The Adventurous Journey of Transformation in Christ: Spiritual Growth

By Mike Surowiec

The Adventurous Journey of Transformation in Christ is a practical, inspiring devotional. The book integrates Scripture with the manifesto poem I Am a Disciple of His. The author uses the poem's message to highlight the Christian growth experience. He focuses on Jesus Christ being the center of one's life. He views circumstances and situations through this worldview. 

 

The author shares his faith experience tested in the marketplace. He is very transparent with the personal ups and downs of how the Triune God has transformed his life. He wants you to know God desires the same for you.

 

Each devotion is led by Scripture. Each musing ends with self-reflective questions. Each lesson integrates faith into everyday life. As you complete each chapter, you acquire greater insight and applicable wisdom for daily living. You learn how to take part with the workings of the Holy Spirit within your inner world. You gain more reassurance of the work God is conducting in you and through you. You discover real meaning in your everyday routine.

 

God's macro-purpose for you becomes more believable. The significance of eternity also opens up greater possibilities for the micro-plans you pursue.  As you read, you learn from the author's journey with Christ. You discover better ways to integrate and grow in your relationship with the Triune God.

 

The author's aim is to encourage you toward becoming the person you were born to be in Christ! He strongly believes Life is a learning process preparing you for eternity. His hope and prayer is for you to truly experience The Adventurous Journey of Transformation in Christ.

 

 

 

 

• Language: English
• Publisher: Abbaco LLC
• Release date: May 1, 2023
• ISBN: 9798223753797

Mike Surowiec

After stewarding senior leadership roles with several national organizations, Mike now serves as an adjunct professor with a local faith-based university, active with Stephen Ministry, and facilitates small groups within his faith community. He holds a PhD in pastoral ministry and a graduate degree in management.  His passion is to engage, encourage, and empower others to become firmly rooted in Jesus Christ for the advancement of God's Kingdom through the local Church and marketplace. In his personal time, Mike enjoys biking, day trading, and huddling with family and friends.  

Book preview

Introduction

So we do not lose heart. Though our outer self is wasting away, our inner self is being renewed day by day. For this light momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison, as we look not to the things that are seen but to the things that are unseen. For the things that are seen are transient, but the things that are unseen are eternal.   2 Corinthians 4:16-18

Years ago, I attended a funeral for a special friend; one of my early mentors in the faith. A man who had a deep passion for serving the Lord and one of the largest hearts for people that I have ever known. His funeral brought together people from a variety of tribes. Different  denominations, religions, ethnic origins, social classes, and economic roots were represented. The one thread we all had in common was our friend. As a people, we had multitude of differences. But in Ralph, we had everything in common. We all knew he was a man who walked with his Lord.

It was at this funeral that the minister read a poem I heard for the very first time entitled I Am A Disciple of His.  This manifesto paid tribute to Ralph's life. But more so, it also expresses the life of every committed Christ-follower who ever lived. That year my bride framed a copy of the poem as a Christmas gift. Today it rests in our study as a reminder of Ralph and all the other disciples I have had the privilege to meet and invest time with in our life journey.

I was motivated to pen this book for two reasons:

First, to publicly acknowledge that I am also a disciple of Jesus Christ. That Jesus Christ has transformed this life for the greater good. That He has revealed and continues to reveal what our Triune God is genuinely like. He has started a divine work in me and has promised to complete it. He has empowered me with a Comforter in the Holy Spirit. Through this adventurous journey, He has given meaning, purpose, and insight into life far beyond what I ever expected to discover on my own. He is my Lord, Savior, Teacher, Hero, and Friend.

Secondly, I wrote this book as a testimony for my daughter and  grandchildren. It is good for a father to leave a legacy to his children. The most valuable treasure I have to pass down is the everyday experience of walking with the Triune God. The resulting personal transformation is gracefully packed with awe and wonder.

My ministry is in the marketplace serving the economic and spiritual needs of others. My immediate world consists of family, friends, neighbors, and co-workers living life in a suburban, rural community. Yes, I support our local church and pastor. Yes, I share the gospel with all the Lord sends my way. Yes, I care for the people who live in my micro world and reach out for the strangers outside that world. But again, like the majority of faithful believers today, only God knows the impact this life has on others.

I hesitated to write this book because the world doesn't need another manuscript.  Instead, what everyone truly needs is a personal, intimate relationship with the living Lord Jesus Christ. For His disciples make an uplifting difference in the lives of people they come into contact with each day. The world may not consider us saints, but God does. And every saint is an apprentice of Jesus Christ.

