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.
Thursday, February 14, 2008
Thrill of the Chaste
So as with most of my writing, I document themes in my life. I believe God puts a lot of things together in my life---all point towards the same genre, idea, or theme for two reasons. One, I get a very interdisciplinary, diverse education on any given topic--quite liberal arts of the Lord! Two, to get a point home--after hearing similar messages for weeks, I start to pay attention and learn something.
So for my inevitable Valentine's Day post, I've had a few diverse instances come together. One, Valentine's Day is today. Last night Georgetown sponsored a talk by Dawn Eden, a catholic author who wrote the Thrill of the Chaste, a book I actually read in one sitting during a rainy day visiting a friend in Philadelphia. In some ways it's your quintessential Christian sex and dating book, with some conservative by some people's view's stances. But she appeared to be an edgy individual--so I read it. And when I heard she was coming to campus I went.
The talk was good--she talked about her own life, living from relationship to relationship with different men to finding God later in life and then even later "becoming chaste." She talked about chastity being different from abstinence--because being chaste is about more than just our outward, moral sexual behavior but about our whole being, our thought life and our attitude towards others (Jesus said one who looks at a woman with lust has already committed it in his heart! yikes!).
I went with several of my students and we stayed afterwards for the round-table discussion. Being a catholic, much of what we talked about in the group was contraception and the catholic church's stance on birth control, condoms, etc. A few people joined the group who were more sexually experienced than my students--and they carried the conversation--it is always good to be exposed to the diverse people on this campus! This even had me watching the women dropping kids off at the elementary school I volunteer with--I didn't see any mothers today with rings on their hands. Pregnancy outside of wedlock is commonplace in my neighborhood.
In response to last night's talk, I met with my bible study co-leader, a sophomore this morning. Each Thursday morning we meet for about an hour and do some form of "creative prayer." Two weeks ago we prayer-walked (prayed for people and buildings, ideas we saw), last week we prayed specifically for the girls in our group. This morning we decided to pray for women on campus. Leading a women's bible study, we are often engaging some of the difficult issues of being a woman on campus (ambition, relationships, friendships, body image, among many!).
Rather than just focusing on people we knew, we decided to think of all kinds of women on campus. I brought crayons, a magazine and some glue. We created collages while praying and celebrating many of the services and organizations on campus that serve women's needs on campus. We prayed for the pro-life and pro-choice groups. We prayed for girls in abusive relationships, dealing with eating disorders, and cliques on their halls. I created a word picture surrounding the verse "charm is deceptive, beauty is fleeting...but a woman who fears the Lord is to be praised (Proverbs 31)."
In our small group this semester we're studying the book of Ruth. Last week's bible study we got to compare Ruth and Naomi a lot. In the story, Naomi is an older woman who has recently become a widow. Ruth, her daughter-in-law has also been widowed. Ruth, rather than going home to her own family, decided to go with Naomi back to Naomi's hometown, tying their fates together. We talked about how Naomi renames herself "Mara"--meaning "bitter." But God had such a plan for Naomi! He places a person like Ruth in her life to encourage, strength, and provide for her! We then thought a lot about when we were acting as Naomi, bitter towards God, thinking he afflicted us....and when we could seek to act like Ruth for others in our lives. How women can encourage and love one another!
So all of these things came together, thinking about women on campus, difficult issues in relating to other women and men--along with the "thrill"--and sometimes pressure of Valentine's day!
Pray for the women of Georgetown and Washington, DC!
So for my inevitable Valentine's Day post, I've had a few diverse instances come together. One, Valentine's Day is today. Last night Georgetown sponsored a talk by Dawn Eden, a catholic author who wrote the Thrill of the Chaste, a book I actually read in one sitting during a rainy day visiting a friend in Philadelphia. In some ways it's your quintessential Christian sex and dating book, with some conservative by some people's view's stances. But she appeared to be an edgy individual--so I read it. And when I heard she was coming to campus I went.
