outside the world I am use to

For the better part of the last twenty years I think I have been living in a bubble. Throughout high school I hung out with people that were closely associated with my youth group. In college I went to Azusa Pacific University and roomed with people with a strong faith. After college I worked in a church until recently. While I thought I understood the world around me… apparently not so much. Its not to say that the bubble I lived in was full of roses, but I was still surrounded by a largely “christian” group.

Fast-forward to my past seven weeks. I have purposely tried to de-void myself of the “christian” label, in not overtly proclaiming who I am. But whether I try to play undercover or not, it is noticed that I live differently that some of my other co-workers. My exposure to the realities of those around me came to a head this past week as we transitioned to a time of inventory. Basically locking seventy of us in from 9 p.m.- 5 a.m. and counting every object of clothes in the store. I can tell that all you are jealous. Perhaps it was the late night that lowered the boundaries between many of us, but I began to get a good sense of what truly goes on in the lives of those in their 20’s, and it is not always pretty. There were the stories of sex, drugs, relationships, deceptions, and more. Not to mention the attitudes behind them. At times I was shocked, horrified, saddened, heartbroken, intimidated, and times of a combination of all of it.

Out of all of it I gained a new perspective in what I do. I often am told that people feel sorry for me in ending up in this place, that place is one that I could also feel sorry for myself. But instead I am being exposed to something that drastically stresses the importance of what I am a part of. Its not about “rescuing” or “saving” them. Rather it is about having a sense of urgency and perspective of the world around us. Out of this all, I have a deeper desire with an incredible urgency to get Front Porch off the ground.

This is not the first time that I heard of people doing drugs and so forth, sorry my bubble was not that small. Rather than having the perspective/ role of a pastor or authority figure… I have none. I am just someone in their world. Is there judgement on them… not really. Is there condemnation… no. I would say that I have a better understanding/ perspective of the “other half” of the world. In other half I am stressing not that they are underprivileged or underneath me, but simply not in the crowd that I am usually associated with.

Scared, perplexed, confused, lost…. sometime.

Learning…. ALWAYS.

Front Porch Needs

Several years ago I met a student in my youth ministry who would change the direction of my life. Through the course of my interaction with that student, a strong personal faith developed. After graduating from high school the student began to lead aspects of the youth ministry, and was one whom I believed would be a future leader in the church. Sadly, through their college years, the deep faith wavered and eventually crumbled. Looking from afar, I cannot point to one place where the importance of  faith ended, but I saw a drastic pulling away from the church over the course of time. Questions often fill my head, as I wonder what I could have done during the young adults life to better prepare them for the road ahead. If that could happen to one youth of deep spiritual faith and conviction, what is happening to the others in our church or even those not involved in a church during the college years? It is my desire to prevent this from happening to another that motivates me to develop Front Porch at California State University Channel Islands (CSUCI).

Front Porch is the campus ministry of the Presbytery of Santa Barbara in which we reach to three college campuses within our bounds (UCSB and Cal Poly San Luis Obispo). The CSUCI chapter is the newest project and is only eight months old. Our challenge is to reach students both on and off campus, and to be there for students as their wolds of academics and faith collide. During the past months we began meeting in small groups throughout the county and began developing a comprehensive plan for ministering to the campus. We’ve seen growth in attendance at each of our events, and are spurred to continue as we see the hunger for spiritual fellowship in our college students. However, we need your help. For the past eight months, Front Porch at CSUCI has not been funded through the Presbytery due to budget constraints. Our prayer has been for local Presbyterian Churches to come together and fully fund us. As we have visited many of the churches in our Presbytery we have begun to see the reality of the economy around us. Our continued prayer is that the funding will be available soon, but it will take time. For the Front Porch ministry to continue, we have an immediate need. A part time salary will be needed for myself, as well as funds to provide for other ministry needs. It is with this request and that we come to you to be a part of keeping the vital ministry of Front Porch at CSUCI moving forward.

