Last Thursday one of my friends hosted a dinner with his out of town friend---Stu, a claimed prophet.
I came in with little expectations and left probably feeling all things from surprise, healing, and skepticism.
He had a talent for holding a crowd and spoke to people individually and the group at-large with ease. He talked to one girl next to me about taking hold of the peace of God. I think he was talking about giving her advice to share with others--but he was also speaking to her. It as one of these instances where he would say "God has this to say to you...." Certainly more charismatic than my background.
I believe he opened with "what if I told you you never have to be stressed again?"
I came in tired and a little overworked from Georgetown. I did feel peace from God wash over me as he talked to the girl next to me about peace and letting God take care of problems in our lives.
Next he spoke to me directly. He said I could act as an agent of mercy and forgiveness at Georgetown--speaking the forgiveness of sins and acceptance of unconditional love of God directly into peoples lives. I do believe this would be one of the best things I could do on a campus like Georgetown--speak truth to people and have them feel and experience genuine forgiveness and acceptance. Displaying mercy.....
Besides speaking to some individuals he also talked alot about how God doesn't always have to work within a church building--he had many beliefs and lists about the components of true, good discipleship. I found this funny almost--I'd been praying that someone would help teach me how to disciple others--not just tell me to do it.
Here were his suggestions:
1) seeing the fruits of the spirit (peace, love, joy, patience, kindness, goodness, gentleness, faithfulness, selfcontrol)
2)freeing people from bondage--spiritual bondage, judgment, generational inequity
3)receive the love of God openly
4) Learn that God's love is based in his relationship with you--not in how you perform
*this reminds me of my old IV staff worker's motto Grace plus NOTHING equals right standing with God.
And once we're in this process of making disciples.....not just converts, numbers, members, where do we go next?
1) teach people to avoid things that "make void" the work of God: human tradition, attempts to earn grace, human wisdom
2) teach people kingdom finances: getting out fo debt, tithe, offering
3) basic knowledge of scriptures, teaching disciples to hear god themselves
4) teach a sense of vision for the nature of the church, the function of spiritual gifts in churches
5) teach how to be a servant to God, the people God loves, the people of God
And yet after this great session with this guy helping us experience the peace, presence and power of God......my roommate and I left and talked about being stressed and tired. Will we ever take hold of what God so readily holds out for us?
Sunday, September 30, 2007
Saturday, September 29, 2007
Men's Retreat
Please pray for the men of our fellowship this weekend--14 went off to a retreat in Maryland.
This year several men of the group have stepped up to be intentional about gaining and retaining male fellowship/spiritual growth in InterVarsity. We are really thankful for their passion and desire to see God work in our group this year.
They are sharing testimonies tonight and talking about how to use their time in college for God and others tomorrow.
This year several men of the group have stepped up to be intentional about gaining and retaining male fellowship/spiritual growth in InterVarsity. We are really thankful for their passion and desire to see God work in our group this year.
They are sharing testimonies tonight and talking about how to use their time in college for God and others tomorrow.
Tuesday, September 25, 2007
Bringing all things together
Last week in the Ephesians Bible study I co-lead with a sophomore student we were talking about how God's plan is to bring together all things under the head of Jesus.....
Essentially we were talking about large scale reconciliation in the world.....but also reconciliation in relationships, etc.
Recently, I've been feeling very torn, pulled actually sometimes into several different directions--the needs of IV at campus, the girls in my house, Anacostia, looking for a church, DC area new monastic friends, other DC area friends, taking a fitness instructor course, getting oriented to the city, thinking of when to visit my brother and family, the list goes on.....
One of my big prayers over the past few weeks has been for some unity in my life, not this feeling that I'm needing to accomplish 50 different things in a day schedule that only allows time for 30. Overextension and the stress from that are a mark and characteristic of the overcommited culture of this city and the students I see at Georgetown daily. Especially because of this, I desire to display that stress and busyness as an attitude and reality are not the only way--that there can be peace and a way through the rubble of scheduling.
Some of the ways I've seen God beginning to pull some things together in my life.....
-seeing good friends of mine from college choose the church I think will be my out of Anacostia church.
-in our community visioning meeting, we're been talking about acting as a bridge to the rest of the city that holds a lot of stereotypes about our section of town. This pulls together home, Georgetown, and some of our other friends--and begins to alleviate some of the stress I've felt about not being as involved/known in the neighborhood as I'd like. If our purpose is possibly different, the perspective can change some too.
