearance. In this series of dreams there is a room on the upper floor at the back corner of the house that is structurally unsound. The floor slopes up, and is about ready to collapse. To the casual visitor this room is hidden. One of these dreams I was just trying to decide what to do with the dangerous floor. It was unstable and bounced wildly when I walked on it. Later I remember having a dream in which I simply put a good coat of paint on the room.

I woke up from that thinking, "Covering it up won't fix the damage." Interestingly enough, God has been dealing with me to be an authentic person.

Say what I believe.

Believe what I say.

Do what I say I believe.

One way I describe authentic is "What you see is what you get". However, to really get my idea of authentic is adding to that by saying, "What you see in me is what I believe is true". I want to hold fast to my beliefs and live them out. I want to be the real deal. So, one of my prayers to God is that He will change me. I want to be an example of how God can transform a man into some one who is like Jesus.

So, I don't just want to make a show of it. I don't just want to look good, look like a Christian on the surface, but be unstable on the inside. I want my insides to show on the outside, and I want my inside and my outside to be equally pleasing to Christ.

So, I suppose like the dream with the road, I'm testing to see how deep my life goes. Making every effort to dig deep into myself and ask for change. Dig deep into the word, and strive to have a prayer life that is intimate and genuine.

I suppose something new is being born within me. I pray that it grows in strength and is a reflection of the savior.

Curious what happens in the next dreams.

What are some dreams that you've had? Dreams that seem to say something to you.

Leave a comment or swing by the Sojourn message forum (http://www.sojournband.com)

Adam

The Lion, The Witch and Temptation

2006-03-08T09:21:00.000-08:00

Disclaimer: The opinions here are 100% mine (Adam Parmenter) and not necessarily the views of Sojourn. Every post won't have a disclaimer, but I'm digging into to some sensative issues for which Sojourn doesn't have an official stand. I'm terrible at spelling and I type to fast, so any typos are purely me.

-----

In the Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, The Witch and the Wardrobe, the White Queen was coldly beautiful and graceful in a sort of hollow way. She was really a witch that had taken the form of a queen. She could be charming and kind if it suited her purposes to do so. Inside, her heart was cold, and she was bent on only one objective: gaining and keeping power. Gaining and keeping control.

In real life, the Devil works to disguise his evil as good, deceiving people with just enough good to trick them into turning to evil. The Bible says, “Satan himself masquerades as an angel of light.” He gives just enough truth to make his evil sound right.

An Islamic terrorist is trained to have an ardent fervor for God. Serving God is good. Being fervent and devoted is good. Blowing yourself up to kill others . . . not good, that’s from Satan. I’m hungry and I want steak for dinner tonight. I deserve to eat. Isn’t right that I should eat? I’ll only steal one steak. That won’t break the stores pocket book.

God created beauty. Satan twists beauty into fashion trends that pump men and women for billions a year, face lifts, tummy tucks, crash diets, and a million other ways to spend money so that other people will want to look at me.

God created sex. He did. He created sex for the enjoyment and bonding of a husband and wife. It is part of the marriage relationship. Satan twists sex into sex appeal and sells it back to us as lust. Sex has become a recreational activity, but God meant sex to be special, pure, wonderfully enjoyable, and the joining of only one man and one woman. It creates a picture of how God’s spirit joins with his people. Well sin and Satan have trashed that one to Hell (no pun intended).

God created a woman's womb to be a safe, nurturing home that brings a baby into the world. Satan has tempted people's selfishness and has brought murder into the world. Abortion is murder that activists disguise as dignity. The abortion activists use words like "choice" and imply that woman are being repressed by being forced to deliver a baby that is not according to their choosing. In doing so the baby is reduced to the status of a tissue mass, an acquisition that will help the woman self actualize. Abortion is sold as a loving, freeing choice, and it has reeked havoc in the lives of pregnant women the world over.

God created us humans to seek and experience pleasure, with our greatest pleasures and desires culminating in union with God Himself. In fact God created us with an inborn desire to be one with Him. When that union with God is born out of the truth of the Bible, and the Beliver fully engages in a relationship with the creator, there is pleasure, joy, happiness. God created us with a desire for that fulfillment. Satan and sin have twisted that into people filling an inborn hunger for God with drugs, over eating, sex , fame, fashion, power, money, and everything else but God.

It’s easy to be brought into Satan’s lies when there is just enough good coated onto the front end. I heard spoke of a young man who was in need of funds for school and had no way of earning enough money. He turned to stripping at a club to earn the cash he needed. He was spoken of admirably as having done whatever it takes to make it through school. According to the prevailing wisdom that young man was determined, persistent, and resourceful.

There is such a twisting of right and wrong, bad stuff disguised as good. I feel like a prudish retch condemning all the many evil things that seem to make everyone so happy, and it’s all because of one basic principle. I believe that the Bible is the absolute truth and points to the only way to have real life. It’s at that point that I would be the one dropping out of college rather than compromise what I believe.

