I don’t know about you, but I think my body has adapted to the blanket of smog that covers the Los Angeles skyline. I’ve been planted in the L.A. area since 1977 and, after 34 years immersed in this horrid trench, I think I’m nuts to say that I can’t see myself living anywhere else.
Ok…maybe the Bay or in the Big Apple or, perhaps even, on the Big Island.
It seems, every time I land somewhere where the air is remotely cleaner (i.e. The Big Island, Mammoth, or Tahoe), my insides go through somewhat of a recalibration process to adjust itself to the crisp, healthier environment. I usually feel sick for the first few moments in my new destination and I’m left wondering why I departed the City of Angels in the first place. Yet, because God inserted an adaptable gene into our mainframe, I’m sure I could eventually get used to any destination He would have me call home.
Speaking of adapting to new environments, I’m wondering how you adapt to change. Whether it’s a new job or a new family (via marriage), change is inevitable. And, depending on your situation, change can be as toxic as L.A.’s smog bubble.
Our church, by the year’s end, will be in the midst of an absorption process where we will have acquired a second campus to expand God’s work in the Norwalk/Bellflower/Cerritos area. It’s going to be an interesting journey, to say the least, but, in the midst of it all, change is going to be at the forefront of our existing site and the church we will assume leadership over.
Not to say it’s going to be toxic, but we all have our work cut out for us.
In the end, it’s an opportunity to continue God’s work, so however you slice it, it’s going to be good.
How about you? How do you adapt to change? And, for church leaders out there, how do you adapt to change in an expanding context were two churches becoming one are involved?
Let’s talk.
derrickengoy.us 
Adapting to change is second nature for me. I get bored easily and need challenges to engage my brain. So I welcome them. But if you’re expanding to the Norwalk/Bellflower/Cerritos area, I am excited because I’m in the process of hunting for a church.
As always, thanks Nannette for your insight. I, too, welcome change. And I, too, get bored easily. If you’re familiar with the Burkman, I’m all blue, so my creative juices need to be in continual movement.
As far as the church work goes, Pastor Thel (Lifestream Norwalk) will be retiring this year and New Life Center will assume leadership over their site with Ken as the lead pastor for both campuses. It’s an exciting, yet sensitive time. Keep us in prayer and I’m looking forward to potentially seeing you around more, if the Lord leads you to “New Life Center” Norwalk.
Ooooo….NLC is expanding! I’m glad to see God is stirring up the Kingdom. That’s change definitely worth making. When I comes to changing, I love to change [my clothes b/c when after a long day at work, a change of clothes in to my PJs will do]. But in all reality, I don’t like to change too much, yet I’m learning that there are many times that I don’t have a choice to change and I need to adapt and overcome any instability that will hinder my change. By doing so, I’ve learned that you can allow God to take you to another level. He’s always wanting to advance us in what we apply ourselves to, but if we stay in our comfort zone and don’t “change” in what we do, where we go, why we do the things we do, or how commence our actions, we will only hinder ourselves.
Anytime I leave the Los Angeles area, I feel some sort of change as well. In Utah, I had a hard time running because the air was thinner in September. Here in the South, the air is fresh in the spring and winter and hot-er and humid-er in the summer. I’m calibrated for the smoggier cities; not so much of the fresh clean out doors of the country.
So, I’m ready for change as I prep for another move. Only difference….with any change I experience, if I’m able to prepare, how could I do it better next time…