-seeing a lot of themes of catholicism in my life--Georgetown as a catholic school, coleading with a catholic student, probably attending a catholic church in our neighborhood, making friends with a catholic volunteer house down the street.
-having a couple of friends with flex daytime schedules. Hoping I can get together with them during some of these times to keep myself sane....and from working from 9am-midnight every day without stopping.....at least mentally taking a break.
-getting a bit more time in Anacostia weekly, allowing for me and a housemate to spend time together volunteering, making connections....and possibly some day bringing down students to join us!
-starting to feel loved and respected by students....never meant to be the goal, but it is filling some of the hole I feel from being gone from William and Mary.
Essentially we were talking about large scale reconciliation in the world.....but also reconciliation in relationships, etc.
Recently, I've been feeling very torn, pulled actually sometimes into several different directions--the needs of IV at campus, the girls in my house, Anacostia, looking for a church, DC area new monastic friends, other DC area friends, taking a fitness instructor course, getting oriented to the city, thinking of when to visit my brother and family, the list goes on.....
One of my big prayers over the past few weeks has been for some unity in my life, not this feeling that I'm needing to accomplish 50 different things in a day schedule that only allows time for 30. Overextension and the stress from that are a mark and characteristic of the overcommited culture of this city and the students I see at Georgetown daily. Especially because of this, I desire to display that stress and busyness as an attitude and reality are not the only way--that there can be peace and a way through the rubble of scheduling.
Some of the ways I've seen God beginning to pull some things together in my life.....
-seeing good friends of mine from college choose the church I think will be my out of Anacostia church.
-in our community visioning meeting, we're been talking about acting as a bridge to the rest of the city that holds a lot of stereotypes about our section of town. This pulls together home, Georgetown, and some of our other friends--and begins to alleviate some of the stress I've felt about not being as involved/known in the neighborhood as I'd like. If our purpose is possibly different, the perspective can change some too.
-seeing a lot of themes of catholicism in my life--Georgetown as a catholic school, coleading with a catholic student, probably attending a catholic church in our neighborhood, making friends with a catholic volunteer house down the street.
-having a couple of friends with flex daytime schedules. Hoping I can get together with them during some of these times to keep myself sane....and from working from 9am-midnight every day without stopping.....at least mentally taking a break.
-getting a bit more time in Anacostia weekly, allowing for me and a housemate to spend time together volunteering, making connections....and possibly some day bringing down students to join us!
-starting to feel loved and respected by students....never meant to be the goal, but it is filling some of the hole I feel from being gone from William and Mary.
Sabbath "doing"
Yesterday--after an intense week of long hours at Georgetown, planning the New student retreat--and then going on the retreat, returning home to a house meeting until 11pm Sunday evening......I needed some time "off."
I'd decided to take Monday as a sabbath day for awhile. I'd also decided to take the day to go bike to Mount Vernon--a trail about 20 miles south of the city.
But all of this left me struck with how often we have the desire to accomplish something. Even on my day off.....I needed to accomplish, 40 miles of biking or so. Still, there was the sense that at least I wasn't working on emails (the biggest part of a sabbath within this job), Bible study prep or fundraising.
But still I wonder, what good would a whole day of "nothing"--praying, restoring, being, have felt good to me? What about in the eyes of God--he gives his grace freely--and I sometimes think a sabbath where nothign formal is accomplished can help remind us that the Lord loves uis regardless of whether we are working 1 or 15 hours in a day, he chooses us not because of what we can do.
I still did get some good time away from email and some time to sit and think a bit, be humbled and in awe of creation and even the life I'm living here.
I'd decided to take Monday as a sabbath day for awhile. I'd also decided to take the day to go bike to Mount Vernon--a trail about 20 miles south of the city.
But all of this left me struck with how often we have the desire to accomplish something. Even on my day off.....I needed to accomplish, 40 miles of biking or so. Still, there was the sense that at least I wasn't working on emails (the biggest part of a sabbath within this job), Bible study prep or fundraising.
But still I wonder, what good would a whole day of "nothing"--praying, restoring, being, have felt good to me? What about in the eyes of God--he gives his grace freely--and I sometimes think a sabbath where nothign formal is accomplished can help remind us that the Lord loves uis regardless of whether we are working 1 or 15 hours in a day, he chooses us not because of what we can do.
