A couple of weeks ago back visiting my old InterVarsity chapter at WM, I heard they'd done a survey of the fellowship. They found that only 5% of the students present at the weekly Large Group meeting were spending more than 10 minutes 3 times a week in prayer and Bible study.
The term "quiet time" is something that sometimes I feel averse to using a lot. I don't like that it seems like Christian in-speak and also that sometimes it can feel legalistic. However, I'm realizing how little--as some grand attempt to not guilt students, I'm not mentioning this at well.
So a Quiet Time is simply setting aside some time each day for prayer and reading scripture. Not that complicated. Can take tons of different forms depending on what you read and how you pray--length, can be thereabouts of 10 minutes to hours really. By setting aside a specific time of day we allow God some set apart time to speak to us--not just going through our days hoping God thinks what we're already doing it pretty alright.
I've been reading a lot of books about discipleship lately--how to help mentor Christian students and help them grow towards God. In most of these books after the first step of inviting the student into relationship, or once the person has "become a Christian"--almost immediately the next step mentioned in the books is to teach students/disciples how to spend time with God each day. Teaching them to "feed themselves" from the Bible and spend time in prayer rather than creating a situation where people are dependent on you as the mentor.
But I've also been thinking about the general life of a college student--the busyness, the people everywhere......it's very difficult to find space to be alone. But my conviction is that this is still essential. There are quiet spaces in the library, rooms when roommates are out for the day. It's like so much in life--if we live spending our time thinking that we'll do that later......later will never come. We must learn to find space and time for God now, not just wishing it will come around later.
When we were at a visioning retreat for IV last week we did a Bible study on Nehemiah. Nehemiah cries out asking for the forgiveness of the sins of himself and the sins of his fathers. He sees that the sins within his people are also within himself. I find that a lot at Georgetown. The sin of the institution and the student body there mirror a lot of my own personal sins--orientation towards achievement, busyness--and neglecting time with God. So then we repented on the behalf of ourselves and our people. Now I'm just considering how to move forward and help students re-establish this essential time each day.
Monday, March 31, 2008
Sunday, March 23, 2008
Stations of the Cross around Anacostia
For Good Friday service my catholic church in Anacostia did a live-action, moving stations of the cross. We walked around Anacostia with a casket and a cross, praying for different things each time we stopped.
There are 14 "stations" of the cross.
We prayed for the homeless, addicted outside the local "grocery store," the elementary school, gangs, single mothers, those in jail, those addicted, for the violence in the neighborhood.
The whole event lasted 3 hours!
But another good reminder of why I wanted to go to a church that was committed to praying and being involved in the surrounding neighborhood's difficult issues.
There are 14 "stations" of the cross.
We prayed for the homeless, addicted outside the local "grocery store," the elementary school, gangs, single mothers, those in jail, those addicted, for the violence in the neighborhood.
The whole event lasted 3 hours!
But another good reminder of why I wanted to go to a church that was committed to praying and being involved in the surrounding neighborhood's difficult issues.
EGGstravaganza: alternative easter break 2008
Being a Catholic school, Georgetown students get the Thursday and Friday plus the Monday surrounding Easter weekend off school. Many students go home--even a week and a half after spring break. But several stay around.
Knowing that many students would be in DC for the break I decided to start my own tradition--easter break alternative break!
Spring break urban service trip was great, definitely great! But it was very serious--so this was my chance to create something more fun and bonding based. Now ending the week, the turn out was pretty good. Let me recap the events:
Thursday: This event I hyped up probably more than any other---an 20-30 mile bike ride around the rim of DC and down through Rock Creek park in the middle. I got 3 girls coming with me--2 freshmen, 1 sophmore. One girl was very inexperienced--and she did GREAT! 5 hours of group biking--and the only major fall was mine (skinny tires on pavement).
Friday: dinner party at my house. I picked up 6 students from Georgetown for a night of dinner, discussion, desserts and dying eggs! We sang along with the piano, grappled with family vs. Christian community and ate tons of ice cream and cookies! Lots of fun!
Saturday: Service project in Anacostia. Myself, a friend from out of town and two students teamed up with the catholic volunteer group (www.asimplehouse.org) to deliver easter baskets to families living in housing projects in Southeast DC. We got partnered with people of all ages--catholics from a teenager to people in their 40s.
Sunday: Baptism service. One of the Georgetown IV worship leaders became a Christian about a month ago. He got baptized at his church service this afternoon. It was great to see the community he's been experiencing there and along with another student, support his decision to be baptized.
alternative easter break was great! hopefully more students will stick around for next year's installment!
Knowing that many students would be in DC for the break I decided to start my own tradition--easter break alternative break!