I actually did that. I had finished my bachelor’s degree in communication. A communications bachelors is a fairly general course of study and I didn’t really see how it opened up many great career paths for me. It probably could have, but I just didn’t see it. Then I saw a course of study called Music Therapy. That seemed perfect! So I went back to school. I started hunting for financial aid, but could only get loans. My voice teacher explained to me how I could fool the system in order to get various grants so that I could finish my degree. It had to do with answering questions on forms in just the right way. I wouldn't be hurting anyone, but I would be helping myself get a valuable education. An education is a good thing, and I could use music therapy to help others.

I ended up quitting school instead. I had been married for two years and had a new baby. I also needed to get to work and pull my own weight. I don’t want to make myself sound like some kind of saint, but the good of finishing a degree of study, would not have made up for the evil of lying. To my voice teaching it wasn’t lying. It was just making do so that one could get through school.

Evil masquerading as good.

Satan is our enemy, and at least for now, he has sway in this world. He twists good toward his evil direction and offers it up to us. Problem is we’ve chosen it over the pure pleasures of God’s grace. Satan is our enemy and we have embraced him as a friend.

Adam
adam@sojournband.com

Hope For Pop Music? - Maybe

2006-03-08T06:58:00.000-08:00

Quick disclaimer: The opinions here are 100% mine (Tim Hamm) and not necessarily the views of Sojourn. Also, if there are spelling or grammar goofs, that’s my fault too.

This week has seen the release of a new solo CD from Pink Floyd guitarist/vocalist David Gilmour. The CD is titled “On An Island”, and is available at most retail outlets.

In my opinion, this CD may be one of the most anticipated of 2006. The “buzz” around this release has been quietly growing over the past weeks.

On Tuesday, I picked up a copy at Best Buy, for the “sale” price of $9.99.

I am here to tell you that this release is truly the “exception” to what you typically hear in music today. This release is full of soft melodies, outstanding guitar work, and just of “hint” of the Pink Floyd rock sounds. There is David’s distinctive voice, but his guitar mastery is certainly on display here (albeit in a subtle way). This is one of those CDs that will make nice “relaxing” music, while still maintaining a connection for the Pink Floyd fan.

A good description may be it sounds like a combination of the Pink Floyd track “Wish You Were Here” combined with “Shine On You Crazy Diamond”, except that the music is a bit softer and “intimate”.

From the Christian persepctive, this release is full of such beautiful melodies and soft music, that I find it actually reminding me of the beauty God has for us in this world. I don’t know where David Gilmour stands with his belief in Christ, but that doesn’t mean Christians can’t find beauty in this music.

I will be watching the Billboard charts to see how this release comes out. I’m hoping to see it close to #1, as maybe this may show there is still some hope for the pop music genre (not everyone is buying Kidz Bop 9, I hope).

Now, if we can just get a professing Christian to come up with something this creative and appealing, while generating a large level of attention.

If you've managed to hear some of this David Gilmour release, offer your thoughts.

For those interested, the entire release is "streaming" at http://www.woodradio.com/cc-common/mfeatures/davidgilmour/

Tim Hamm
www.sojournband.com

Living In Enemy Territory – And Loving It!

2006-03-07T13:16:00.000-08:00

Quick disclaimer: The opinions here are 100% mine (Adam Parmenter) and not necessarily the views of Sojourn. Also, if there are spelling or grammar goofs, that’s my fault too.

--------------

During a war, the most dangerous place to be is in the heart of the enemy’s territory. It’s even worse to be captured and placed in a detention camp. Imagine that it’s World War II, and you’re an American soldier who finds himself stuck in the heart of Hitler’s Germany. You spend every day trying to find a way out. You hide or use a disguise to avoid being captured. There in the heart of the enemy’s power, all you can think about is going home.

What if over time you gave up on getting out and just settled down to make the best of it. You learned German, got a job, and even started raising a family. The newspapers would remind you of where you are, but more and more you are able to ignore Hitler and the war and simply enjoy the good things that are so abundant in your new home. When the war finally ends, you are discovered and branded a traitor by your home land.

Sounds like a crazy story? Who would do that? People did, and still do. We have an enemy. The Bible calls him the Devil.
“Be self-controlled and alert. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. Resist him, standing firm in the faith, because you know that your brothers throughout the world are undergoing the same kind of sufferings.” I Peter 5:7 NIV translation of the Bible.
The devil is everyone’s enemy. If you’re a Christian then the Devil is your arch-enemy. The Bible teaches that when Adam and Eve, the first humans, rebelled against God it was at the deceptive promptings of the Devil. When Adam and Eve rebelled against God, sin entered into human kind, and the Devil became the “Prince of the Power of the Air”.

It may sound weird, but at that point, the Devil became an authority over this world. God has always been the sovereign king, but when men and women chose sin over God, they also chose the Devil as their prince. For a time, this world became the Devil’s territory.