I still did get some good time away from email and some time to sit and think a bit, be humbled and in awe of creation and even the life I'm living here.
New Student Retreat: one down, one to go!
This past weekend we took 8 freshman women and 4 upperclass women on a retreat to Charolettesville Virginia.
Overall, great time to get to know people and start to establish this as a core community for these freshman women.
We tried to get across a couple of key messages--and I think they stuck.
1: Jesus as LORD of our lives. Who is Jesus that we would drop everything, like Peter, to follow him? How was this man this amazing?
Beyond that, what does it mean to follow him? Does it mean attending more Bible studies or doing less "wrong" things? We suggested instead of even making Jesus first priority in our lives he should be the framework for our lives--where everything else comes from (used the chest of drawers illustration from Marty Purks at William and Mary--instead of having Jesus be a drawer of our lives--big or small, Jesus doesn't want to be compartmentalized but instead the framework within which we fit the rest of our lives--academics, relationships--into).
2: Acting as a missionary on campus--these freshman women have an amazing opportunity in college. They will spend the next few years living closely to people of all kinds of backgrounds and opinions. They can choose to love and engage those who are different--or separate themselves.
For this, my coworker created a large chart of how, in their times on campus, these girls could either "Radically Identify" like Jesus or be "radically different" like Jesus. Examples of when Jesus radically identified included when Jesus ate with sinners, wept over a loss, accepted people without judgment. Ways Jesus displayed being radically different in his time on earth included servanthood, loving "wastefully," displaying humility, and being more interested in other people than they may be in themselves.
We prayed that commitments would be made this weekend and bonds would be formed between these women that would last four years--or more.
We know from past experience that, in most cases, if a freshman can be convinced to come on the freshman retreat their involvement for the year--and often all four--is secured. It must be something about the willingness to leave with a group, put your trust in strangers, and how God speaks to people in these times we set apart.
Great conversations with women of all ages going on--also smores, ice cream sundaes and all other kinds of fun. Great time!
Overall, great time to get to know people and start to establish this as a core community for these freshman women.
We tried to get across a couple of key messages--and I think they stuck.
1: Jesus as LORD of our lives. Who is Jesus that we would drop everything, like Peter, to follow him? How was this man this amazing?
Beyond that, what does it mean to follow him? Does it mean attending more Bible studies or doing less "wrong" things? We suggested instead of even making Jesus first priority in our lives he should be the framework for our lives--where everything else comes from (used the chest of drawers illustration from Marty Purks at William and Mary--instead of having Jesus be a drawer of our lives--big or small, Jesus doesn't want to be compartmentalized but instead the framework within which we fit the rest of our lives--academics, relationships--into).
2: Acting as a missionary on campus--these freshman women have an amazing opportunity in college. They will spend the next few years living closely to people of all kinds of backgrounds and opinions. They can choose to love and engage those who are different--or separate themselves.
For this, my coworker created a large chart of how, in their times on campus, these girls could either "Radically Identify" like Jesus or be "radically different" like Jesus. Examples of when Jesus radically identified included when Jesus ate with sinners, wept over a loss, accepted people without judgment. Ways Jesus displayed being radically different in his time on earth included servanthood, loving "wastefully," displaying humility, and being more interested in other people than they may be in themselves.
We prayed that commitments would be made this weekend and bonds would be formed between these women that would last four years--or more.
We know from past experience that, in most cases, if a freshman can be convinced to come on the freshman retreat their involvement for the year--and often all four--is secured. It must be something about the willingness to leave with a group, put your trust in strangers, and how God speaks to people in these times we set apart.
Great conversations with women of all ages going on--also smores, ice cream sundaes and all other kinds of fun. Great time!
Wednesday, September 19, 2007
A "Typical" Day
I realize that I maybe haven't explained fully what I do at Georgetown. The job with InterVarsity is so incredibly varied....I think maybe the best way to do this would be to describe my schedule from the past couple of days.
This Monday:
8-9am: Chapter prayer meeting, we gather and pray for the campus and each other in a chapel on campus
9am-12pm: sit in student center on computer, doing administration: emails, detail work, scheduling student meetings, work on talk for New Student retreat, planning bible study for small group/Ephesians, and scripture study for New Student retreat.
12pm-1pm: take a break to the gym, shower.
