Major Success

Our Love Wins Campaign yesterday rocked! I had hoped for about 6 or 7 volunteers to have two teams and hopefully touch about 60-70 homes. We had 17 people show up, and we hit about 250 homes! It was 34 degrees out and snowing. Pastor and I had decided to cancel, then all our volunteers started showing up, and said "why wouldn't we? It's Iowa, it'll just get colder, we can handle this" so we went. We met a lot of people, and helped out a few. Yesterday was really introductory, and just got to meet a lot of people. We ended up doing some work, as one family did not have running water working in their home, but we are getting it hooked up for them. Hopefully we'll get that project done tomorrow, as a few of us go back in the afternoon! I love this! Such a great day! Jesus is good. On our way to live this thing called church and love everyone!

Welcome to the Revolution: Love Wins Campaign

This weekend we will be starting our new outreach program for Life Church! It will be called the Love Wins Campaign. On Saturday October 10 at 9:15 am we will be meeting at the Coralville Rec Center to go over how everything will work, and to pray before we go out at 10:00 am. We will be done around 12:00pm.

We will be going into one of the trailer parks in North Liberty on Hwy 965. What we will be doing is knocking on doors and talking to the people in the trailer park. We will be offering to serve these people in many ways (yard work, house work, mowing, painting, raking leaves, cleaning, conversation, prayer, or anything else we can do on that morning). We really want to serve our way into these people's hearts. The whole goal of this campaign is to share the love of God, to be known in the community, to build relationships with the community, and to find out their needs so we can better serve them.

We will be going on 10/10, 10/24, 11/7, and on 11/21 to the same area. We are still working out details, but we will be doing a Thanksgiving activity on the last Saturday for the neighborhood, as it is the weekend before Thanksgiving. If you can come please try and come the following weeks as well, so we can build solid consistent relationships and share God's love for these people.

I know this may be a little nerve wracking and stretching, but please take the step out of your comfort zone and to share God's love for these people. Before we go out I will be going through details on what to say, and coaching on what we'll be doing. If you have any questions please contact me.

Let's go BE the Church.

Matthew 25:33 For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in,

Christian vs. Secular

I heard someone say the other day "The Christian world not the Secular world." I am taken a little back by this comment, as many Christians carry it. They view the Christian world and Secular world as two different things. I honestly think that idea only exists to Christians, and I think it sucks. Why must we live in a Christian world, and not a human world?

Jesus himself lived as a human. He lived among the people. He didn't stay with the holy, in fact he primarily spent his time with the unholy. Why then do we only hold ourselves to Christian life? Why do "Christian" things primarily suck. Most events, shows, and music by Christians suck. (I understand not all of it sucks, but generally as a rule of thumb if it's a "Christian [fill in the blank] then it sucks) Does God not call us to be excellent? To me I think we need to stop viewing the world as two different things and intertwine ourselves into it more. I'm not saying to compromise our character, but to live among non-Christian people, to create excellent art, to be the most creative and innovative people we can be.

I don't like to call myself a Christian, but rather a Follower of Christ, for the fact connotations that come with the word Christian. I personally have a hard time with Christians sometimes. Maybe I'm too critical, but then again maybe my ideas will change others, who knows!? Caleb and Joshua had their opinions that no one else agreed with, maybe I'm like them, or maybe I'm way off. You decide.

Excited

I love facebook, twitter, and blogging. They are such sweet ways of communication. They help keep in touch and really hear what people have to say. I feel as if I am good friends with people, even if I don't really have a relationship with them, because of blogger. I check many blogs, but two of my favorites to read are Justin Dean and Mark Batterson. They are cool pastors and leaders.

Today I was reading Batterson's blog and he had an awesome post. He just wrote a new book Wild Goose Chase and it is releasing on August 19th. In this post he has a small excerpt from his book. It says:


I wonder if churches do to people what zoos do the animals. We try to tame them in the name of Christ. We remove the risk. We remove the danger. We remove the struggle. And what we end up with is a caged Christian.

Jesus didn't die on the cross to keep us safe. He died to make us dangerous. I would like to think that when I pronounce the benediction at th end of our church services, I am sending dangerous people back into their natural habitat to wreak havoc on the Enemy.

This is the Christianity I want to live for. I don't want to sit around and be peaceful all the time. Jesus caused ruckus. He pissed people off, I mean you can picture the nice calm no emotion Jesus if you want, but He did end up getting murdered for speaking the truth and stepping on some feet. What's holding you back from stepping on toes and making a splash in this world? Get out be Extreme and follow after the way Jesus lived! I'm not saying it's easy, but I'm saying we should!

Something Big!