This book is not an exercise in dogmatic theology, but written to share the real, life experiences and thoughts of a pilgrimage. You may find some reassurance of the Spirit in your daily walk. You may find words of encouragement as you battle your demons. Or you may jump start into a new life-changing challenge in your walk with our Lord. For life is an adventurous journey of transformation rooted in Christ. As He prepares you and I for eternity, we serve Him by uplifting people, families, and communities where one lives.

This book follows the outline of the I Am A Disciple of His poem. The poem is a disciple’s manifesto to challenge, uplift, and encourage you to pursue the Triune God with all your heart, mind, body, and soul. I am not a writer, but a scribbler; an analytical and expressive person who enjoys life in Christ. So, if you find some sloppy grammar, please ignore. Instead, focus on what the Holy Spirit is communicating to you as you may learn from the challenges and struggles of a fellow Christ-follower.

As always, I am rooting for you in Christ!

Dr. Mike

I Am a Disciple of His

I'm part of the fellowship of the unashamed.

I have Holy Spirit power.

The die is cast. I have stepped over the line.

The decision has been made.

I'm a disciple of His.

I won't look back, let up, slow down, back away or be still.

My past is redeemed, my present makes sense, my future is secure.

I'm finished and done with law living, sight walking,

small planning, smooth knees, colorless dreams,

tamed visions, worldly walking, cheap giving, and dwarfed goals.

I no longer need pre-eminence, prosperity, position,

promotions, plaudits, or popularity.

I don't have to be right, first, tops, recognized,

praised, regarded, or rewarded.

I now live by faith, lean on His presence,

walk by patience, am uplifted in prayer and labor in power.

My pace is set, my gait is fast, my goal is heaven,

my road is narrow, my way is rough, my companions are few,

my guide is reliable, my mission is clear.

I cannot be bought, compromised, detoured,

lured away, turned back, deluded or delayed.

I will not flinch in the face of sacrifice,

hesitate in the presence of the adversary,

negotiate at the table of the enemy,

ponder at the pool of popularity,

or meaner in the maze of mediocrity.

I won't give up, shut up or let up

until I have stayed up, stored up, prayed up,

paid up and preached up for the cause of Christ.

I am a disciple of Jesus.

I know I must go until He comes, give till I drop,

preach till all know and work till He stops me.

And when he comes for His own,

He will have no problem recognizing me.

My banner will be clear.

-Anonymous-

I'm Part of the Fellowship of the Unashamed

...that which we have seen and heard we proclaim also to you, so that you too may have fellowship with us; and indeed our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son Jesus Christ.   1 John 1:3

Somewhere each morning, there are small groups of men and women who huddle each week in the early morning hours. I have come to call these soul events Koinonia meetings. Koinonia is a Greek word that denotes spiritual fellowship. The word is used in the Book of Acts (4:2) to express how the early church met in fellowship. Also, the apostle John used the same word to explain our relationship with our Lord and Heavenly Dad (I John 1:3-7). In other words, our fellowship is with each other AND with God. Wherever two or more our gathered in His name, He is with us (Mt. l8:20).

What is the purpose of our fellowship? Isn't it to strengthen one another in the Lord? Isn't it to affirm our love for each other? Isn't it to challenge one another in our walk with God? Isn't it to uplift one another in prayer? Isn't it to make our differences disappear and produce unity in Christ? Isn't it Jesus who brings us all together? Isn't it Jesus who makes us one? Doesn't He reveal through His disciples that He is the only way that people can walk peacefully with other people? Without Him there is only dissension, fear, and hatred of our differences. Yet even though intellectually we know we are all the same, don't we have the tendency to rank each other in our standard of classes? Whether we rank each other under the status of education, wealth, marriage, career, you name it and isn't there a label for it? But didn't Jesus Christ make these walls all disappear?

St. Augustine wrote about two churches that exist and cohabit together at the same time. There are the physical faith communities that we see and support their operations; and may even be a member. Likewise, he wrote about the invisible church. A body of believers cohabiting together within each physical faith community.

John Wesley called it the universal church. I call it a church without walls. No walls of denomination. No walls of racism. No walls of community lines. No walls of social or economic status. No walls of age. No walls of sexism. No walls of educational bias. No walls that divide and separate us from each other. Instead, there is Jesus Christ that unifies and brings us together.