The talk was good--she talked about her own life, living from relationship to relationship with different men to finding God later in life and then even later "becoming chaste." She talked about chastity being different from abstinence--because being chaste is about more than just our outward, moral sexual behavior but about our whole being, our thought life and our attitude towards others (Jesus said one who looks at a woman with lust has already committed it in his heart! yikes!).
I went with several of my students and we stayed afterwards for the round-table discussion. Being a catholic, much of what we talked about in the group was contraception and the catholic church's stance on birth control, condoms, etc. A few people joined the group who were more sexually experienced than my students--and they carried the conversation--it is always good to be exposed to the diverse people on this campus! This even had me watching the women dropping kids off at the elementary school I volunteer with--I didn't see any mothers today with rings on their hands. Pregnancy outside of wedlock is commonplace in my neighborhood.
In response to last night's talk, I met with my bible study co-leader, a sophomore this morning. Each Thursday morning we meet for about an hour and do some form of "creative prayer." Two weeks ago we prayer-walked (prayed for people and buildings, ideas we saw), last week we prayed specifically for the girls in our group. This morning we decided to pray for women on campus. Leading a women's bible study, we are often engaging some of the difficult issues of being a woman on campus (ambition, relationships, friendships, body image, among many!).
Rather than just focusing on people we knew, we decided to think of all kinds of women on campus. I brought crayons, a magazine and some glue. We created collages while praying and celebrating many of the services and organizations on campus that serve women's needs on campus. We prayed for the pro-life and pro-choice groups. We prayed for girls in abusive relationships, dealing with eating disorders, and cliques on their halls. I created a word picture surrounding the verse "charm is deceptive, beauty is fleeting...but a woman who fears the Lord is to be praised (Proverbs 31)."
In our small group this semester we're studying the book of Ruth. Last week's bible study we got to compare Ruth and Naomi a lot. In the story, Naomi is an older woman who has recently become a widow. Ruth, her daughter-in-law has also been widowed. Ruth, rather than going home to her own family, decided to go with Naomi back to Naomi's hometown, tying their fates together. We talked about how Naomi renames herself "Mara"--meaning "bitter." But God had such a plan for Naomi! He places a person like Ruth in her life to encourage, strength, and provide for her! We then thought a lot about when we were acting as Naomi, bitter towards God, thinking he afflicted us....and when we could seek to act like Ruth for others in our lives. How women can encourage and love one another!
So all of these things came together, thinking about women on campus, difficult issues in relating to other women and men--along with the "thrill"--and sometimes pressure of Valentine's day!
Pray for the women of Georgetown and Washington, DC!
Wednesday, February 13, 2008
End of an Era
I spent this past weekend visiting my brother and friends back at William and Mary.
The campus was all abuzz about the president's possible termination. He's been a controversial figure, making several moves to diversify the campus. An article: http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/story/2008/02/12/ST2008021201428.html
But the students love him. Maybe not all--but for sure a majority. I wonder what will become of the campus now that the students are in some ways revolting---walk outs on classes by students and faculty, vigils, t-shirts and I heart nichol buttons everywhere.
How will anyone else anytime soon become the president of this place?
William and Mary loved of old......hark upon the gale.
The campus was all abuzz about the president's possible termination. He's been a controversial figure, making several moves to diversify the campus. An article: http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/story/2008/02/12/ST2008021201428.html
But the students love him. Maybe not all--but for sure a majority. I wonder what will become of the campus now that the students are in some ways revolting---walk outs on classes by students and faculty, vigils, t-shirts and I heart nichol buttons everywhere.
How will anyone else anytime soon become the president of this place?
William and Mary loved of old......hark upon the gale.
Wednesday, February 06, 2008
Buy Nothing Lent
This year for lent our InterVarsity group at Georgetown challenged each other to try to "buy nothing"--meaning to cut out all unnecessary spending.
Situated in a city, especially an area like Georgetown, our students are bombarded by opportunities to go out to eat, buy new clothing, or pay for movies or other entertainment. My coworker and I spoke at large group last night, challenging the students--even if they didn't think they were addicted to money or stuff, often using these things to fill the emptiness in our lives--they should still consider taking a step back "just to find out."