Spring break urban service trip was great, definitely great! But it was very serious--so this was my chance to create something more fun and bonding based. Now ending the week, the turn out was pretty good. Let me recap the events:
Thursday: This event I hyped up probably more than any other---an 20-30 mile bike ride around the rim of DC and down through Rock Creek park in the middle. I got 3 girls coming with me--2 freshmen, 1 sophmore. One girl was very inexperienced--and she did GREAT! 5 hours of group biking--and the only major fall was mine (skinny tires on pavement).
Friday: dinner party at my house. I picked up 6 students from Georgetown for a night of dinner, discussion, desserts and dying eggs! We sang along with the piano, grappled with family vs. Christian community and ate tons of ice cream and cookies! Lots of fun!
Saturday: Service project in Anacostia. Myself, a friend from out of town and two students teamed up with the catholic volunteer group (www.asimplehouse.org) to deliver easter baskets to families living in housing projects in Southeast DC. We got partnered with people of all ages--catholics from a teenager to people in their 40s.
Sunday: Baptism service. One of the Georgetown IV worship leaders became a Christian about a month ago. He got baptized at his church service this afternoon. It was great to see the community he's been experiencing there and along with another student, support his decision to be baptized.
alternative easter break was great! hopefully more students will stick around for next year's installment!
Monday, March 17, 2008
Holy Week
As many of you know, I've been attending a Catholic church in my neighborhood in Washington,DC.
This week is holy week--I'm really looking forward to getting to participate in many of the activities both on campus at Georgetown with students and with my church in the neighborhood.
For palm sunday, for instance, we did a parade around the neighborhood (I came with 30 college students in-tow from two colleges visting for spring break trips) waving palms around and handing out palms to people we encountered on the street as we marched and sang loudly.
Coming up, there are several services on campus, maundy thursday, good friday and easter morning!
I think it's been since high school that I've been able to focus on the events of Holy week--take the happiness of palm sunday......actually attend Thursday and Friday to understand what happens.....in order to have "walked the journey" come Sunday when the easter choruses begin!
In college it's so easy to get caught up in school work or yourself and forget the rest of the world even exists!
My georgetown students however get this thursday, friday and next monday, tuesday off....so they get to go home or hopefully reconnect with a faith community to celebrate.
This week is holy week--I'm really looking forward to getting to participate in many of the activities both on campus at Georgetown with students and with my church in the neighborhood.
For palm sunday, for instance, we did a parade around the neighborhood (I came with 30 college students in-tow from two colleges visting for spring break trips) waving palms around and handing out palms to people we encountered on the street as we marched and sang loudly.
Coming up, there are several services on campus, maundy thursday, good friday and easter morning!
I think it's been since high school that I've been able to focus on the events of Holy week--take the happiness of palm sunday......actually attend Thursday and Friday to understand what happens.....in order to have "walked the journey" come Sunday when the easter choruses begin!
In college it's so easy to get caught up in school work or yourself and forget the rest of the world even exists!
My georgetown students however get this thursday, friday and next monday, tuesday off....so they get to go home or hopefully reconnect with a faith community to celebrate.
Sunday, March 09, 2008
Veganism, an update
So I became a vegan for lent.
Much like vegetarianism, it's a decision that's hard to go back on once you make it.
Especially when it comes to reintroducing substances like milk and cheese and yogurt.
I have been really impacted in the past month, however, to learn how many animal products really did go into everything I consumed......from eggs for breakfast, to cookies, to pizza, to butter on a roll.
I think it's always a good lesson to be conscious of the origins of the things we spend money to have.
Much like vegetarianism, it's a decision that's hard to go back on once you make it.
Especially when it comes to reintroducing substances like milk and cheese and yogurt.
I have been really impacted in the past month, however, to learn how many animal products really did go into everything I consumed......from eggs for breakfast, to cookies, to pizza, to butter on a roll.
I think it's always a good lesson to be conscious of the origins of the things we spend money to have.
Spring Break 2008: Georgetown Urban Plunge
I just finished a week of having 13 Georgetown students living in my house, participating in a week of service, prayer, and Bible study in the inner city of Washington.
For a quick run-down of the week, after a day spent on a scavenger hunt to discover inequalities in the city, we spent last Sunday attending my gospel Catholic church (met some of my neighbors--awesome!). During the week we served breakfast to the homeless, tutored GED students, spent the night at a women's shelter, volunteered at an after school program, ate lunch with homeless, and spent a full-day in a DC Public school (the one I've been doing breakfast with).
In the evenings we had several interesting discussions and activities, including 6 Bible studies from Luke, a teacher discussion panel, a race discussion and even a party with people working in justice-related careers!
I was thrilled to spend the week essentially at home, relieved from the stress of commuting. It was exciting to invite students into my daily life, my relationships in the neighborhood, the joys and struggles of being there. I made some connections at work and the elementary school that otherwise would've taken months to figure out!
