Jeff Adams

It seems I hit a nerve last night with the posting on Zak’s story. Sincere thanks to those of you who shared your thoughts and comments here and on FaceBook. I especially loved these poignant words by Vickie, who commented on her sister’s loss of her young husband to cancer: [her ministry to her husband] has shown me the inhumanity of cancer and the humanity of the ones that love the stricken. Thanks for that, Vickie.

Recently, we lost a beloved staff member to cancer way before we were ready to turn loose of her. I was just on FaceBook following the story of some distant cousins of mine whose infant son is fighting for his life. Every Monday our staff meets for prayer, and not a time goes but what we are asking God to intervene in the lives of those who are ill. Sometimes God chooses to heal miraculously and at other times he uses illness to accomplish his purposes in other ways. I think I’ll make some comments about that maybe tomorrow.

Right now, Vickie’s words remind me of how important it is for us to offer a touch of humanity to those who are hurting. Last night two Muslim men confined to wheelchairs, recent immigrants,  came to our prayer ministry. A wonderful couple in our church is mentoring them through their adjustment to life in our culture. I met them recently in a lunch we sponsored for a number of such folks that are being mentored by volunteers from our church in cooperation with the Jewish Vocational Services. Others prayed with them throughout the course of the evening. At the conclusion, I thought it important that I reach out to them, too. I went first to one, then the other, and asked if I might pray a blessing over them. As I prayed, each gripped my hand tightly and began to weep. They couldn’t even understand everything I said. They simply felt the human touch. As I concluded my prayer, one of the men, still weeping cried out to Isa (Jesus) and then kissed my hand.

I was leaving the office in a hurry this afternoon and greeted a couple sitting in the waiting area as I walked by. I was briefly detained by a staff member asking a question. Continuing my walk, the man from the waiting area was now beside me asking if he could talk as I walked.

“Sure,” I said as I continued my pace.

“My daughter was the one killed in that car crash Sunday at (he gave me the intersection).  She wasn’t officially a member here, nor are we. But we  attend from time to time and wanted to see about having her service here. Her sisters attend here also.”

I stopped dead in my tracks.

“I saw you and thought maybe you could put in a good word for us.”

“Come with me,” I said, reversing my course and headed back into the office to personally connect them with the right party.

“I know you are a busy man and I don’t want to keep from what you have to do.”

“Look,” I said, “there is absolutely nothing in my life that is even as remotely important as what you are dealing with right now.”

He choked back tears; we continued our trajectory toward the office.

Nothing I mentioned above was a sacrifice or cost me anything, not even much time. The effect of a human touch in every case was priceless. I would like to say I have always been so sensitive to people in need. I’m ashamed to say that I have not.

I am learning, though, that people all around me are hurting. I used to worry that I would not know what to say. I still don’t know what to say. Most of the time it’s best not to say much at all, but it’s simply the human touch empowered by the Spirit of God that ministers to the hurting heart. To paraphrase the famous quotation from Francis of Assisi, “When people are hurting, preach the Gospel at all times. If necessary, use words.”

Monday and Tuesday found me in Springfield, Missouri speaking to a group of pastors from surrounding states and to students at a Bible College. I had not been on the campus of this particular campus for years, but I was pleased to discover a couple of friends from many years ago, including the college president whom I had last seen in a similar position in Boston. I love being around students and I love to reconnect with old friends.

Another person with whom I reconnected was a man named Jim Smith. No, that’s really his name. His father was also named Jim Smith, and was sent out from our church as a missionary to Mexico in the early 50’s. All of his ten children faithfully serve God.  His namesake ended up ministering for many years in Quito, Ecuador. The amazing Rachel Saint was a member of his church in her later years, and it was my joy to meet her there and enjoy dinner in her home.  When I was last with Jim and his wife Sharon in Quito, his children, Zack and Stacy were still at home. Great kids! Jim is now a mission executive and Sharon also works in the office.

Jim and I exchanged a good Latin abrazo and relished the moment of seeing each other again after so many years. Jim is an upbeat, pleasant man who is very comfortable wearing a smile most of the time. We caught up on a number of life’s details.

Zach is married, has three children and living in Anderson, South Carolina, Jim told me.

His next words were like a surprise kick in the gut.

Zach has stage 4 colon cancer and will probably die in the next few months.

I hurt because my brother was hurting. I stopped and prayed for them right then and there.  Do you every pray when you have no idea what to say?

Then, we walked across the street to Sharon’s office so I could pray over them again without knowing what to say except to commend them to the grace of a loving God.

Zach tells his story on YouTube and it’s pretty powerful.

What a winter this has been! Even those of us who like snow have just about had our quota. Before the latest snowstorm arrived this afternoon, it was preceded by ice pellets, icy rain, or rain depending on where one lives in the metro. Those to the north already had snow piling up from last night. Sitting in my office early this morning I wondered who would brave the elements this morning and was encouraged to see that a fair number of folks actually showed up.

Wow! I was  glad for those of us who were able to make it. The services were sweet! Even my daily Bible reading this morning from Numbers 20 was immediately applicable to the study on corporate prayer this morning from Nehemiah 9. If you had to stay home this morning – and I certainly understand why some did – try to listen to the study online here.

