June 30, 2006
Dear Resurrection Family,
I'm writing this once again from the Lake of the Ozarks. After spending the first two weeks of my time away working on sermon research and outlines for the next twenty-four months, and then last week in reading and prayer, I finally turned in earnest this week to working on the book I hope to complete and turn into the publisher in August for a 2007 release. The book tentatively has thirty chapters, six to ten pages each (my hope is to keep the total length under 200 pages). The tentative title is, Christianity ... for Skeptics, Seekers and Misfits, though by the time it goes to press this will likely change.
I'll tell you more about the book at another time. For now I wanted to share with you a few thoughts and reflections from my reading this week, and the trip I took with LaVon and the girls last weekend to New York City.
1. USA Today: 24.6% of Americans Have No Close Friends - Do You?
2. A Visit to the United Nations
3. The World Trade Center 5 Years Later
4. Worship at The Riverside Church
5. A Convenient Faith? Thoughts from Dallas Willard's Renovation of the Heart
6. Join Me for First Annual Resurrection Summer Festival!
1. USA Today: 24.6% of Americans Have No Close Friends - Do You?
I wonder if you saw the front page article in last Friday's USA Today entitled, "Study: 25% of Americans have no one to confide in"? It noted that in 1985 only 10% of Americans had no one to confide in - that number has more than doubled in twenty years. Lyn Smith-Lovin, professor of sociology at Duke University, noted that close relationships are a safety net for us. They not only help with the day to day stuff of life, but interaction with close friends actually leads to greater physical and mental health. We live longer, healthier lives when we have companionship. When your friends are Christians you also find greater accountability in your faith - you are likely to grow more, push yourself to step outside your comfort zone and to be more faithful in worship. If you don't have a network of friends, we would like to help you with that at the church. Our small groups are designed to help you grow in faith while cultivating friendship. We will be launching a host of new home-based small groups as well as Disciple Bible Studies this August and September. For more information on small groups, or to sign-up on line, click on this link. If you would like to speak to someone about small groups via e-mail contact Carol Cartmill or you can call by phone 913-745-2214.
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2. A Visit to the United Nations
While in New York last weekend our family took a tour of the UN. Out of the ashes of the Second World War and its 40 to 50 million deaths, the world came together to work toward peace and those things that lead to peace. Its vision is a Kingdom vision, though it cannot speak in these terms. Its second Secretary-General, Dag Hammarskjold of Sweden was a man of deep faith. I was reading his Markings again this last week in which, after a spiritual crisis in 1950 to 1952, he emerges with a deep and profound faith. His aim was to surrender his life wholly to God's service, and to faithfully follow Jesus Christ. He saw his service in the UN, from 1953 to his untimely death in a plane crash while pursuing a UN mission in 1961, as his mission field. Across from the UN, and facing it, on a large wall, are these words from Isaiah 2:4, "He shall judge between the nations, and shall arbitrate for many peoples; they shall beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruning hooks; nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they learn war any more." Christians believe these words were a prophesy about Jesus. Jesus himself said, "Blessed are the peacemakers," and he called us to "love your enemies." He also offered a very simple key for pursuing peace in a scripture verse actually inscribed for all to see inside the UN - it is found on a Mosaic presented by Nancy Reagan to the UN some years ago. The mosaic features people from all different religions and races and in the center these words of Jesus, "Do unto others as you would have them do unto you." You are called to be a peacemaker, in your sphere of influence. Consider writing down this little prayer, and placing it somewhere where you will remember to pray it as you leave your house each day, "Lord, help me to do unto others as I would have them do unto me."
3. The World Trade Center 5 Years Later
While in New York we took the girls to see the site of the World Trade Center. Little had changed since LaVon and I had been there two years ago. We stood reading the chronology of the events that unfolded on September 11, 2001 - these are outlined on a helpful sign on the fence surrounding the WTC site. I found myself moved to tears once again when I read of the rapid succession of planes being crashed. I was surprised at how much this affected me, even after five years had passed. Standing there led me to ask, what will it take to end the embrace of terrorism by certain elements within Islam? Is the war on terrorism winnable by military means alone? Or will something else be required? Do we yet understand what really motivates this form of inhumanity and how can we deal with its root causes? What role must Islamic nations and the people of Islam play in disarming Islamic terrorists? Plenty of questions swirl through my mind, but few answers. I continue to pray for our President and our leaders, that God might grant them wisdom and help us, in the words of Jesus, "do the things that make for peace."
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4. Worship at Riverside Church
On Sunday morning our family caught the subway from midtown to the upper west side of Manhattan where we worshiped at The Riverside Church. This church, affiliated with both the American Baptists and the United Church of Christ, was among the leading churches in the United States in the 1930's - 1950's. The building is a beautiful gothic structure. The church is known for its strong social witness and its concern for civil rights. It is located adjacent to Columbia University and not far from Harlem. Its pastor, James Forbes, comes from a Pentecostal background and he, like the long line of pastors at Riverside, is known for his preaching. Today the church averages about 2,500 in attendance. Socio-politically the church is to the left of center, and served as an interesting contrast to the three more conservative churches I visited in Houston three weeks ago. In Riverside as well as at Joel Osteen's Lakewood Church, members are seeking to be followers of Jesus Christ. They pray. They read the Bible. They tithe. They have sought to pursue God's will. They are equally earnest and passionate. Both have preachers from the Pentecostal tradition. But these two congregations have a very different focus. Lakewood seeks to "bring out the champion in you" - that is, to build people up, help them make good decisions, and take a positive approach to life. Riverside seeks to move people to "do justice, love kindness and walk humbly with God." Their politics are very different. My perception is that Riverside would be a left-leaning congregation of predominantly Democrats, while Lakewood would be a right-leaning congregation of predominantly Republicans. Yet both believe they are following Jesus Christ as Lord and seek to live faithfully as his disciples. At Church of the Resurrection, and in United Methodism as a whole, we seek to stake out that ground between these two, drawing from what we think is best in each, and finding the balance between the two. This week I anticipate worshiping at a small rural church here at the lake, for a completely different kind of experience than the large churches I've been visiting up to now.
5. A Convenient Faith? Thoughts from Dallas Willard's Renovation of the Heart
Among the books I am reading this week is Dallas Willard's, Renovation of the Heart. I will use some of his material in my sermons when I get back in the pulpit in August. He also offers this wonderful line, on page 58, "Wanting God to be God is very different from wanting God to help me." This led me to think about how frequently what we want is a convenient faith. We want a faith that's there when we need it, offering us peace and joy and hope and eternal life. But we prefer a faith that demands little of us. Jesus, on the other hand, gave this invitation when he preached, "If any would be my disciples, let them first deny themselves, then take up their cross and follow me." Our aim, at Church of the Resurrection is to welcome non-religious and nominally religious people and to help them become deeply committed Christians. Becoming deeply committed Christians involves moving from a faith of convenience to a faith that follows Jesus Christ, wherever he leads regardless of the cost. One small expression of this is being in worship each weekend. If you are in town I hope you plan to be in worship this weekend.
6. Join Me for First Annual Resurrection Summer Festival!
Finally, I hope you are planning to be a part of our first annual Summer Festival! From the morning motorcycle ride to the evening concert and comedy I am looking forward to this event. Invite a friend and plan to be there for this day of fun and fellowship with great food, great music and great fun, Saturday, July 8. For more information click here.
In Christ's Love,
Adam Hamilton