1pm-2:15pm: lunch with a junior transfer, we talk about her school before this and opportunities to get involved in social justice related things in the city and on campus
2:30-4pm: hang out with sophomore seeker Bible study leader, hear about her background and tell her about myself and why I'm on campus.
4pm-6pm: meet with other Georgetown campus staff to discuss details of upcoming New Student Retreat, logistics.
more detail work, eat dinner
7-8:30pm: join students walking to area church and attend service with them.
--home
Tuesday:
9:30am-10:30am: home, working on administrative details, emails, small group details
10:30-11:45: commute to Georgetown by bike, stop at Safeway on the way to buy snacks for post large group meeting
12-1:30pm: gym, take a break with a senior aerobics class, shower
1:30-4pm: meeting with co-leader of small group, catch up on life, plan for scripture study on Ephesians
4-5:30pm: emails, scheduling, printing passages for scripture study and new student retreat details
5:30-7pm: attend bible study lead by another intervarsity staff on Luke 6, discuss ways we identify and deny Christ on campus
7-8pm: eat dinner, set up for large group
8pm-10pm: attend large group meeting, includes worship songs, a speaker on prayer, announcements.....hang out afterwards, make meetings with students
commute home and work on details, scheduling for rest of the week.
**These were likely busier than usual days....but a good sense of what I do on a daily basis....meetings, planning, other details work
This Monday:
8-9am: Chapter prayer meeting, we gather and pray for the campus and each other in a chapel on campus
9am-12pm: sit in student center on computer, doing administration: emails, detail work, scheduling student meetings, work on talk for New Student retreat, planning bible study for small group/Ephesians, and scripture study for New Student retreat.
12pm-1pm: take a break to the gym, shower.
1pm-2:15pm: lunch with a junior transfer, we talk about her school before this and opportunities to get involved in social justice related things in the city and on campus
2:30-4pm: hang out with sophomore seeker Bible study leader, hear about her background and tell her about myself and why I'm on campus.
4pm-6pm: meet with other Georgetown campus staff to discuss details of upcoming New Student Retreat, logistics.
more detail work, eat dinner
7-8:30pm: join students walking to area church and attend service with them.
--home
Tuesday:
9:30am-10:30am: home, working on administrative details, emails, small group details
10:30-11:45: commute to Georgetown by bike, stop at Safeway on the way to buy snacks for post large group meeting
12-1:30pm: gym, take a break with a senior aerobics class, shower
1:30-4pm: meeting with co-leader of small group, catch up on life, plan for scripture study on Ephesians
4-5:30pm: emails, scheduling, printing passages for scripture study and new student retreat details
5:30-7pm: attend bible study lead by another intervarsity staff on Luke 6, discuss ways we identify and deny Christ on campus
7-8pm: eat dinner, set up for large group
8pm-10pm: attend large group meeting, includes worship songs, a speaker on prayer, announcements.....hang out afterwards, make meetings with students
commute home and work on details, scheduling for rest of the week.
**These were likely busier than usual days....but a good sense of what I do on a daily basis....meetings, planning, other details work
Saturday, September 15, 2007
Pete, Feet and Fish to Eat
This semester I am attending/shadowing a manuscript bible study at Georgetown that goes through the gospel of Luke.
In manuscript bible study we print off the passage, allowing people to mark up all over it--and sometimes remove the verse numbers and paragraphing of the text. We also us an inductive manner of study--we look to the text (and only the text +commentary, Bible dictionary) to "speak" to us rather than approaching the Bible already knowing what we're looking for (Bible passages on friendship? careers?).
This particular passage was from Luke 5:1-11. It was the story of Simon Peter coming to follow Jesus. In the scene, Jesus is teaching a crowd off the shore of a lake. After the teaching, he instructs Simon Peter to put out to deeper water to fish. Peter protests, saying he's been fishing all night and haven't caught anything--regardless he trusts Jesus enough to try. His nets come up overflowing.
Overwhelmed by the awe-someness of Jesus' prediction and power, Simon Peter falls to his knees and tells Jesus to "go away from him," reminicent of the times in our lives when next to God's perfect, holy nature....we find ourselves completely unworthy. We are put face to face with our inability to measure up to God's standards.
As Simon is lamenting over his sinfulness, Jesus tells him-- "do not be afraid." He then tells Simon Peter from now on he won't just be catching tons of tons of fish...but men.