We framed it as choices--choosing to bring your own water rather than always buying coffee, going to the dining hall rather that out, playing a game at home rather than out to a movie.
We began the talk by considering how much the Bible talks about money (the 2nd most frequently mentioned topic next to love!). Next we went into how scripture over and over reveals how the money we have in our wallets--is not ours, our parents, our families--but in fact God's. This is a hard concept to grasp. Where are his holy wallets?
It can be deceiving when we work jobs and "earn" our keep/worth and then take home our wages.
After this I led the students in a prayer exercise where I spoke out phrases and questions and gave people a few moments to think and pray. Some examples:
When did I last buy something? What was it? Did I need it?
Where do I spend most of the money in my care?
Thank God that you are blessed enough to be able to choose where to spend money.
What about my food buying choices—where is there excess? Where am I buying unnecessary snacks or going out rather than doing something less costly?
When do I seek to fill emptiness with stuff—clothing, addictions, food. ---Confess this to God and ask him to come in and fill this space for you.
What do I fear about accepting the call to fast from buying? Can I trust that God will meet me and help me be creative? Especially in dealing with other people?
Ask God how he would have you respond.
God. Do I need to give up one specific thing in my life—buying coffee? Ordering pizza? God, are you asking me to fast from buying completely during lent? Until spring break? For a week?
***It was a great exercise--I think a lot of students committed and will start this 6 week journey of attempting to not spend money. We're in it together--meeting to pray and discuss alternatives. I'll continue to update on what we're all learning abour our relationship with money.
Situated in a city, especially an area like Georgetown, our students are bombarded by opportunities to go out to eat, buy new clothing, or pay for movies or other entertainment. My coworker and I spoke at large group last night, challenging the students--even if they didn't think they were addicted to money or stuff, often using these things to fill the emptiness in our lives--they should still consider taking a step back "just to find out."
We framed it as choices--choosing to bring your own water rather than always buying coffee, going to the dining hall rather that out, playing a game at home rather than out to a movie.
We began the talk by considering how much the Bible talks about money (the 2nd most frequently mentioned topic next to love!). Next we went into how scripture over and over reveals how the money we have in our wallets--is not ours, our parents, our families--but in fact God's. This is a hard concept to grasp. Where are his holy wallets?
It can be deceiving when we work jobs and "earn" our keep/worth and then take home our wages.
After this I led the students in a prayer exercise where I spoke out phrases and questions and gave people a few moments to think and pray. Some examples:
When did I last buy something? What was it? Did I need it?
Where do I spend most of the money in my care?
Thank God that you are blessed enough to be able to choose where to spend money.
What about my food buying choices—where is there excess? Where am I buying unnecessary snacks or going out rather than doing something less costly?
When do I seek to fill emptiness with stuff—clothing, addictions, food. ---Confess this to God and ask him to come in and fill this space for you.
What do I fear about accepting the call to fast from buying? Can I trust that God will meet me and help me be creative? Especially in dealing with other people?
Ask God how he would have you respond.
God. Do I need to give up one specific thing in my life—buying coffee? Ordering pizza? God, are you asking me to fast from buying completely during lent? Until spring break? For a week?
***It was a great exercise--I think a lot of students committed and will start this 6 week journey of attempting to not spend money. We're in it together--meeting to pray and discuss alternatives. I'll continue to update on what we're all learning abour our relationship with money.
Tuesday, January 29, 2008
My church
I've been attending a gospel Catholic church in my neighborhood. I really enjoy the service, the music is great and the message often has some kind of tie-in or application to issues facing the area. Once the priest actually asked people to raise hands to attend a meeting on development affecting the neighborhood!
This week I met people for the first time--and got invited to join the young adult choir!
Here are some pictures from the church.
It's called St Teresa's of Avila. My mother especially liked the picture of the black Jesus above the altar.
Saturday, January 19, 2008
Gracism: inclusion and love
I often write in someway inspired by a book I've read. It helps me summarize and think through the book.