The Devil is also known as Satan, the Deceiver or Accuser. He was originally called Lucifer which means Morning Star. Lucifer was not originally our arch-enemy, but was an arch angel. He was the most beautiful and wisest angel in creation, the top of the order, and served in the presence of God. In the Bible, the book of the prophet Isaiah records this:
“How you have fallen from heaven, O morning star, son of the dawn! You have been cast down to the earth, you who once laid low the nations! You said in your heart, ‘I will ascend to heaven; I will raise my throne above the stars of God; I will sit enthroned on the mount of assembly, on the utmost heights of the sacred mountain. I will ascend above the tops of the clouds; I will make myself like the Most High.’” Isaiah 14:12-15

Lucifer wanted to be like God. Not in the good way, but in a way that put Him at God’s level. There is only one God. Satan was thrown down. That’s when the war started. Problem is the earth is now enemy territory. If you’re a Christian, your home land is not this present earth. Your homeland is in the presence of God in heaven. For this short life on earth, we are living in enemy territory.

Lucifer, deceptively beautiful and crafty, is bent on twisting and destroying what God has made. His lies and destructive agenda have infiltrated the cultures throughout the world. Problem is that most of us like it here. We’ve lost site of what is normal and good and have come to see this broken and twisted world as normal.

We’re living in enemy territory and loving it.

More tomorrow.

Adam
www.sojournband.com

If Jesus were on earth today, what job would he have?

2006-03-07T12:07:00.000-08:00

It’s interesting to think about Christ on earth.

I have a job where I am not directly responsible for anything. I supervise, maintain, update, recap, and analyze. I do not create, destroy, end, begin, design, decide, or any other activity where there is anything produced. Most of my tasks involve communicating between people who decide something and people who execute that plan. Then when the plans change, I look like the fool.

My thoughts immediately go to Christ. How would Jesus keep this desk under control? How would he maintain order between plans, revised plans, and new revised plans? How accepting of this am I? Why do I worry about little things like this? Why can’t I be more like him?

What makes me feel better is that God is in control. He knows what I am thinking, He knows what I feel. I am comforted that I have a relationship with the Maker of the universe who knows the entire story of my life. The thing that keeps me up at night is that He also knows when this feeling of uselessness is going to end, but He hasn’t told me yet!

John

New Drummer in Town

2006-03-06T10:51:00.000-08:00

As much as we want to feature the new album, The Journey Continues, I have found an equal amount of enjoyment in some of the older stuff the guys (and families) have written collectively.

I can’t even quote the stuff because I don’t even have a copy of it! Most of the songs are cool, casual, light songs that are right up my alley as a more subdued drummer. Having never heard these tunes with drums gives me my first crack at an empty canvas. Not completely empty, but one lacking the highs and lows, a rigid structure, or a backbone.

One of the coolest songs is Father, Son, and the Holy Spirit. Nice lyrical textures and excellent word selection puts a great smooth touch to our live shows. Another that I have heard on Once Again is Sometimes We Weep. This one played right into my lighter style nicely. Not that I think Denny did a poor job, we just don't have the same sensibility, any preference between the two is purely opinion. I think the chorus is great at narrating our lives when we lay down the crown of salvation for the ways of the world. The only thing we truly have to hold onto is the rock, the only one, Jesus Christ.

I’ve received a crown
Taken it off and laid it down
Cried out for help as I started to drown
Then I clung to the rock for all that I could be
If I hasten to you Lord
Will you hasten to me?

See you at a show soon! Here's a list of upcoming events:

http://www.sojournband.com/concerts.htm

John

Culture & Arts - 14th Annual MOVIEGUIDE® Faith & Values Awards

2006-03-06T09:49:00.000-08:00

(Quoted from Agape Press http://headlines.agapepress.org/archive/3/32006c.asp)

"Disney and Walden Media's The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe, WB's 7th Heaven, ABC TV's Extreme Makeover: Home Edition, and PAX TV's Sue Thomas: F.B. Eye won the three biggest honors at the 14th Annual MOVIEGUIDE® Faith & Values Awards Gala and Report to the Entertainment Industry, held in the Grand Ballroom of the Beverly Hilton Hotel Thursday night (March 2)."

"The glittering event . . . was held just days before the 78th Annual Academy Awards in Hollywood and attracted more than 150 celebrities, Hollywood executives, producers, writers, and directors and their guests."

---------------

Top movie honors went to The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion the Witch and the Wardrobe. The C.S. Lewis Chronicles of Narnia were part of the fabric of my childhood. Aslan was a name my whole family new as did many of my friends. I'm a little embarassed to say that I haven't read all of the books, but I read Lion, Witch and the Wardrobe several times as a child and as an adult.

This my stun some purists, but I thought that the movie enhanced the story telling in ways that Lewis could not have. If memory serves correct, the movie in its opening scenes bring to life what Lewis only hinted at. My father was in World War II, and so I have a special interest in that aspect of the story. I felt the deep need of Edmond to have his father at home. In a child's mind the promise of having mom and dad both at home is often a promise that the world will once again feel safe. Accept for a photograph, Edmond's father was invisible, and that made the trials of war all the more hellish.

As the movie progresed I felt a thrill as each character was faithfully presented and brought to life. When Aslan said, "It is finished" I felt chills run up my spine as this was a quote from Jesus' very words in John 19:30.

The movie has generated a small amount of controversy over what elements were just like the book and what weren't. What I say is that Disney/Walden presented a fun movie with good acting, interesting story, suspence, action, cool visuals that my whole family enjoyed. They never got schmaltzy nor did they have to descend to sexuality or gor in order to sell the movie.