Something big is about to happen at Life Church. I don't know exactly what, but I'm excited for it. I can't wait! My brother is excited, I am excited, and I know many other people are excited! Life is about to take a new step as a church and I love it. I really feel this is a God thing. I hope you are there for it! I don't know exactly what things will look like or be like, but I am preparing myself and praying to God that it is radical and extreme. I hope it stretches our minds on Christianity and brings people closer to become true Followers of Christ!

Party

Saturday night I went to a party in New Sharon. There was a lot of drinking going on. Primarily underage drinking. I did not drink, as I have gone down that path, and know it hurts my relationship with Christ. I still went to hang out with friends, and did a little babysitting as well. At the party I encountered many strange, tough, and some down right funny situations.

I drove a car of friends to the party. On the way there I said "I hope I know more people than just you guys at the party". As soon as I got out of the car on the gravel road I saw a car of people driving past me, and they yelled "ADAM!" From this point on I knew I would have some friends at the party.

Later at the party I was just standing around talking when a girl walked up and bit me on the neck. I was completely thrown off by this and backed away and asked what the heck she was doing, but by this point she was to the next guy biting his neck. I'm glad she didn't get me very good as that would be quite embarrassing for me.

Later I was talking to the girl that bit me and she knows I'm a Follower of Christ. I don't think she understands what that really entails, which saddens me that people don't understand the concept of being a follower of Jesus. She is a Catholic girl, and kept making it a point to tell me she goes to church every Sunday, except when she parties she goes on Saturday nights, so she doesn't have to wake-up early on Sunday morning. I finally asked her why she enjoys going to church, and she told me it makes her feel good having gone and sitting there and doing the "Jesus thing". This absolutely pisses me off. Not what she said, but that she can be consistent to church and still not hear to Love and Truth of Jesus. She said to me "I heard drinking is a sin" as she took a pull of UV Blue. I explained to her that drinking while of age is not a sin, but underage drinking and getting drunk is a sin. She then with a sad look on her face said "Do you think God will forgive me if I go to confession and church next week?" It is my prayer that people like this will learn to repent and that there is more to life than parties, and getting drunk. I also make it my prayer that the church does not condemn them for drinking, but loves them for who they are, as transformation cannot happen until Christ is in there life.

As I was the one to drive the car, I kept the keys which meant I had to continually go back and forth to the car for them to get their alcohol out of the car. One time when we went to the car one of my friends said "Adam help me I made out with that kid and he won't leave me alone now". This made an awkward situation I do not condone what she did, but I felt the need to help her. I then just kept my arm around her for a while to make the guy think we were "together" and he just kept calling her cell phone, but wouldn't come talk to her, so I did my part.

Later the same girl that bit me text my friend I had my arm around and it said "did you kiss him, I wanted to". This was really weird to me, as I don't hardly know the other girl and yeah just strange. This also says to me that she kept talking about church as she was just hitting on me thinking I would like her or kiss her, because I think she attends church.

On the way home we had to stop 3 or 4 times for a friend of mine to throw up on the side of the road. I cannot believe that I let myself do that before. I thank God I have moved past that point in my life, and pray for the people living in it right now.

I had fun with my friends, and learned a lot in one night, even though I've been to many parties, drinking and not drinking. This shows that we need to get out and meet the people where they are at as they are searching for something and they need Jesus. After all Jesus didn't hang out with just the righteous, but with the ones that really needed him.

AWAKEN!

Tonight at Awaken Youth we had an amazing time! I was set to "preach" for the first time, but really I didn't preach. We started slow with just a couple kids, then started talking about how God has a purpose for our lives, as we are talking about "The Purpose Driven Life" by Rick Warren. This was our third week of it, which is God's third purpose for our life, to be like Jesus (discipleship).

As we got going with things more kids kept coming in and out of the room. Many of the kids became very interested in the discussions we were having. The kids had so many questions tonight, and I loved it. My brother Aron and I kind of tag teamed the answers and the "sermon".

These questions weren't easy ones either, but we gave them all the Biblical truth we had. Some questions we had to say flat out we didn't know, and others we had to give them answers they didn't want to hear, but it was right out of God's word.

Also, normally we get done with the "church" part of Awaken about 8:15, and play games and stuff 'till 9, but tonight we had to cut the conversations short as we were being kicked out of the rec center as they close at 9!

One of the more encouraging parts at Awaken tonight, was when Aron and I were walking to the car we walked past all the kids and stopped for a minute. One kid said "so you guys do this every week?" I then replied "yes, every Thursday 7:00 except next week for the holiday", he says "right here?" I nodded and said yes, then he said, "cool, I wish I'd have known you guys were doing this, I'd have been coming for a while." This is encouraging for this kid to see God, through our love and truth.