Students mostly, in the time talking about what we'd all taken away from the trip, talked about wanting to become less self-centered in their approach to life, watching how they spend their time and money, and seeing increasingly God's heart for the poor and oppressed! Seeing the faith and determination of people who'd given their lives to serve those of Southeast DC inspired and challenged students to consider their own futures and formerly-cynical outlooks on direct service's impacts on communities in need.
Pray this week will open some student's willingness to come visit my area of town more often!
For a quick run-down of the week, after a day spent on a scavenger hunt to discover inequalities in the city, we spent last Sunday attending my gospel Catholic church (met some of my neighbors--awesome!). During the week we served breakfast to the homeless, tutored GED students, spent the night at a women's shelter, volunteered at an after school program, ate lunch with homeless, and spent a full-day in a DC Public school (the one I've been doing breakfast with).
In the evenings we had several interesting discussions and activities, including 6 Bible studies from Luke, a teacher discussion panel, a race discussion and even a party with people working in justice-related careers!
I was thrilled to spend the week essentially at home, relieved from the stress of commuting. It was exciting to invite students into my daily life, my relationships in the neighborhood, the joys and struggles of being there. I made some connections at work and the elementary school that otherwise would've taken months to figure out!
Students mostly, in the time talking about what we'd all taken away from the trip, talked about wanting to become less self-centered in their approach to life, watching how they spend their time and money, and seeing increasingly God's heart for the poor and oppressed! Seeing the faith and determination of people who'd given their lives to serve those of Southeast DC inspired and challenged students to consider their own futures and formerly-cynical outlooks on direct service's impacts on communities in need.
Pray this week will open some student's willingness to come visit my area of town more often!
InterVarsity Senior Retreat: Feb 22-24th
The last weekend in February we had our winter Conference for InterVarsity. For these conferences students from all over the DC area come together for a weekend of study and reflection.
I was placed in the Senior Track this year--mostly because I begged to be put there, but also as an extra staff person to help out with this "class" for the retreat. The Senior Seminar dealt with transition issues, making big life decisions, finding a church, financial management.....basically all the things of following jesus in the real world and for the long haul.
I begged to be put there because I'd never been able to go to such a thing myself. I really wanted to be in on the budget section and the part about friendships/relationships post-college.
A few major highlights for me included the Bible study on John 14. I started to cry reading jesus' words to his disciples. Throughout the chapter he is reassuring his disciples that they have the tools and the knowledge to make it in his absence--they will be ok! But they doubt--as we all do. The verse that made me cry is when Jesus says "I go to make a place for you...if it wasn't so why would I say it?" All I could think to myself was--yea, why would he say it then? Jesus doesn't lie to us! What a good God we serve.....he will provide, he's not going to turn around and say "just kidding" one of these days.
Other major talks included one on ethics in the workplace, an awesome talk on decision making, and financial management. The decision making talk she said most of the time in our lives we will not know what God wants us to do explicitly. But we will have some signs (this does not exclude prayer!).....but to think of it like a runway that a plane will land on....if 70% of the lights are light-up, it's probably a go. Could sound like reading a fortune cookie or something--but to see lots of things lining up for God to tell us to proceed. Also she talked about when making decisions if we consider 2 things: serving God, serving others.....even when we're confused, we'll likely be able to make it.
It was a good weekend, as always to get away and reflect. The other senior from Georgetown in my group had some good times of reflection about work along with the two students from George Washington in my small group. I was glad for the opportunity to go!
I was placed in the Senior Track this year--mostly because I begged to be put there, but also as an extra staff person to help out with this "class" for the retreat. The Senior Seminar dealt with transition issues, making big life decisions, finding a church, financial management.....basically all the things of following jesus in the real world and for the long haul.
I begged to be put there because I'd never been able to go to such a thing myself. I really wanted to be in on the budget section and the part about friendships/relationships post-college.
A few major highlights for me included the Bible study on John 14. I started to cry reading jesus' words to his disciples. Throughout the chapter he is reassuring his disciples that they have the tools and the knowledge to make it in his absence--they will be ok! But they doubt--as we all do. The verse that made me cry is when Jesus says "I go to make a place for you...if it wasn't so why would I say it?" All I could think to myself was--yea, why would he say it then? Jesus doesn't lie to us! What a good God we serve.....he will provide, he's not going to turn around and say "just kidding" one of these days.
Other major talks included one on ethics in the workplace, an awesome talk on decision making, and financial management. The decision making talk she said most of the time in our lives we will not know what God wants us to do explicitly. But we will have some signs (this does not exclude prayer!).....but to think of it like a runway that a plane will land on....if 70% of the lights are light-up, it's probably a go. Could sound like reading a fortune cookie or something--but to see lots of things lining up for God to tell us to proceed. Also she talked about when making decisions if we consider 2 things: serving God, serving others.....even when we're confused, we'll likely be able to make it.