The next line says they left everything and followed him.
WOW--seeing the amazing power of God (overflowing nets of fish).....Simon is first floored (go away from me Jesus!) then wants to drop his nets and follow.
When I was in high school I worked 3-4 years in the White's Chapel nursery teaching Sunday school to 2 year olds. Reading this passage this week distinctly brought to mind one children's book we had in the class--"Pete, Feet and Fish to Eat." It was essentially the story of Simon Peter's time with Jesus.
This book was actually quite inappropirate for the 2-year old set. Most kids couldn't sit through even a third of it and preferred the books about animals or those with only about 10 pages. I, however, absolutely loved this book. I cried everytime I got to the section that mirrors this passage from Luke.
In the children's story, Simon Peter is telling the story of the overflowing nets--and how seeing Christ's power left him bewildered with his sin and unworthiness. Simon Peter decribes lamenting his sin, being flat on his face before Christ........and then Jesus reenters the picture.
The line that always has me chocking up--"but he didn't care." Jesus didn't care that Simon Peter wasn't perfect and was a sinful man. Jesus wanted to use Simon Peter to tell other people about Jesus and to build his church.
It's amazing how grace can--and needs--to hit us over and over again in life. I think that's what that children's story was to me over and over again--I still cry everytime I read that line. "But he didn't care." Jesus doesn't care how awful I think I am or how completely beyond all hope I am--he stands above me, trying to welcome me in regardless, constantly even.
This message of love, acceptance and radical grace is something I want to share. Next weekend at our new student retreat as I lead a scripture study on this same passage from Luke, I plan to close reading "Pete Feet and Fish to Eat"--or at least a portion of it....hopefully 19-year olds have a longer attention span than toddlers.
In manuscript bible study we print off the passage, allowing people to mark up all over it--and sometimes remove the verse numbers and paragraphing of the text. We also us an inductive manner of study--we look to the text (and only the text +commentary, Bible dictionary) to "speak" to us rather than approaching the Bible already knowing what we're looking for (Bible passages on friendship? careers?).
This particular passage was from Luke 5:1-11. It was the story of Simon Peter coming to follow Jesus. In the scene, Jesus is teaching a crowd off the shore of a lake. After the teaching, he instructs Simon Peter to put out to deeper water to fish. Peter protests, saying he's been fishing all night and haven't caught anything--regardless he trusts Jesus enough to try. His nets come up overflowing.
Overwhelmed by the awe-someness of Jesus' prediction and power, Simon Peter falls to his knees and tells Jesus to "go away from him," reminicent of the times in our lives when next to God's perfect, holy nature....we find ourselves completely unworthy. We are put face to face with our inability to measure up to God's standards.
As Simon is lamenting over his sinfulness, Jesus tells him-- "do not be afraid." He then tells Simon Peter from now on he won't just be catching tons of tons of fish...but men.
The next line says they left everything and followed him.
WOW--seeing the amazing power of God (overflowing nets of fish).....Simon is first floored (go away from me Jesus!) then wants to drop his nets and follow.
When I was in high school I worked 3-4 years in the White's Chapel nursery teaching Sunday school to 2 year olds. Reading this passage this week distinctly brought to mind one children's book we had in the class--"Pete, Feet and Fish to Eat." It was essentially the story of Simon Peter's time with Jesus.
This book was actually quite inappropirate for the 2-year old set. Most kids couldn't sit through even a third of it and preferred the books about animals or those with only about 10 pages. I, however, absolutely loved this book. I cried everytime I got to the section that mirrors this passage from Luke.
In the children's story, Simon Peter is telling the story of the overflowing nets--and how seeing Christ's power left him bewildered with his sin and unworthiness. Simon Peter decribes lamenting his sin, being flat on his face before Christ........and then Jesus reenters the picture.
The line that always has me chocking up--"but he didn't care." Jesus didn't care that Simon Peter wasn't perfect and was a sinful man. Jesus wanted to use Simon Peter to tell other people about Jesus and to build his church.
It's amazing how grace can--and needs--to hit us over and over again in life. I think that's what that children's story was to me over and over again--I still cry everytime I read that line. "But he didn't care." Jesus doesn't care how awful I think I am or how completely beyond all hope I am--he stands above me, trying to welcome me in regardless, constantly even.