This book I'm still thinking through, this may just be a way for me to remember key points to myself...so bear with me if it's therefore boring.
Gracism: the Art of Inclusion by Anderson
This book says what if we combined the terms grace and racism--we'd get gracism. When trying to combat racism in society, as Christians we bring the grace of Christ into a situation, looking to include the person who might otherwise be left out.
Sometimes this has to do with race--sometimes it's martial status (like when I'm the only single person at the IV christmas party....) or gender or some other factor that might leave an individual feeling left out in any given situation.
I was excited by the book's emphasis on how we can give people places of honor and concern in many situations--to me if parallels some of the themes of "Love is the Killer App"--saying that rather than erring on the side of giving/loving/sharing less we as Christ lovers should err on the side of giving/loving/sharing more, even when it's uncomfortable--and sometimes when it can be controversial. Choosing to operate on the abundancy, gracious side of God is something I'm learning to do daily.
Seven Sayings of a Gracist:
1. "Special Honor"--lifting up the humble among us. I will lift you up.
2. "Special Modesty"--protecting the most vulnerable among us from embarrassment. I will cover you.
3. "No special treatment"--refusing to accept special treatment if is is at the detriment of others who need it. I will share with you.
4. "Greater Honor"--God, as a gracist, has given greater honor to the humble. I will honor you. 5. "No division"--when the majority helps the minority and the stronger helps the weaker (gracism), it keeps us from division within the body (an opposite view than normal). I will stand with you.
6. "Equal Concern"--having a heart as big for our neighbors as we do for oursleves. I will consider you.
7. "Rejoices with it"--when the humble, or less honorable, are helped, we are to rejoice with them. (It's easier to weep with those who weep than to rejoice with those who rejoice). I will celebrate with you.
Some quotes I liked:
"wouldn't it be great if our natural reaction and impulse was to include rather than exclude?"
instead of an "us versus them" mentality--choosing an "us" mentality--us, we're in this together.
This book I'm still thinking through, this may just be a way for me to remember key points to myself...so bear with me if it's therefore boring.
Gracism: the Art of Inclusion by Anderson
This book says what if we combined the terms grace and racism--we'd get gracism. When trying to combat racism in society, as Christians we bring the grace of Christ into a situation, looking to include the person who might otherwise be left out.
Sometimes this has to do with race--sometimes it's martial status (like when I'm the only single person at the IV christmas party....) or gender or some other factor that might leave an individual feeling left out in any given situation.
I was excited by the book's emphasis on how we can give people places of honor and concern in many situations--to me if parallels some of the themes of "Love is the Killer App"--saying that rather than erring on the side of giving/loving/sharing less we as Christ lovers should err on the side of giving/loving/sharing more, even when it's uncomfortable--and sometimes when it can be controversial. Choosing to operate on the abundancy, gracious side of God is something I'm learning to do daily.
Seven Sayings of a Gracist:
1. "Special Honor"--lifting up the humble among us. I will lift you up.
2. "Special Modesty"--protecting the most vulnerable among us from embarrassment. I will cover you.
3. "No special treatment"--refusing to accept special treatment if is is at the detriment of others who need it. I will share with you.
4. "Greater Honor"--God, as a gracist, has given greater honor to the humble. I will honor you. 5. "No division"--when the majority helps the minority and the stronger helps the weaker (gracism), it keeps us from division within the body (an opposite view than normal). I will stand with you.
6. "Equal Concern"--having a heart as big for our neighbors as we do for oursleves. I will consider you.
7. "Rejoices with it"--when the humble, or less honorable, are helped, we are to rejoice with them. (It's easier to weep with those who weep than to rejoice with those who rejoice). I will celebrate with you.
Some quotes I liked:
"wouldn't it be great if our natural reaction and impulse was to include rather than exclude?"
instead of an "us versus them" mentality--choosing an "us" mentality--us, we're in this together.
Friday, January 18, 2008
It's ok
This is a short thought.