The Front Porch link below leads to brochure detailing our immediate needs. We are looking for a group of individuals to contribute monthly through the next year in order to sustain the ministry. If you feel led to partner with us in this exciting ministry there is several ways to contribute donate. One way is to link to our website to contribute via Paypal or simply sending a check to the Presbytery office (6067 Shirrell Way, Goleta, CA,  93117) designated to Front Porch CSUCI.

Thank you for your prayer and participation in our common vision. With your help, we hope to create a safety net to catch and nurture our college students so they maintain and grow their faith in the Lord during the most challenging years of their lives.

Blessings

Front Porch Brochure

Crazy Christmas

Is it really the new year? Wow… the last time I really looked it was approaching Black Friday. This Christmas season has been a strange one, as I have been literally thrown to the beast. The beast being the retail industry. While I think that I have seen a lot, I have been given a lesson that there is more than I can ever imagine. For the past six weeks I have been working full-time at Macys. I got hired in an interesting couple of days. While throwing my resumes throughout the known universe, I decided to put an application at Macys. The next day I got a call for interview the next day. In the three minute interview I was offered a full-time holiday position. Of course it was not the $40 per hour that I was hoping for. Needless to say it was a job.

Through the holidays I ranged from five to six days a week. In many ways it was kinda fun but in others I saw the different side of Christmas chaos. I often thought that it was crazy in the church, but it has a whole new level in the mall. The line of cars getting into the mall, the fight for parking, the crowds, and the people with short fuses. Quite an interesting a volatile mix. One that I hope I never experience again… but never say never. While this is not what I was thinking I would be doing, in many ways I feel blessed. Blessed that I did have a job and the people that I was surrounded with. The people that I worked with have some interesting stories of how they got there. Not every holiday temp employee is a twenty year old on vacation. But some are older just looking for a job, others just graduating college, and others in odd places in life. One thing that I have learned to be good at is just listening to what is going on in peoples lives. For some reason I feel it is necessary that I not tell my co-workers my other life. That being a former seminary student and one seeking ordination. A verse that has been coming to my mind lately from Colossians 3:16-17,

Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly; teach and admonish one another in all wisdom; and with gratitude in your hearts sing psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs to God.  And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.

Let my actions speak about who I am. At some point I will be asked why I am different or whatever the question may be, the answer is simple. All my actions and deed are done because God dwells in me richly. Amen.

Merry Christmas from the Chows

December 7, 2009

Dear friends and family,

As our family reflects on the last year it is one that has passed too fast. Our children have sprouted and have pushed the limits toward maturity while we reminisce of the days that all they wanted was our attention. It only seems like yesterday that we did our last family newsletter. As in all years this has been one of ups and downs. As a family we celebrate where God has led us and we mourn the loss of an unborn child. We have been blessed in what God has done in us and used us this past year. It is times like this that we are able to reflect and look towards the future.

Sean has finally finished seminary and we were all excited to celebrate his achievement this past May. He is currently going through the final stages of preparing for his first call as a Presbyterian minister. For now he is juggling a bunch of different hats including raising support for development of the Presbytery’s campus ministry at Cal State Channel Islands. He is excited about being done with school and has passed the hat of student to Jenn who has started school this past fall. It definitely is a different experience in switching roles. Jennifer is still working for a Doctor.  She also has started taking some classes to prepare for future enrollment in a nursing program.  She is still selling Pampered Chef and enjoys this as a time to get paid to socialize.

Rianne has made the transition to 6^th grade middle school and is enjoying her time at her new school.  She is excited about the computer lab and has started to try to become the family photographer. We are having a hard time in transitioning to her being in a youth group since that means she is growing up.

Lauren is now in the 5^th grade and has become obsessed with the 50 states and the theme song “Are you smarter than a 5^th grader?”  She loves to cook and is a big help in the kitchen. While she may only be ten she is trying to be a pre-teen before her time.

Hunter is now in preschool and is a Teddy Bear (his class).  For a kid who doesn’t know how to read he can maneuver the computer and internet way too well.  Look soon for a You-tube production from Hunter about Mr. Potato Head as he dreams of being his own director.