I saw it twice in the theatre and plan to purchase the DVD.

It urks me that the "Academy" and Golden Globes decided to ignore it. I thought Tilda Swinton who played the White Witch did a subtle and compelling performance. Georgie Henley, Lucy, wasn't so bad either. I'm sure how often child actors get Oscars though.

The box office didn't ignore it, and I'm excited to say that the second movie "Prince Caspien" is in Pre-production. I'm ready for it now, but it will be worth the wait.

Adam
www.sojournband.com

Seasons - Part 2

2006-03-06T04:40:00.000-08:00

Eb and flow
Seasons
Each in turn
Blessings and trials
Bound together
Pave the road ahead

I've been blessed with such an exceptional marriage. My wife is loving and supportive. Our relationship is both romantic and collegial. I love my children. My kids are also my friends. I absolutely enjoy spending time with them. My family is a rich blessing in my life.
I've experienced a fair amount of Chronic pain over the last three years. A mild case of Fibromyalgia. In that regard I live in a continuum from discomfort to pain throughout the joints in my body. It robs me of sleep.

Both of those experiences form the road of my life like the cobblestones in a country lane. I would never have chosen chronic pain or a sleep problems as a character building experience, but looking back it has made me a stronger man.

I lost energy, endurance, and freedom in many ways when I started having pain (at the same time I started struggling with allergies and sleep abnormalities). I went through a year of a growing self-pity. At that point I was doing Sojourn full time. I was going to make it into a full time, income-producing venture. I made some money from it, but never enough to cover expenses, and over two years consistently operated in the red.

I was so angry with God, I used to scream at Him. "Don't you care what happens to me? Aren't I trying to serve you with Christian music?" I railed at god. The truth is I wanted to be famous and wealthy. At an even deeper level I wanted to prove to all the people that mocked my desire to be a musician that I am somebody.

It all fell through.

My brother Kerry just sent me this quote,
"I am looking for a lot of men who have an infinite capacity to not know what can't be done." Henry Ford

Throughout my life I have set very high standards for myself, and rarely met them. In fact I often fall very short o them. Most of the time I have been trying to do the right thing, but ended up being wrong. Other times I thought that I was doing what God wanted, but approached it with a self centered attitude (or maybe was wrong again). Other times I've goofed.

My mind seems to capture a list, a litany of failure that looms large in my self image.
The quote from Henry Ford describes people who innovate, accomplish new things, or improve on current things. Thomas Edison "invented" the light bulb. No one could convince him that it couldn't be done. He failed 100 times.

". . . Lincoln was a partner in a grocery store that failed, leaving him with a heavy burden of debt. " http://www.us-civilwar.com/lincoln.htm

These men are not viewed as failures. They achieved big, and the failed big.
Individuals who achieve great things need to feel free to fail. Fail 99 times before succeeding. We all also need to change our definition of success. The measuring stick of money, power, and fame, are empty.

As you've seen in other posts, I'm on the other side of numerous life changing failures and struggles. I'm starting to see them differently. I see that god uses all things in my life for His glory (Romans 8:28), and I'm also seeing that God has not left me to the whim of chance. "A man plans his own ways, but the Lord orders his steps" (where is that one in the Bible?).
It's not enough to say God can use my mistakes for His glory. Instead, I say, that as I seek God, He will teach and develop me through experiences of both pain and pleasure. Thomas Edison was sincerely trying to do a good thing, and failed. Those failures gave him information that he used to succeed.

So, as the journey continues, I want to be free to fail, and to learn from the failure. Not so that I will be timid about trying, but so that I will have the wisdom to attempt new things more effectively.

The journey continues.

Adam

Waiting on God -- Whatever The Cost

2006-03-02T08:52:00.000-08:00

(Quoted from www.AgapePress.com) – “The Supreme Court of Indonesia has denied the appeal of three Sunday school teachers arrested and charged with breaking the law by allegedly coercing children to convert to the Christian faith. The teachers were accused of enticing Muslim children to participate in the program and coercing them with gifts to convert from Islam to Christianity. [Defense] attorneys furthermore pointed out that the Christian teachers always required and obtained parental consent before allowing any child to attend their voluntary Sunday school program. Nevertheless, the three women were declared guilty and each was sentenced to three years in jail.

“During the trial, Muslim terrorists protested outside the courtroom, threatening to kill the women, pastors, missionaries, and judges if the Christians were acquitted.”
There is an upside to this. We know that God is able to keep these women from jail, but has allowed them to go through this time of trial for a reason. The imprisoned Christian teachers report that their faith is giving them strength and courage. “Zakaria, [one of the imprisoned teachers] who wakes early each day to pray and read her Bible, intercedes for the guards as well as for her fellow prisoners, and she has even been privileged to lead others to Christ while behind bars. She calls their present environment not a jail but their "School of Trust Bible School."