It is Jesus that eliminated the walls between people. It is through and in Jesus that we have a church that is built without walls. A church built on the foundation of the early prophets and apostles with Jesus being the chief cornerstone. A church made of people with a spiritual connection. A church made with people built around an eternal plan. A church started in the first century with the premise that all people could be a part of the fellowship with the unashamed. No dividing walls. No exceptions. Everyone who is called by our Heavenly Dad is a member and my friend.

I gladly fellowship with anyone who is a brother or sister of the God we serve. We have more in common than the closes of relationships. More in common than a marriage of earthly time. More in common than a friendship from youth. More in common than blood brothers. We are linked by the same power and love that links everything together in this universe. We are linked together by our Creator and Sustainer. And we have more in common than we could discuss in a lifetime. Yes, we have fellowship with the divine while we also have fellowship with humanity. Our fellowship is deeper than the deep and higher than the highest high. Our fellowship is built on eternal powers that we don't quite understand but only see their effects in our daily lives.

Paul writes that we are sons of the Living God and children of the Divine. We are heirs to promises that we can't even fathom. Though we only have a small taste of these promises now, we await for the fully revealing of those promises beyond our temporary dwellings. We have been promised eternal life. We have been promised offices of leadership. We have been promised life without pain, life without sin. We have been promised a future that seems impossible in today's world. But yet, nothing is impossible for God. He designed the physical universe; made it; sustains it. He alone can change it; reshape it; and do whatever He wants with it. He is God. Supreme Ruler. Supreme Provider. Supreme Lover. He is what He has to be when required. Ask Satan.

When Satan became so self-delusional, didn't he think he could take over God's role in the universe? When he compared himself with God, he thought he was the better being. But when he attacked God's throne room, he found himself kicked out so fast that he didn't realize what  happened. It makes you think that his image of God must have been really small. He may have saw the characteristics of humility, mercy, innocence, and love and thought them as weakness. But when he attacked, God brought out traits that Satan probably never saw until then. God became what He had to in repelling the satanic forces. Satan saw a side of God that hopefully we never have too. Satan with one-third of the angels was kicked-out of heaven. Can you picture a meek, humble, loving being becoming a force to reckon with? I don't think Satan did. Otherwise, life would be different today than it is.

Now Satan doesn't have the intimate, friendship with our Lord as we do. We have a relationship that makes Satan very jealous. And he uses that jealousy to motivate himself in his dealing with mankind. He doesn't want unity, but disharmony. He wants people separated from God and each other. He wants people to be like himself. He is so delusional that he sincerely believes his way of living is the best.

When you look at the confusion in this world, aren't you looking at Satan's character? When you look at the disharmony and prejudices in this world, don't you see Satan's character? When you look at wars and fighting between people, doesn't it reveal Satan's answers to today's problems? He has been trying to make his system work apart from God. And it has not been successful.

God's success is built working through His Kingdom. He makes His Kingdom available for those who diligently seek Him. One of the fruits of His Kingdom is fellowship with Him and His children living in love, joy, and peace with each other. This is something only God can provide and no one else. Isn't this the fellowship we have while being involved in His church without walls?

Action Primer

Q1.  Where outside the four walls of your Church building do you experience being the Body of Christ?

Q2.  How many places can you name where you find yourself living out the gospel message in worship to God?

Q3.  How many ways can you actually do Church?

I Have Holy Spirit Power

he saved us, not because of works done by us in righteousness, but according to his own mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewal of the Holy Spirit, Titus 3:5

In my early business career, I was exposed to various programs of self-development. Many provided me with an edge in my business dealings. I attended seminars and workshops to gain the latest management insight in my field. I read books and listened to audio messages written by the latest guru of the times. I practiced exercises to maintain a positive mental attitude. Over time, I developed supreme self-confidence in myself. Everything I did was to build myself so that I would have the edge over others. But somewhere through all this I found the practice unfulfilling. It didn't satisfy the inner hunger. I only strengthen the outer image that was being carried before others.

Then one day, I received a spiritual slap. For those not familiar with the old TV after-shave commercial, it goes like this. A man stands in front of the bathroom mirror putting down his razor after a morning shave. He reaches for a bottle of after-shave lotion, dabs a little on his hand and proceeds to slap his face. The punch line he states then is Thanks, I needed that.

A spiritual slap is like that. It's being slapped by our Heavenly Dad to awaken you from your blindness and stupor. It breathes a fresh aroma into your dull life. It jump-starts you for the day and hurdles you unto the next track meet. It revitalizes your soul. It brings a fresh stream of running waters in your life. It makes you want to stand up and dance. It's the light bulb turning itself on in your inner being. Yes, you received a