This message of love, acceptance and radical grace is something I want to share. Next weekend at our new student retreat as I lead a scripture study on this same passage from Luke, I plan to close reading "Pete Feet and Fish to Eat"--or at least a portion of it....hopefully 19-year olds have a longer attention span than toddlers.
Friday, September 14, 2007
My Birthday
Yesterday was my 23rd birthday. Starting to get to that age where it's no longer super exciting in terms of new opportunities per year....I have cheaper car insurance to look forward to I presume.....
Regardless, I had a wonderful day. At my house in the morning during our daily morning prayer the girls prayed, thanking God for my 23 years of life--how nice! I of course received a traditional singing birthday call from my mother right at 8am on the dot...followed by similar calls from brother and dad later in the day. I got about a bazillion facebook messages.
Last night was great though. About 15 of my friends living the area gathered together to celebrate with me. Almost all were come very different social circles--the girls I live with, people from other DC communities, family, friends from high school, friends from college, coworkers. So many new people.....I had people wearing nametags!
I love the idea of having all the people I love and know well all in one space. My roommate Laura would talk about this often as a dream situation--everyone she loves, all together, getting to know each other. Of course likely the only situation we'll all experience like this will probably be a wedding--or a funeral I guess? But with people scattered across the US and the world....it always seems unlikely.
It was also a great birthday for being in a new place. I remember 4 years ago having my first birthday away from home. My freshman hall came together and really cared for me--throwing me a surprise party and everything! This showed me I did have a community of people who loved me and cared for me......even if it was a really new place....and unfamiliar all the while.
Similarly.....though DC doesn't really feel like home....being surrounded with people who know me and care for me......from as long ago as my birth or middle school......somehow it all just felt right.
Regardless, I had a wonderful day. At my house in the morning during our daily morning prayer the girls prayed, thanking God for my 23 years of life--how nice! I of course received a traditional singing birthday call from my mother right at 8am on the dot...followed by similar calls from brother and dad later in the day. I got about a bazillion facebook messages.
Last night was great though. About 15 of my friends living the area gathered together to celebrate with me. Almost all were come very different social circles--the girls I live with, people from other DC communities, family, friends from high school, friends from college, coworkers. So many new people.....I had people wearing nametags!
I love the idea of having all the people I love and know well all in one space. My roommate Laura would talk about this often as a dream situation--everyone she loves, all together, getting to know each other. Of course likely the only situation we'll all experience like this will probably be a wedding--or a funeral I guess? But with people scattered across the US and the world....it always seems unlikely.
It was also a great birthday for being in a new place. I remember 4 years ago having my first birthday away from home. My freshman hall came together and really cared for me--throwing me a surprise party and everything! This showed me I did have a community of people who loved me and cared for me......even if it was a really new place....and unfamiliar all the while.
Similarly.....though DC doesn't really feel like home....being surrounded with people who know me and care for me......from as long ago as my birth or middle school......somehow it all just felt right.
Visiting the Homeland
Last weekend I had the opportunity to go back to Williamsburg, Virginia where I went to school.
I had a great time visiting friends....and remembering what it's like to really "belong" in a place. With all this transition and "newness" in my life here in DC, Williamsburg and the people there really felt like home.
Many of my good friend were out of town for the weekend which gave me ample time to hang out with my younger brother, currently a freshman. We did many freshman things--ate at the caf, went out to the fraternity parties, and hung out on his hall until 4am. He's having a great time and has some good friends. It will be a good place for him.
We even took an adventerous visit to New Town by bike....we went out for dinner for pizza followed by a movie (will's favorite activity)--Shoot 'em Up. The craziest part--the ride back....apparently there are no street lamps in Williamsburg.....yikes....biking in the dark. We'll reconsider before doing that again!
Besides some wonderful time pre-planned before with friends, I also had a great opportunity to run into people on campus. I heard about one friend's awesome summer mission experience and her difficulty adjusting back to the WM community since then. I ran into one friend who'd just broken up with someone--and I had time to stop and listen. I got to spend a lot of time with the WM InterVarsity staff worker who gave me some of the "secrets of the trade" I'd never heard before.....as well as some really key advice and goals to set out for myself over the next couple of weeks. I heard the college president share about his journey of faith....followed by an adventure to ask him for a ride to DC. Only a visit 4 days long would afford these kinds of great experiences.