It was a good weekend, as always to get away and reflect. The other senior from Georgetown in my group had some good times of reflection about work along with the two students from George Washington in my small group. I was glad for the opportunity to go!
Simple Way Family Reunion: February 15-17
So I'm really behind on my writing. I'm attempting to fix this situation with a short synopsis of important events in the past month.
The 3rd weekend in February I ventured up to Philadelphia/Camden area with one of my good friends and mentors, Brian Lewis of Common Ground community in Shreveport, LA (www.lvoe.org). I drove up with Brian's friend Drew, a seminary student in the DC area I was pleased to meet and get to know over the weekend.
We got up to Philadelphia and went directly to the Simple Way's Potter Street location in the Kensington neighborhood of North Philadelphia. I was immediately struck by the enclosed, tight nature of the streets around that area of the city. It contrasts dramatically to Center City's wide boulevards and expansive skyscrapers. The tiny row houses were only footsteps from those across the street---community seemed inherent in this kind of set up. Even our close location to our neighbors in DC is nothing like this.
The whole weekend was a series of meeting interesting people. The entire new monastic movement is full of all kinds of characters, Christian anarchists, lots of vegans, lots of dreadlocks and a lot of smokers even. When you really respect a person or a group of people you can more easily accept and believe what they state to be true about the world. Possibly this is a very post-modern trait about me. Regardless, I find myself really immersed in this crowd of people, learning from all kinds of things---from how people greet one another, what they eat, what kind of Bible study we do.....it's all very enlightening....I'm essentially eating it all up.
Friday evening was a big potluck dinner and a worship service by the Psalters (http://www.psalters.com/). Saturday consisted of a lot of round-group discussions. First we did bible study on Matthew 18 followed by group discussions on race in community, gender and God-image (how do we imagine God--mother God?), and power and authority in community (are we afraid to have leaders? should we have leaders?).
It was mind boggeling in someways-----in others simply refreshing.
Many of my coworkers in InterVarsity had their first ah-ha moment of faith and biggest conversion moment in their faith-life thus-far mediated by interactions with InterVarsity. Thus, they find themself where they are. However, for myself, I think it was through the leading, listening and inquiry skills I learned in part from InterVarsity that I found the New Monastic (www.newmonasticism.org) religious movement--that changed my life, faith, and future forever. I come back to this place (camden especially) to be renewed and reminded of who I am in Jesus and what I hope and pray my life will be about.
The 3rd weekend in February I ventured up to Philadelphia/Camden area with one of my good friends and mentors, Brian Lewis of Common Ground community in Shreveport, LA (www.lvoe.org). I drove up with Brian's friend Drew, a seminary student in the DC area I was pleased to meet and get to know over the weekend.
We got up to Philadelphia and went directly to the Simple Way's Potter Street location in the Kensington neighborhood of North Philadelphia. I was immediately struck by the enclosed, tight nature of the streets around that area of the city. It contrasts dramatically to Center City's wide boulevards and expansive skyscrapers. The tiny row houses were only footsteps from those across the street---community seemed inherent in this kind of set up. Even our close location to our neighbors in DC is nothing like this.
The whole weekend was a series of meeting interesting people. The entire new monastic movement is full of all kinds of characters, Christian anarchists, lots of vegans, lots of dreadlocks and a lot of smokers even. When you really respect a person or a group of people you can more easily accept and believe what they state to be true about the world. Possibly this is a very post-modern trait about me. Regardless, I find myself really immersed in this crowd of people, learning from all kinds of things---from how people greet one another, what they eat, what kind of Bible study we do.....it's all very enlightening....I'm essentially eating it all up.
Friday evening was a big potluck dinner and a worship service by the Psalters (http://www.psalters.com/). Saturday consisted of a lot of round-group discussions. First we did bible study on Matthew 18 followed by group discussions on race in community, gender and God-image (how do we imagine God--mother God?), and power and authority in community (are we afraid to have leaders? should we have leaders?).
It was mind boggeling in someways-----in others simply refreshing.
Many of my coworkers in InterVarsity had their first ah-ha moment of faith and biggest conversion moment in their faith-life thus-far mediated by interactions with InterVarsity. Thus, they find themself where they are. However, for myself, I think it was through the leading, listening and inquiry skills I learned in part from InterVarsity that I found the New Monastic (www.newmonasticism.org) religious movement--that changed my life, faith, and future forever. I come back to this place (camden especially) to be renewed and reminded of who I am in Jesus and what I hope and pray my life will be about.
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