These brave Christian women did not protest, boycott, or lead a contentious public debate. They served others, shared their faith, and provided an example of Christ for others. That was their crime. Now God has led them through a very difficult time. A “valley of the shadow of death” as Psalm 23 would have it. While God will use them to spread the hope of Jesus Christ to others in the prison, he may also have them there for other reasons they will never know. They have three years to wait. They can use those three years to stew and fret or they can consider this time of waiting a sweet gift from God. I bet they will very natural do both, and have to daily struggle to rely on God for hope. When their three year term is up, I believe that they will emerge stronger and more determined then ever. My prayer for them is that their courage will be stronger and that they will continue, as before, to live as an example of Christ so that others can learn to follow him also.

Adam
P.S. Love to hear your comments on this blog, or at the Sojourn message board. If you haven’t visited the Sojourn web site in a while, stop by at http://www.sojournband.com

Waiting's Workout

2006-02-28T16:32:00.000-08:00

Sounds like the beginning of an infomercial: Do you want to strengthen your resolve, tone your determination, and build your flabby virutes in to sleek hard packed values?

Use the Waiting Workout!

Already a very patient person, then try our advanced program: Waiting on God Workout. It makes the heart grow stronger!

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

”Knowing this, that the trying of your faith works patience. But let patience have her perfect work, that you may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing” (Holy Bible, James 1:3-4, NIV Translation).

Waiting exercises my patience. It’s often unpleasant exercise to me, because in many ways I see myself as the center of my world. I wonder why God doesn’t pave the way for me with rose petals and smooth trails.

I’ve read Psalm 23, “The Lord is my shepherd . . . makes me lie down in green pastures, he leads me beside quiet waters, he restores my soul.”

Yet, I feel a persistent sense of anxiousness. If God is leading me beside quiet waters, doesn’t that mean He is guiding me to a place of calm and peace? If I don’t feel at peace, what does that mean? What are the green pastures? Doesn’t that mean that I’ll have plenty, and more to spare? What does it mean that he restores my soul? How long have I felt discouraged and defeated? Shouldn’t I be able to get some restoration just by asking? You know, “Uh, God, um. . . . reset my soul please.”

It would be like a video game. You know the kind where you’re firing at enemy ships or something. Every time they hit you, you loose health points, and if you go down to zero you die. Every so often a little flashing thing comes along that you touch and it gives you back some of your health points. Isn’t that what it should be like with the whole soul restoration business?

I’m missing a few things. The Lord is my shepherd and I am the sheep. Check this, the sheep are stupid, the shepherd is highly skilled and smart. The 23rd Psalm was written by a shepherd in the Palestinian region of the world. He would have had to lead the sheep through barren areas to get to from green pasture to green pasture. The shepherd knew where the best pastures where and the best way through the barren wastes to get to them. I guess I could stop right there for today, because that bit is rich with cool stuff.

Put yourself in the sheep’s place for a second. Your in a grassy area, but the lush tall grasses are running short. The shepherd urges you toward a small cleft in a rocky cliff that leads through a desert ravine. The shepherd calls, and you go. You follow the shepherd through arid places, through ravines, up embankments, and across difficult terrain. All around you there is nothing green. No water. Nothing to sustain life, but you follow anyway. Why? Because the sheep know the shepherd. The sheep know the shepherds voice, and it is natural for them to follow their shepherd. There is a natural trust.

In the Bible, Jesus called himself the good shepherd, and also said that his sheep know his voice when he calls. I’m a little different than a regular sheep in that I want to pick out my own path. Yet, I don’t have the wisdom and foresight of the shepherd to go it on my own. Just like regular sheep, when I go my own way, I go astray. So, here I am trudging through a desert complaining that God was supposed to provide a green pasture. I know better! This aint no green pasture it’s a desert. What I don’t understand nor can I foresee is that it is necessary to traverse the arid wastes in order to enter into the lush grass land oasis.

So this brings me back to waiting and patience. When circumstances or situations in life don’t make sense or I need help, I pray about it. I look to God to take me to the answer. Often I see no change in my circumstances or things may seem to get worse. I have a choice to work at continuing to trust God despite what I can see or to despair and lash out at God. It’s a daily decision or sometimes an hourly decision to say, “God, I don’t get what’s going on! I don’t like it, but I know that you keep your promises. I know that you are looking out for my best, and guiding me along. Please help me to trust you and follow your lead.” That moment-by-moment decision to trust even when God is making you wait is what builds patience and exercises your spiritual muscles.

Later,

Adam
http://www.sojournband.com/

Seasons Part 1 - Journey Continues

2006-02-25T10:36:00.000-08:00

My band Sojourn has just started playing out with our new drummer, and we’re “touring” our new CD “The Journey Continues”. It’s available at our web page www.sojournband.com

Here’s a peak into the title cut.

SEASONS
by Sojourn © 2004

Eb and flow
Seasons
Each in turn
Blessings and trials
Bound together
Pave the road ahead

The journey continues
If I see to the journey's end
Life would be so easy
But then would I need faith?

As seasons go
I grow
More through
The effort to believe
So much remains unseen
But I take a step
Suprised where it takes me

When I was in college I read a book by Daniel J. Levinson called "The Seasons of a Man's Life" I can't say that I remember know the majority of the content, but the main premise of the book is that as a man goes through the years of his life, there are seasons.