Before I left a group of friends gathered to pray over me.....for my ministry with InterVarsity and for my time in DC. I felt loved and accepted.....and "sent." Thank you everyone.
I had a great time visiting friends....and remembering what it's like to really "belong" in a place. With all this transition and "newness" in my life here in DC, Williamsburg and the people there really felt like home.
Many of my good friend were out of town for the weekend which gave me ample time to hang out with my younger brother, currently a freshman. We did many freshman things--ate at the caf, went out to the fraternity parties, and hung out on his hall until 4am. He's having a great time and has some good friends. It will be a good place for him.
We even took an adventerous visit to New Town by bike....we went out for dinner for pizza followed by a movie (will's favorite activity)--Shoot 'em Up. The craziest part--the ride back....apparently there are no street lamps in Williamsburg.....yikes....biking in the dark. We'll reconsider before doing that again!
Besides some wonderful time pre-planned before with friends, I also had a great opportunity to run into people on campus. I heard about one friend's awesome summer mission experience and her difficulty adjusting back to the WM community since then. I ran into one friend who'd just broken up with someone--and I had time to stop and listen. I got to spend a lot of time with the WM InterVarsity staff worker who gave me some of the "secrets of the trade" I'd never heard before.....as well as some really key advice and goals to set out for myself over the next couple of weeks. I heard the college president share about his journey of faith....followed by an adventure to ask him for a ride to DC. Only a visit 4 days long would afford these kinds of great experiences.
Before I left a group of friends gathered to pray over me.....for my ministry with InterVarsity and for my time in DC. I felt loved and accepted.....and "sent." Thank you everyone.
Sunday, September 09, 2007
Cool Christians: Where did we go wrong?
Lately I've been thinking about the kinds of social definitions and hierarchies we set up for ourselves. Especially in terms of popularity--there's a human desire to always be looking around---who's cooler than me? who am I cooler than? It's horribly unfortunate when this kind of mentality happens with Christian people--but especially when it takes place within the body of Christ itself.
In one of the lesser known Don Miller books he talks about how we all live with a lifeboat mentality--we're constantly trying to order ourselves against others (who deserves to get in the lifeboat?). I have been struck recently by how much close friends of mine (and myself) go to great lengths to describe how they are a "cool kind of Christian."
There's the whole postmodern Christianity thing. It's about showing that we're not like those kinds of Christians who were traditional, rigid, conservative. It's also the socially-aware Christian.....I'm not like those kinds of Christians who don't get justice or who think global warming is bunk or focus too much on personal salvation. It happens with the partying Christians....I'm not like those kinds of Christians who won't be in the presence of alcohol, who maybe struggle to hold a conversation, or who just aren't "fun" or popular.
We're constantly trying to show ourselves and others how we're the kinds of Christians others would like to be around. We really get the gospel. We should be the ones doing all the evangelism. We should be the ones taking over the churches, the fellowships. We should only trust those with similar opinions.
We find all kinds of social identifiers and labels for classifying who's in and who's out. We call ourselves and others like us the liberal/social-action minded/radically-obedience/"you-know"/different Christians. Those in mega-churches or with prudent behavioral choices or with seemingly prescribed theology need not apply.
I am ashamed by the depth of my judgmental nature and unwillingness to listen to and learn from those of the body of Christ who by human standards remain foreign to us.
***1 Corinthians 12:21 The eye cannot say to the hand, "I don't need you!" And the head cannot say to the feet, "I don't need you!"***
How I need to learn to value/listen to/learn from the parts of the body I've taught myself to despise and tell myself I don't need.
In one of the lesser known Don Miller books he talks about how we all live with a lifeboat mentality--we're constantly trying to order ourselves against others (who deserves to get in the lifeboat?). I have been struck recently by how much close friends of mine (and myself) go to great lengths to describe how they are a "cool kind of Christian."
There's the whole postmodern Christianity thing. It's about showing that we're not like those kinds of Christians who were traditional, rigid, conservative. It's also the socially-aware Christian.....I'm not like those kinds of Christians who don't get justice or who think global warming is bunk or focus too much on personal salvation. It happens with the partying Christians....I'm not like those kinds of Christians who won't be in the presence of alcohol, who maybe struggle to hold a conversation, or who just aren't "fun" or popular.