In thinking of family highlights what really comes to mind is how “normal” this year has been. God has truly blessed us as we have a wonderful extended family that we feel incredibly close to even though they are 300 miles away. It is that family and friends that keep us grounded no matter how chaotic our lives may seem at times.

Well, that is pretty much our year in a nutshell. Merry Christmas!

Sean, Jennifer, Rianne, Lauren, and Hunter Chow

By Faith

There were a few peeps that requested that I post my sermon from Word of Life online. Since we don’t record them, I am posting it here. Your only problem is that I do not write it in a manuscript format. Hope you can figure it out.

By Faith…

Hebrews 11

-Today is the first Sunday of Advent

Advent means arrival (preparing for the arrival of Christ)

Hope, love, joy, peace

Today is the candle of HOPE

-With the world the way it is I pray for hope

Hope for peace…

Hope for safety for my family…

Hope for those in difficult situations…

Hope for those suffering through difficult times in Sudan and throughout the world…

But I also have hope that certain individuals can make a difference

-President Obama

- Dali Lama

There is a difference in hoping that something or someone can do something and HAVING FAITH

Hebrews 11 is a chapter that is often called the “Hall of the Faithful”

They are ones that in the midst of the challenges of their lives that HAD FAITH rather than hoping for the best.

The list includes Abel, Enoch, Abraham, Jacob, Rahab, Noah, and more!

Seeing this list not only challenged the readers of Hebrews but me as well.

1. Have FAITH in God not just hope (v.1-2)

¹Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see. ²This is what the ancients were commended for.

Faith is the things that we are sure of.

What are those in your life.

Book of Job is interesting

Job is allowed to be tempted by God

Talks throughout about hope.

Hope can be swayed and worn away but faith lasts.

Job 14:18-20

¹⁸ “But as a mountain erodes and crumbles and as a rock is moved from its place, ¹⁹ as water wears away stones and torrents wash away the soil, so you destroy man’s hope.

1. By faith… what are we? (v.7)

⁷By faith Noah, when warned about things not yet seen, in holy fear built an ark to save his family. By his faith he condemned the world and became heir of the righteousness that comes by faith.

Moses was a murder

Afraid of speaking in public

Rahab was a gentile woman

Prostitute

Abraham was told to kill his own son, Lied about Sara being his sister rather than his wife….twice!

Noah (Genesis 6-7) heard a message from God to build an Ark. Spent 120 years doing so and warning others of the upcoming flood.

Had a feeling that he was mocked more than a little bit

If the flood did not come he would have been the laughingstock.

Or called crazy.

SOMETHING IS WRONG WHEN OUR LIVES MAKE SENSE TO UNBELIEVERS.

WHAT ARE YOU TO BE KNOWN FOR?

3. Faith is more than just the good times/ finishing strong (v. 35-38)

³⁵Women received back their dead, raised to life again. Others were tortured and refused to be released, so that they might gain a better resurrection. ³⁶Some faced jeers and flogging, while still others were chained and put in prison.³⁷They were stoned^[f]; they were sawed in two; they were put to death by the sword. They went about in sheepskins and goatskins, destitute, persecuted and mistreated— ³⁸the world was not worthy of them. They wandered in deserts and mountains, and in caves and holes in the ground.

Anyone can have faith in the good times…

But what about when trouble arises?

In marriage and relationships the depth and commitment will be tested in these times

Post Thanksgiving Reflection

Sure Thanksgiving is all about being thankful for the blessings that you have and for family. I have some great memories of sitting around stuffing myself and watching football. In fact I asked my wife’s parents/ family if I could have her hand in marriage following Thanksgiving Dinner/ Lunch (it was around 2 in the afternoon). But one tradition that I did partake in that will always have a Thanksgiving tone is playing paintball with my brother the next day. Some families had the tradition of playing football… my brother and sometimes Conor would head to Carpet Bob’s Paintball around Napa and run in the mud. Nothing like being covered in mud as you were trying to “mark” others. There is nothing quite like trying to shoot someone with a paintball at 290 feet per second on a cold morning in the rain. Ouch. It was those weekends that developed something fun, that unfortunately I don’t have the time or the body to do anymore. That is travel and play tournament paintball.