Each season represents the expectations, desires, and reactions typical for a person of a particular age.

Well last year, Dean (guitar) started playing something kind of gentle and sweet The drums and bass caught on to the groove, and everyone seemed to like it.

Everyone looked to me for lyrics. Often when the guys come up with the elements of a song, the song itself suggests some lyrics to me. That's the way it was with This Is The Way for example. This time, however, I had nothing. I was absolutely dry. I told the guys that if they wanted lyrics for the song, I had to have help this time.

Denny and Tim said to make it something about the seasons changing. Right then it clicked in my head. Almost in a moment the lyrics came to me.

It was cool.

Another interesting thing was that the title of the song, “The Journey Continues”, had been suggested months earlier as the name of our new CD. We decided that we liked the name, and didn't feel that the name of the CD had to match a song on the CD. Yet the name of the CD fit right into the new song to make a title cut anyway.

It was cool.

The lyrics may not seem like much, but they bear a great deal on my own life. I'll try and give you a peak inside my head and heart and what lead to this song. Lyrics never come out of nowhere. They nearly always are coming out of thoughts and struggles that I have been having for a while.

Later.

Adam

Road Report 24-Feb-06 Essential Bean, Caledonia, MI

2006-02-24T20:46:00.000-08:00

Essential Bean is a comfy place to play, and I always enjoy myself there. Tim has made some improvements to the sound system so we've been able to dial in the room and get a clear and crisp mix. Was happy to see a number of friends show up for what is essentially the first perfromence of the new Sojourn.

I feel like there is a fresh wind of creativity since John, our new drummer, joined the band. We fired through almost two hours of music with a break in the middle. I haven't done a set that long in months, and between recording and starting a new drummer, we haven't had a live show ina while.

So I was just psyched going up there tonight, and I think it was a great set.

Hope you all enjoyed it.

Adam
www.sojournband.com

Waiting for me to Arrive

2006-02-24T06:25:00.000-08:00

I used to think . . . o.k. I still fight these kinds of thoughts. So, sometimes I still think that at some point, I’ll learn enough about the world around me that life will make more sense. There must be some point where I can take all changes in stride and make the best decisions. If I can amass enough data, it would seem possible.

I’m very autistic in that regard. Actually, I really am Asperger, but that’s another story.

I struggle with ambivalence in my life. I want life to be filled with definites, and solvable problems. O.K., so no duh on this one. Life is a series of curved shapes that somewhat blend into each other, and unless you’re graduating from school or quitting a job, one situation often doesn’t quite end before another one sort of starts.

Take self doubt for an example. I really got twisted up in my brain in junior high. Basically trash talked myself into the ground. It took a long time to work out if thinking very poorly of myself. But, hey! That was a long time ago, right? And not too long ago. And recently. It’s the whole onion thing. I thought that I had gotten past thinking that I was a failure and doubting everything that I did, until a new situation in life comes around and I have to start over. I build my confidence up at work and am getting close to feeling like I might be conquering that one when something happens at church that brings that self doubt monster roaring out again at church. It could be several different some things. I’m preaching more at church these days, and I’m starting to feel a little more confident dong that, but not completely yet. I still feel compelled to ask my wife a couple times, “Did it stink?”, and then later “So would you say that my preaching was o.k.?”

So I’m not completely confident as a preacher yet. So, in Sunday school I need a musician to help with singing and can’t find any, so I start playing keyboard while I lead the singing. I’m doing o.k., but I must be crazy to try that. Then I decide to write a song to help the kids memorize the 23rd Psalm. I have to force myself to NOT ask the kids, “Hey, is the awful or o.k.”

I am getting better at self doubt, but as long as I’m willing to risk failure, constantly trying new things, and facing/ignoring my fears, I will never arrive at perfect confidence. It’s that way with a bunch of other stuff too. I’m getting more organized, but life changes enough that I have to keep reinventing how I keep things organized. It goes on and on.

Perhaps the real message here isn’t that I’ll never arrive, but that change is constant in a life that is still growing and lively. A sign of health is healthy change and development. My challenge in life is to become at ease with myself and the constant ambiguity of change. I doubt I’ll ever love it, but maybe I can at least take it in stride.

Waiting for her to Arrive

2006-02-23T05:02:00.000-08:00

When I was a kid, my mom and dad would take us on road trips. We lived in Dowagiac, Michigan, but both my parents were from Illinois. They had lived in Lansing, Illinois for some time so we drove there a lot. When we were on these road trips I used to imagine that I would be looking at one of the other cars and would see a girl. Her eyes would lock with mine and we would both know that this was the one. I imagined the tragedy of being separated by two cars hurtling down the highway, and the effort of trying to find out who she was. Of course I eventually would (in my imagination) and it would be the perfect love.

I thought that the love of a woman would make me a better man. No, that’s not quite right. I thought that being in a relationship with the woman of my life would fix me. I had no idea what was wrong with me, but something didn’t seem right.

I also thought that the first time I kissed a girl I would have some sort of spiritual experience and suddenly everything would make sense.