It was an amazing night, I praise God for those kids and pray for them to have a wonderful week, and hope they seek after a real relationship with Christ!

Iowa State Experience

So the following is a note I wrote on Facebook on Monday, September 10, 2007. I was sitting in Parks Library at Iowa State University while sipping coffee and reflecting on my college experience to that point:

My name is Adam Kolosik. I am from North English, Iowa. I am currently a freshman at Iowa State and am majoring in Engineering, but am currently Undeclared in that field. So far I love it here at Iowa State. I have partied many times and been drunk pretty much every time I go to a party. If you're still reading and think oh yes typical college student. Well sorry I try not to be. I have failed in my life so many times. Including every weekend I've been here in Ames. Don't get me wrong the party life is a fun one, but my life in high school without it was much better. In college I have way more opportunities to reach out, be part of something, and find some people that are more like me! In high school I had a lot of friends, but no one really like me. I go to parties, but I'm not a partier. I love Jesus Christ and he loves me. I have been disappointed many time in my life and I'm well prepared for that everywhere I go. No matter how many times I fail or fall Jesus still loves me, and no matter how many times I'm disappointed I've disappointed him more, but he forgives as I ask. He love unconditionally, yet as humans we only wish to love each other this way. I've drank, failed, cheated, stolen, lied, cursed, and treated girls terribly. I'm sorry for all of this. I wish to get back to the way I used to be and be on fire for Jesus Christ my Lord and Savior. He died on the cross for me, I hope I can live my life the best I possibly can for him. I will fail and I have many times before. He still loves. If you do not like me for who I've been I'm sorry, but the only thing I can do is try my best and change. My recent weeks couldn't be better described than the way Reliend K puts it in "Who I Am Hates Who I've been". If you understand any of this or have been through it, give me a message, maybe I can help or maybe you can help me. But as Christ says together with him we can do all things!


This post now is to say that I did not get right back on track after that post, but I eventually did, and have been on track for quite some time now. I still have struggles, but I have grown so much stronger through this with Christ's Love that carried me through. I started attending Heartland Assembly of God consistently and God just began to work over my heart and bring me back to him. I thank him so much for what he has done for me! Praise the Lord MY Father!

Memorial Day Picnic

So as most everyone know yesterday was Memorial Day in the U.S. to remember the soldiers lost in military service. Though most people don't always recognize the day for more than a three day holiday. I honestly did not think about the real meaning of the day at all yesterday as I spent the day fellowshipping at Kent Park having a barbecue with my church. The day was a lot of fun as our church family got together and played games such as volleyball, tug-of-war, horse shoes, and many other games I had not heard of. The above photo is of two of my nephews Isaac and Luke playing in a big jumper the church rented for the kids to play in as well. The day was a lot of fun, but it was nice to relax on the couch after I got back too!

Big but Slow, Crazy yet Lazy

This last week has been a big one! A lot has happened yet it felt like I did nothing at the same time. I've had so many thoughts and things happen that I need to get on here:

What's new in my life:

Well Masters Commission called me and made me aware that they will be leaving Phoenix First Assembly and starting a Church plant in Frisco, Texas (Just north of Dallas). This new Church will be called Relevant Church. I at first was a little concerned about the change, but the staff will stay the same, and I feel being involved in a church plant on this level will give me a great experience and really help me grow closer to The Lord my God Jesus Christ.

Saturday night my cousin Dustin Wildeboer got married. It was a fun night and good time all around as I also got to see a lot of my cousins and spend a little time with them. I wish I could have spent more time with them all, but I guess that's the way it goes sometimes. One strange thing about Dustin getting married is that it means I am now the oldest grandkid of the Rollers that is not married. Dusty came over and sat next to me for a few minutes at the reception and said well looks like your next. This is scary! I can't imagine getting married soon, but who know what God has in store for me!

Today was my first day working at BIS Fru-con. They are a construction management firm working at the Iowa City Proctor and Gamble Plant. I am a construction management intern out there. This will be a good experience for me as I just finished my freshman year of construction engineering at Iowa State and would like to pursue that after I do Masters Commission. Fru-con does a lot of projects out at P & G. It will be a great variety of work and experience for me to learn from. I really appreciate my brother for putting in a word for me out there. Without that I wouldn't have even known Fru-con existed!

So as I'm living here with Aron I am also able to help him with the Awaken Youth Group of Life Church and grow as a youth leader. These kids are really on my heart and I hope and pray for the best for all of them. Through the guidance of the Spirit I hope to have them all saved and help build them up as leaders to minister to others around them. This will be another great time for me this summer.

Many more things have been happening, but I'll leave some other stuff as I think this is starting to be quite a long post!