Checking In by Checking Up
Posted by Pastor Andrew
We wanted to share a letter we received this past week from our Singles retreat speaker, Pastor Sam Park.
Greetings Binnerri EM from Los Angeles!
It’s been almost two months since my visit to your wonderful community, and yet, so many aspects of that weekend are still vivid in my mind. Thanks to you, I have been watching more “Minute to Win It” clips on Hulu! I can’t stop thinking about the BBQ restaurants that Pastor Kye took me to. Yet, I am most grateful for the individuals whom I met, both at the Refuel retreat and at the Sunday worship services, and the conversations that took place at both venues. I was overjoyed to hear that the feedback from the retreat was, in general, quite positive. I was so happy when I was asked to write an article for your website to, perhaps, refresh your memory of that weekend.
The first evening got off to a bit of a late start (but isn’t that the case with most retreats?). Yet, despite the fact that most of you were so tired from the drive over to the retreat site, you all hung in there and I really appreciated that. The message that night dealt with redefining our common notion of “passion.” In reality, we were reacquainting ourselves with the original meaning of the word. We discussed the fact that passion is not just an intense feeling. Instead, passion comes from the word meaning “to suffer.” As Christ has passion for us, and indeed suffered for us, we too, in order to be passionate followers of Christ, must suffer for His sake. Discipleship has a cost.
Saturday morning’s worship focused on the sacrificial path of the cross. We meditated on the cross, and in particular, through reflection on the hymn of Christ found in Philippians 2. We saw that the paradoxical truth in Christ is that life can only be truly full, if we empty ourselves in obedience to God. Moreover, the practical way in which that self-emptying is displayed is in service to others. Discipleship has a way.
The final message for the retreat spoke about the relative ease with which people who make even strong commitments to Christ can “go back” to their life before Christ. At the end of the Gospel of John (this is after the resurrection!), we find Peter and some of the other disciples pretty much in the same place as when they were first called to “follow” Jesus. We learned that our love of Christ is best demonstrated in our love of others. Despite our failures, and our backsliding, Jesus calls us to follow him, and become his agents and ambassadors in the world. He commissions us to ministry to a hurting and broken world with his love, and only as we minister to the world, as Jesus did, can we ever hope to know Jesus intimately; become more like Jesus. Discipleship has a purpose.
It is my sincerest prayer that these messages have taken deep root in your hearts., and that it will bear much fruit in His time. I once again thank you all for being such gracious hosts, and I pray that God would abundantly bless your community!
In Christ’s service,
Pastor Sam
Community Church at Holliston
One Comment to “Checking In by Checking Up”
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Thanks for sharing Pastor Andrew! I’m also addicted to Minute to Win It on Hulu, and I can’t wait to see some new episodes this summer–starting tonight. God Bless!!