The Summit 2010

Following the final service we met with the Student Mission Council to touch base on the final details of The Summit that begins next Sunday. Out theme is Enter the Story. I am anticipating the beginning of a fantastic new year participating in God’s global mission. From Sunday through Wednesday you are going to hear from some of the most fascinating people you have never heard of. They are people who work “under the radar” in some of the most challenging situations on earth.

We will kick things off in our regular services next Sunday morning – snow or no snow. Then at 6:45pm each night Sunday through Wednesday. Be sure not to forget the Tuesday and Wednesday morning sessions. If you really want to take advantage of some highly unusual learning opportunities, you need to be there.

Finally, the conference does not end Wednesday night but melds into our daily realities as we are challenging everyone to Live Out Loud by engaging in one of several powerful ministry opportunities right here in Kansas City. Complete details can be seen here by clicking “get more information” under Enter the Story. See you there! As we learned this morning, this is the moment to stand up and bless God!

This evening Cheryl and I engaged in one of our favorite “date nights,” by going to dinner and a symphony concert. Tonight the symphony gave us the world premier of a concerto for flute by Luka Lombardi with soloist Emmanuel Pahud, principal flautist of the Berlin Philharmonic. Phenomenal!

Tchaikovsky

Two of the other composers heard from tonight were Beethoven and Tchaikovsky. If you know much at all of music history, you are aware that these men were tormented souls.  Among the painters, Van Gogh and Gauguin also suffered incredible personal anguish. There have been, of course, some remarkably happy and well-balanced musicians and artists down through the centuries, but it is striking how many were hugely flawed, hurt or both. Yet, God used these individuals and many others to bless us with great beauty.

I find it fascinating that hurt, pain and agony squeeze beauty and creativity out of some people and bitterness and selfishness out of others. The four talents I mention above made no pretense of having a victorious spiritual walk with God; they were not happy or satisfied people. How sad that many who profess great devotion to God, study the Bible voraciously and even engage in Christian ministry are sometimes those who are most angry and bitter. There is no beauty to behold, despite an occasional Bible study on the joy of the Lord being our strength.

The Apostle Paul said that we must through many tribulations enter into the Kingdom of God (Acts 14:22). He also told Timothy that all of us who would live godly in Christ Jesus would suffer persecution (2Timothy 3:12).  As I took my seat at the concert and turned my Blackberry to vibrate, I saw an urgent email forwarded from Latin American sources urging prayer for a family set to be executed this evening in a Central Asian country if they do not denounce their faith in Christ. What did they do wrong? Maybe nothing.

Despite such plain teaching, many of us never learn to embrace pain and suffering and find beauty. Instead, we tend to flee pain at all cost and wonder what we have done wrong or why God has let us down. We naturally find it hard to reconcile pain and suffering with abundant living.

I would hate to waste pain and suffering! It’s hard enough as it is. I want to be certain that I allow my hurt to drive me to God, not away from him. Suffering is not something I seek; it is something I am promised. I want to have open eyes to discover the beautiful side of hurt and pain.

It’s been a while since we have had a Sunday evening just to sit and chill. With the snow and wind outside the chilling part is not hard at all. Sometimes I struggle with the sitting part. Today, though, I came home, took a nap and now we are watching the Olympics.

Is this just a genius of programming that gave us pairs figure skating on Valentine’s Day? Pretty cool, though. Hannah Kearny, US gold medalist in the freestyle moguls, just said that figure skating epitomized the Winter Olympics for her and she is looking forward to being a spectator. What’s your favorite Winter Olympics event? I like the figure skating, but I also like the the Alpine skiing. I love to ski and maybe that’s why I seem to look forward to the Winter Olympics more than the Summer games, though I enjoy both. Are you a winter or summer type of person?

I haven’t posted anything for a few days, but have been working on a longer post I will put up in the next couple of days. Right now I am still reflecting back on the events of this morning. Trying to put fasting, sackcloth and dirt on the head in a context that we can understand today is somewhat of a challenge. This really builds on what we talked about last week trying to gain a contemporary understanding of biblical holiness. We are holy because God has set us apart a special to himself, not because of anything we do or are of ourselves. I remain convinced that we can live a life of holiness by what we set apart for God – our lives, all that we are and have – not by being odd, strange or weird.

Following the final service today, Cheryl and I popped in to the Fellowship Hall to make a brief appearance at a luncheon for refugees being mentored by people in our church. These are recent arrivals to our city and KCBT folks are helping them to get established in a new culture and some of them are taking advantage of the ESL (English as a Second Language) classes that we offer. We met several Iraqis, Egyptians, Latin Americans and a few others.

I am getting very excited about The Summit that begins just two weeks from today! Don’t forget to take advantage of the morning sessions on Tuesday and Wednesday. You can find complete details on the web site. Meanwhile, let’s finish strong on our 24/7 59-day prayer cycle. Thanks to all of you who are taking part in this. I’ll see those of you who can come at prayer ministry Tuesday evening.

I’ll check in with you in the next day or two. Meanwhile, have a great Valentine’s Day or, as was mentioned in our second service today, Singleness Awareness Day.