Wednesday, August 30, 2006

In The Moment

In The Momentby
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 momentTo 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

Monday, August 28, 2006

The Last Hoorah?

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.

Adam

Monday, August 21, 2006

How could I ever give up Sojourn? - From Adam

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, my family and I 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

(Originally published in Sojourn blog at www.sojournband.com)