Most people really have no idea what was going on in my life during that time. The fun times that we had traveling around and creating chaos in various cities from Lemoore in Central California to Port Orchard, WA to Las Vegas. I miss traveling around originally with Joe, Jason, Paul, Donald, Adam, and Conor. Then it was with Pete, Chad, Francis, Ken, Leo, and a whole host of others. Nights trying to flush huge bags of paintballs that went bad down the toilet at the Silverton (before they upgraded it) to having to deal with sharing a bed with Joe who kicks in his sleep. Or the many times we went to the Excalibur buffet only to remember that we should NEVER GO THERE.

I miss playing five and ten man tournaments in the now defunct Pan Am Circuit and in the NPPL. What I don’t miss is the mountains of dollars that it took to keep the equipment at the edge or the time for practices in smelly out of the way locations.

While I am thankful for the journey in life that I am on, there are somethings that I miss. That being young enough and crazy enough to be involved in the paintball tournament scene during the mid-early days. The days when teams like ours could actually be sponsored before the times of huge conglomerates. What I do miss out of anything is the time spent with the guys whether at practice or just shooting the breeze. Here is a shout out to you all!

Are you trying to get something through my thick skull?

I have had the opportunity to do something that we try not to encourage our members to do… that being ‘church shop”. Or the act of checking out what other churches are doing and so forth. In some ways it is pretty cool since I get to see what other churches are doing but at the same time have no intimate contact with a church family. Now that I have been out and about I miss being at a church every Sunday and look forward to that time again.

For the past four weeks I got to be a free agent of sorts as I have made my way through a bunch of different churches. I think a general theme has arisen as I feel that each pastor was talking directly to me. The first week was a visit to the Radiant service at Oxnard First Presbyterian. They were doing Stewardship Sunday and Pastor Ted Brandt was talking about God’s comfort in the midst of suffering. The following week was Pastor Ron Urzua from Word of Life Presbyterian preaching on God’s provision in the midst of difficult times. Last weekend I was at Westminster Presbyterian during their Stewardship Day as Pastor Dan Birchfield talked about the longevity of the church and its legacy, that in the mist of chaos and the economic climate God provides. Last night I was at Glenkirk Presbyterian in Glendora as Pastor Jim Miller talked about the sacrifice that God wants from us and that it is all about finishing well.

Each of the themes of the sermons that I have heard this last month felt like they were meant for me specifically. Is there a conspiracy between the churches where I am going? Or maybe its God speaking? I guess my attitude did not change much after the first time…. or even the second… so apparently I got four sermons to finally get what I was suppose to get. I GOT IT!!!…. I think. That in the midst of the craziness of my life, God is going in front of me and providing, just need to remain faithful.

It is easy to have faith in the good times… character and depth of faith is built during the tough seasons.

Intersting

Last night I was driving home from training all day at Macy’s and was kinda bumming about even having this job. Not because it is a job (which I am thankful for) but that its not what I am passionate about. Then this song by Bon Jovi came on the radio and was mesmerized by the lyrics as it encouraged those that are going through a tough time. Life will get better it is through the difficult circumstances that we are challenged and shaped.

 

We Weren’t Born to Follow

This one goes out to the man who mines for miracles
This one goes out to the ones in need
This one goes out to the sinner and the cynical
This ain’t about no apology

This road was paved by the hopeless and the hungry
This road was paved by the winds of change
Walking beside the guilty and the innocent
How will you raise your hand when they call your name?