I was girl crazy from about the age of 10 I think. Perhaps that’s exaggerating, but not much.

She never arrived. Not only that, my first kiss was fairly dull. It wasn’t the girls fault, but I was expecting way too much. I also didn’t have the first clue what to do. I’ll remember that date forever, especially since I had to throw up and only made it to the drinking fountain.

Every girl that I met and fell for that I thought would answer all of life’s mysteries . . . none of them was that mystery girl. They all were flawed people that I was using to try and feel good about myself. Just like I was trying to use God to suddenly evaporate any sense of confusion or doubt that I might have, I expected my relationship with a woman to take away any sense of inadequacy or self doubt.

I thought that it takes a woman to make a man. Unfortunately, all of those girls had some agenda to change me. I guess they were looking for the perfect guy.

I finally gave up looking. Shortly after that I noticed my wife. We had become best friends. I could talk to her about anything. We accepted each other at face value. Two imperfect people. She was interested in talking about what she was thinking and feeling about God. She was one of the best friends I had ever had. She still is. We’ll have been married for fifteen years this June. Two great kids, and the romance has only grown deeper. It turns out, for me at least, that it did take a woman to make a man. Over the last fifteen years, I’ve become a better man, because I love her and want to serve her the way Jesus would.

It wasn’t what I expected, but it has been far better than I could have imagined.

Adam

Waiting for Him to Arrive

2006-02-22T15:08:00.000-08:00

I experience many years waiting to arrive or waiting for Him to arrive. I’m talking about that place in which everything would make sense, fit together, and I would get “it”. Then I also waited for God to show up. You know, I thought that there would come a point where He would get sick of waiting and finally dump Himself into my soul and take up residence. I thought that I would sense a palpable presence, and would be clearly guided each and every step of the way.

I never really arrived, and God never came along, unscrewed my scalp, and poured Himself inside. His spirit entered me at the moment I gave myself to Him, the moment of salvation, but I’ve been waiting for God to do God to me. I’ve been expecting some sort of passive thing, like me pouring pop into an empty glass.

I don’t want to confuse people. I believe that God poured His spirit into me when I became a Christian. What I realize is that God didn’t pour in all of the answers, or all of the maturity, or all of the Wisdom. He didn’t pour in His version of a heavenly GPS. “Apply for this job. Turn away from this relationship.”

Instead, like any real relationship, my relationship with God takes effort and persistence. I have to take time to read the Bible and talk to God. I’ve also found that I grow in my relationship with God when I sit and “meditate”. I don’t mean the chanting or humming thing, but taking something that I’ve read in the Bible and thinking it through. I engage my imagination with the scriptures. I think about what if I did that? How does God feel about . . . I wonder how . . . I even ask God questions about stuff that doesn’t make sense. It becomes something of a conversation.

Another cool thing is to study the history and culture surrounding the times when the Bible was written. It adds color and depth to some of the idiomatic sayings. No effort produces immediate results. It’s a gradual growing relationship. It takes work, but it’s worth every moment spent.

I’ve also discovered that the process of working through problems and issues is almost more important than the final decision. I believe God rejoices over me when I am trying to live a life for Him. Just like falling is part of how we learn to walk, mistakes are part of learning to live in a relationship with God.

I have this opportunity to become friends with the creator of the universe.

That’s intense, and way cool.

I want it.

Adam

Turning Invisible

2006-02-16T14:41:00.000-08:00

Do you ever feel invisible? Some times I feel like I could walk through a room and no one would see me. I’ve done it. The people in the room pulse around me laughing, chattering about something, but I can’t tell what. Frankly, I don’t get small talk. Small talk doesn’t mean a whole lot to me.

Is there really a point to talking about the weather? I don’t watch enough TV to carry on much of a conversation. I don’t know (and don’t care) about sports, and I get bored with video games. So there are times when I purposely turn invisible. I really get peoples attention when I have something silly to say or I’m at work discussing job related stuff. But, what about relationships. Well, get me in the guys in Sojourn and BANG I’m opaque. No longer invisible.

Chatter, chatter, chatter. There is no longer a problem with what to talk about. The problem is keeping the talk to a minimum so that we can get some rehearsing, songwriting, or recording done.

Maybe all of that is o.k. I think it is. Maybe it’s not important to always have something to say. Don’t you feel like you should always have the right thing to say? I think that it’s o.k.

In the Bible in Ecclesiastes 5:3 it says “For as a dream comes with a multitude of cares, so a fool's speech with a multitude of words.” Silence is often golden. It is often more wise to say nothing, when I force myself to have something to say it just sort of sounds dopey or odd or useless. Usually, I feel like I want to talk so that I can feel like I have something to say too. I want to count as some one like the others and have something to say or so that I can feel like a normal person who knows how to chat.

Well, that’s more of an issue with misunderstanding who I am in God’s eyes, and a misperception of what makes me important. I want to learn to be comfortable in my own skin, to be comfortable whether I have something to say or not. I need to get to the point where it’s o.k. to be invisible.

What are your thoughts?

AdamSojourn
http://www.sojournband.com
Remember to vote for our song "Here With Me" on the Indieheaven radio charts at http://www.indieheaven.com/go.idh?section=radiochart

Just Walk Away?

