Journey

A few months ago, The Adams Rock felt it was time to leave the church we had attended for years.

Our church had just split.

Although we knew God didn't plan on The Adams Rock staying at the current church, we also knew He wasn't convicting us to attend the new one. This we knew, from day one. God allowed us to continue to love and fellowship with everyone at both churches, and we still love and pray for all of them. We believe that everything that happened at our church embodied the old "refining fire" adage. Jesus transcends all of our destructive garbage, and make no mistake, somehow, someway he'll be glorified.

At first, we wondered, "where we should attend?" What church suits us? What church falls in-line with those teachings to which we have been accustomed? What church do those friends we know best attend? What kind of music? What kind of pastor? Where is it located?

We were in a position in which we had never been. For us, trying to visualize our team in another church was much like trying to imagine having a different mother.

So, we continued to do what we needed to do. We prayed. We asked God. Fortunately for us, He answered us so loudly He could have strapped neon signs around our necks and it wouldn't have done any better.

God wanted us out of our comfort zone.

We realized we needed to see how others worship.

First, we needed to remove one important element: Stop thinking about joining a church. Go and see how others find God at church. Turn the conversation from "I don't like this" and "I don't like that" about this church or that, back to a conversation about Christ you may have never had, with people you may have otherwise never met.

As I prayed about what we were beginning, I began doubting the validity of such a task. I wondered why? I wondered if this was just a ridiculous chore I was pushing my family toward out of my own curiosity. You see, I wanted to be rooted in a church. I wanted to belong. The thought of being the "Visitors" every Sunday started making us uneasy.I wanted to return to the status quo.

I wanted things to make sense...to me.

I figure if it makes sense to me then, well, it should make sense to God.

When friends began asking us where we are attending church, our response seemed to perplex them. It didn't, and to some still doesn't, make sense to them. I wonder if they know something I don't. I wonder, if there is a scripture I missed that addresses this exact issue, contrary to what we feel God is telling us to do.

In the end, or another beginning for that matter, we shut-up and listened to our creator. There were two simple rules: Seek God in every way, and glorify Jesus Christ in all you do.

We began a journey to experience God in settings we may never have visited, and with people we may never have met, and in ways we may never have witnessed.

A Rock That Grows

The Adams Rock.

Years ago, as my family and I sat around our dinner table, I found myself once again explaining how our family was a team and how important it was to act like a team. Using my typical analogous style of teaching...

I described the team as a rock.

"Nothing can break us apart guys."

I explained how important it was for us to work together and promote and applaud one another. I told them everything we did should somehow benefit the rest of the team. "There should be no bigger fans of any one of us than the other members of this team."

I was in the military at the time and deployment for war was imminent. Conversations around the Adams' household seemed to grow somewhat fuller in substance.

When the day finally came for me to leave, my son Ben, and my daughter Gladys proudly proclaimed that we were a team, like a rock, and nothing could break us apart...not even a war.

The Adams Rock, as we have since called it, like any family, has seen its share of trouble. But as we have learned over the years, God has chosen us for certain duties, and if we continue to seek his guidance, live for him, and commit everything this team has been.., is.., and will be, to the glorification of Jesus Christ...everything's gonna turn out just fine.