Yeah, yeah, yeah

We weren’t born to follow
Come on and get up off your knees
When life is a bitter pill to swallow
You gotta hold on to what you believe

Believe that the sun will shine tomorrow
And that your saints and sinners bleed
We weren’t born to follow
You gotta stand up for what you believe

Let me hear you say yeah, yeah, yeah, oh yeah

This one’s about anyone who does it differently
This one’s about the one who cusses and spits
This ain’t about our livin’ in a fantasy
This ain’t about givin’ up or givin’ in

Yeah, yeah, yeah

We weren’t born to follow
Come on and get up off your knees
When life is a bitter pill to swallow
You gotta hold on to what you believe

Believe that the sun will shine tomorrow
And that your saints and sinners bleed
We weren’t born to follow
You gotta stand up for what you believe

Let me hear you say yeah, yeah, yeah, oh yeah
Let me hear you say yeah, yeah, yeah, oh yeah

We weren’t born to follow
Come on and get up off your knees
When life is a bitter pill to swallow
You gotta hold on to what you believe

Believe that the sun will shine tomorrow
And that your saints and sinners bleed
We weren’t born to follow
You gotta stand up for what you believe

Let me hear you say yeah, yeah, yeah, oh yeah
Let me hear you say yeah, yeah, yeah, oh yeah

We weren’t born to follow, oh yeah
(Yeah, yeah, yeah, oh yeah)
We weren’t born to follow, oh yeah
(Yeah, yeah, yeah, oh yeah)

Crossroads

As a person in the midst of transition, it is at a crossroads that I sit. For the past week I have been searching for a job, any job that will somehow supplement the lack of income that my family is facing. With that I have applied for anything from Aflac Insurace to College Enrollment Counselor to manning a register at Macys. What makes this so weird is that maybe I have a contorted view of a job. That maybe its more than earning a paycheck… its ones passion. Its their calling. Is it my calling to sell and offer Macy’s Credit to customers? Uhhh…. I am pretty sure that it is not. I feel that what I do must have a purpose.

Yesterday I got a comment on my facebook page that really bothered me. Not bothered in a bad way but one that challenges who I am. Am I suppose to spend Advent and the holidays worrying about the size on my line at $9 per hour or the real reason that I am called to. “You are going to be a great pastor Sean – and it saddens me that someone of your pastoral talent and giftedness will be standing behind a register and not a pulpit this Christmas season -behind the pulpit it is were you belong without doubt, when will the church wake up and see the gift you will be to the church?!”  That comment made me think… do I push on in developing this ministry or do I sit on it. Sit on it in a time when the momentum is growing and great progress is being made.

Choices are running rampant in my head. In times like this which road do I choose?

 

Retirement

A frequent conversation that I have with older adults that have retired is that they tell me that they are busier than they were when they were working. While I have had problems stretching my little brain around that, I have begun to understand what they mean. While I am not “retired” but yet hope to reach that point I am getting an inkling of what they are talking about. No longer am I stuck in an office (figuratively or literally), have to attend staff meetings, put in a requisite amount of time doing “churchy” things, or even have a feeling that I need to work more to earn my pay. Instead this last week has been a blank canvas. Last Saturday when I looked at my calender for the week all there was a meeting at CSUCI on Tuesday and a note that it was the eldest Birthday this week. For a person that is use to juggling seminary, family, and church(s) this is going to take some getting use to.

While Monday might have been a stress case for me since I was literally sitting around and watching the Syfy network and its V: the series marathon. Since then I have begun to get my feet underneath me. Besides becoming the official Chow family taxi for school, youth group, and other events I am definetely re-engaging with the family. If you ask them perhaps I am too much into their business. Oh well… welcome to Dad-have-no-job land.

The best part of all this chaos is that I get to do anything that I want to do and not things that I am obligated to. Last week I have several meetings about Front Porch and its development at CSUCI. Next week we will begin spending time meeting with students and actually DO SOMETHING on campus, rather than simply meeting with churches and casting the vision. If I wanted to (which I plan on doing) is starting some studies on campus and being present for students. Someone that I met with last week said that I could be “the weird Presbyterian prayer guy on campus.” While that may be cool, I am not sure if that is the angle that I am looking for. I have also been tossing around the idea of heading back to the hospital to volunteer as a chaplain.

This blank canvas is an interesting thing. What makes it more interesting is some of the blogs that I read. One of them is the former President of Youth Specialities that was recently laid off. He wrote on some of the things going on in his mind here. I am loving the freedom to do the things that I WANT to do rather than what I am obligated to. I do see how retirement can be a time that is more busy than one is working with the desire to be a part of many things that you have a passion for.