We're constantly trying to show ourselves and others how we're the kinds of Christians others would like to be around. We really get the gospel. We should be the ones doing all the evangelism. We should be the ones taking over the churches, the fellowships. We should only trust those with similar opinions.
We find all kinds of social identifiers and labels for classifying who's in and who's out. We call ourselves and others like us the liberal/social-action minded/radically-obedience/"you-know"/different Christians. Those in mega-churches or with prudent behavioral choices or with seemingly prescribed theology need not apply.
I am ashamed by the depth of my judgmental nature and unwillingness to listen to and learn from those of the body of Christ who by human standards remain foreign to us.
***1 Corinthians 12:21 The eye cannot say to the hand, "I don't need you!" And the head cannot say to the feet, "I don't need you!"***
How I need to learn to value/listen to/learn from the parts of the body I've taught myself to despise and tell myself I don't need.
Wednesday, September 05, 2007
Going "Home"
If you've seen Garden State.....and if you're a sentimentalist.....you remember the lines about how at one point in life you no longer have a place to call "home" between that time you leave your parent's home until you later go on to build a home of your own for your own family. During that period of time, I'd like to suggest, the idea of home becomes very transient--and sometimes easy to define.
This weekend--or rather for the next 5 days I'm going back to one place that has been a "home" to me for the past four years--Williamsburg Virginia.
I am excited to go for many reasons. For one--many of my good friends are there. After this crazy transitional time--it is good to rest in the company and place of many people who you love love you, trust you and want the very best for you. In some ways, it was my life in Williamsburg, the small group I got to be a part of there that led to my ministry with InterVarsity.....to revisit that place will help remind me of how God has moved in my life and through me...as a reminder that, yes, I can do this thing....loving people that is.
And of course--the traitor I am, I am thrilled to get to see little brother Will thriving in his new college environment as well.
I'm buzzing with excitment...pray I'll be a blessing.....and that I won't get caught up in wishing I was there this year instead.
This weekend--or rather for the next 5 days I'm going back to one place that has been a "home" to me for the past four years--Williamsburg Virginia.
I am excited to go for many reasons. For one--many of my good friends are there. After this crazy transitional time--it is good to rest in the company and place of many people who you love love you, trust you and want the very best for you. In some ways, it was my life in Williamsburg, the small group I got to be a part of there that led to my ministry with InterVarsity.....to revisit that place will help remind me of how God has moved in my life and through me...as a reminder that, yes, I can do this thing....loving people that is.
And of course--the traitor I am, I am thrilled to get to see little brother Will thriving in his new college environment as well.
I'm buzzing with excitment...pray I'll be a blessing.....and that I won't get caught up in wishing I was there this year instead.
Tuesday, September 04, 2007
Biking to work
As of Sunday I've been biking across Washington from Anacostia to Georgetown. I figure the whole route is about 7-8 miles, but I'm not sure. It takes about an hour each way, sometimes less. This is really joyous because riding the bus was taking upwards of almost 1.5 hours each way.
Besides just the physical exercise of having to bike--there are huge hills in Georgetown and Capitol Hill....well, never noticed that incline before.....I also get a unique chance to see most of the major sights of the city--twice a day even. I pass by the monuments, the capitol, Watergate hotel, the Anacostia and Potomac Rivers. I also feel the physical distance and economic contrast between the area where I work (Georgetown, possibly the wealthiest section of the city) and Anacostia, the lowest-income area of the district.
And besides riding on Pennsylvania Avenue up to the capitol....it's all on bike paths! So, much to my parent's relief....it's safe! I'll be in need probably of an updated bike sometime...but for now it's even been a money savings (no transportation costs!)....I could go on and on about the virtues of biking in the city.
Besides just the physical exercise of having to bike--there are huge hills in Georgetown and Capitol Hill....well, never noticed that incline before.....I also get a unique chance to see most of the major sights of the city--twice a day even. I pass by the monuments, the capitol, Watergate hotel, the Anacostia and Potomac Rivers. I also feel the physical distance and economic contrast between the area where I work (Georgetown, possibly the wealthiest section of the city) and Anacostia, the lowest-income area of the district.
And besides riding on Pennsylvania Avenue up to the capitol....it's all on bike paths! So, much to my parent's relief....it's safe! I'll be in need probably of an updated bike sometime...but for now it's even been a money savings (no transportation costs!)....I could go on and on about the virtues of biking in the city.
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