2006-02-11T06:12:00.000-08:00

I met some one who had just become a Christian a couple of years ago. She was really excited. Everything was new. She joined a church, got baptized, and started meeting with another lady in her church to learn more about the Bible and who God is. She came from a tough background and hadn't grown up around churches, but her home church welcomed her. People looked out for her welfare, helped her one they could, and on one occassion stood up to some guys that were harrasing her. Her church had become her family. Never in weird or repressive way, but in a really positive enriching way. It was family in a way that she hadn't had when she was growing up.

It all was great until she met a guy that really sparked her interest. Suddenly she had reasons to not be at church. In fact she had "moved in with a friend". When asked if she was having a pre-marital relationship with the guy, she blew up, and claimed that no one trusted her.

And that was it.

I haven't seen her since. There have been some terse letters, but this person has essentially vanished. I wonder if she has walked away from God as well? Or did she ever know Him deap in her heart? That question is a difficult one to answer, and since I'm not inside her head, I can't tell you what she's thinking.

I can tell you that I've known guys that lived criminal lives. When they came to Christ, the change was dramatic. Leave crime, come to Christ. Easy to see the changes there. Then I know people that were really really nice even when they weren't Christians. Even for them, when they came to Christ, I could see or sense a change. Their conversation, their atitude, sometimes it's just a vibe that you get from them.

I never got that from this woman. Looking back, it was too easy for her to walk away from her church family, and the deap supportive relationships that had built up around her. It was as if they were all place holders and there was no glue to keep things fixed together. Every relationship needs a bond to keep it from getting pulled apart.

If was too easy for her to dodge the questions. Too easy for her to cast the blame any where else but at her own feet. No need for repentance or forgiveness that way.

If you are a Christian, God's spirit is inside you guiding you. God's spirit helps you "see" or experience God in His beauty and desireableness as well as His Holiness, justice, love, etc. As a believer experiences this relationship with God, a hunger grows to know Him more. Duty (or ought to) is replaced by desire (or want to). In some Christians it's a process measured in inches and others grown in 10 mile bursts, but you can see the change, and the desire. Some one can fail over and over, but if I see true repentance, and a heart that yearns to know God, I see life. It's the person that walks away, shruggs off the concerns and says, "Hey, I'm o.k. what's the problem". That person makes me wonder if God was ever at work in their heart at all?

We don't ignore the things we desire. We never walk away from the things we really want.

What are your desires, and where are they taking you?

I'ld love to hear your comments. You can add them at the end of this post.

Adam
Sojourn
http://www.sojournband.com
Remember to vote for our song "Here With Me" on the Indieheaven radio charts at http://www.indieheaven.com/go.idh?section=radiochart

Ever Wanted to Want What You Don't Want?

2006-02-01T10:07:00.000-08:00

What's the first thing that goes through your mind when you get up in the morning?

I start bargining with myself for at least another 30 min. of shut eye. Then I start talking myself out of using a vacation day and going back to bed. Maybe I'm sick today? No I'm not sick. Then finally, I drag myself out of bed wondering why I couldn't have been a professional singer after all? Oh that's right, I didn't want to be on the road and go broke. At least I could sleap-in or maybe sleap on the bus. Blah, blah, blah.

I make it to work, and at some point I'm with it and start digging what I'm doing.

So, I've run across this part in Psalms in the Bible where the Psalmist says something like, "Let the morning bring me word of Your unfailing love for I have put my trust in You."

Here is a go that is so into God that the first thing on his mind when he wakes up is God! At first that might sound kooky or abnormal, but as I've started to think more, I bet NOT thinking about God is what is really kooky or abnormal. Do the sanity check, if you are in love, I mean LUUUUUUUUUUV with some one, the are on your mind big time. It doesn't have to be a boy/girl thing either. What if you have a really good friend who has been with you through everything. You might think of that person a lot. Or what if you a 18 year old and you away from home for the first time, living on your own or in college. Let's say that you were really close to your dad. Really close. You're going to think about him a lot. Something inside you is going to hurt with his absence. Something in you won't quite feel right until you can talk on the phone, e-mail, letter or better yet visit.

So, God is our heavenly Father, and offers to have a relationship with us. Reality check: God is the perfect father. Absolutely loving. Absolutely just. You know the drill. He made all of the cool looking stuff in outerspace, and all of the animals here on earth. He has a sense of humor and He's smart. So what's not to really dig about God.

Ofcourse the Paslm writer was geeked out and digging knowing God. How could he feel otherwise. So, I want that. I want to want God that bad. I know Him. I know what he is like, but it's really easy to ignore Him. It's getting better. I'm growing closer to Him, but if my relationship to God were a measure of how good I am at friendship. . . I don't make much of one.

Having a relationship with God is hard. He's invisible and mysterious, and all that. Yet, as I get closer and see glimpses into the His heart, I'm stunned and awed and drawn in desiring Him. It sounds a little weird to say it, and I'm not sure what comes next, but I know that I want to want Him more, and will spend my life in pursuit of knowing Him.

Later,

Adam