But recently I've been thinking alot about how we phrase forgiveness.
Often we have a tendency to say to those around you "it's ok" or "don't worry about it"....hoping to forget the wrong.
Why don't we say "will you forgive me?" or "I forgive you" as the response. To me that seems to take much more commitment--it's a little riskier and scary to me to actually say the word forgiveness---it acknowledges that there was a sin, a wrong done.
When we go on just saying it's ok all the time we tend to start to forget that wrong has been done, that we do live in a world of sin where we wrong others all the time.
I'm going to try to challenge myself to use the language of sin and forgiveness more--willing to acknowledge the wrongs I do rather than just hope myself and others can forget about them.
But recently I've been thinking alot about how we phrase forgiveness.
Often we have a tendency to say to those around you "it's ok" or "don't worry about it"....hoping to forget the wrong.
Why don't we say "will you forgive me?" or "I forgive you" as the response. To me that seems to take much more commitment--it's a little riskier and scary to me to actually say the word forgiveness---it acknowledges that there was a sin, a wrong done.
When we go on just saying it's ok all the time we tend to start to forget that wrong has been done, that we do live in a world of sin where we wrong others all the time.
I'm going to try to challenge myself to use the language of sin and forgiveness more--willing to acknowledge the wrongs I do rather than just hope myself and others can forget about them.
Sunday, January 13, 2008
Noon on Tuesday
I realize some of my reader-ship may be a bit scandelized by this post--but bear with me.
As I visited many of you in Texas I talked about how one of my greatest personal needs right now is friendship. And to some I probably related that I had by chance (and you know I don't believe in chance per-se) run into and befriended a member of my old 3rd grade elementary class from Princeton, NJ.
This friend is a a bartender in Eastern Market, a "hip" section of town that's actually close to where I live! We've begun to spend time together quite frequently.
I joke that with the hours in my job I need friends that are "free at noon on a Tuesday,"--only we odd-job types, the ministers and restaurant folk seem to fit the bill. Working nights and weekends can do a toll on your social life.
Little did I remember that this "noon on a Tuesday" is a friendly reference to a Sheryl Crow song "I just wanna have some Fun"--"We are drinking beer at noon on Tuesday," where she talks about watching the working folk wash their cars and do socially acceptable things while she and her friend sit by. I sometimes feel that way about the scheduling and off-nature of my life.
But back to this friend. I'm very thankful for having him in my life. I think we both can suffer from a little loneliness--so it's nice to have someone who lives close--and is likely free. Even this weekend, I went with one of my girlfriends from college to his bar Friday night--and this afternoon I skated at the Sculpture Garden where his second job is a rink guard.
Most of my friends live in suburban Virginia--this aftenoon I took all of 2 hours out to see him and back--whereas getting out to my other friends might take that time alone.
I've been thinking about this friend also in relation to my ministry at Georgetown. We encourage the students we spend time with to think about how they can share Jesus with their friends and love their friends who aren't Christians (some call it evangelism, touchy subject and I have a hard time articulating--so hope I don't offend with my language).
But at a leadership meeting on Saturday I asked each member of the team to think of one friend in their life who didn't know God--who they'd like to see know God. We did this exercise then called "Glimpses of the Gospel" where we thought about our friend, prayed for them and considered how God was already working in their lives---considering what kind of gospel values and pieces of Jesus we saw in them.
As the staff person, of course I participated and talked about my elementary school friend. I talked about his generosity and inclusivity--he's very friendly, of course and sharing as a bartender. He's befriended a local homeless man---who now I've met as well who comes in during happy hour. He listens to his stories and treats him with dignity and respect. Christ did that---he treated the poor as people worthy of love and consideration.
We finished by praying for each other's friends--and considering how we can continue to be praying for each other's friends.
It was exciting for me even today, skating around the Mall on a Sunday afternoon, watching my friend then attending someone who'd fallen and had a serious injury on the ice, to be able to pray for him and watch God work in his life. Pray for my friend!
As I visited many of you in Texas I talked about how one of my greatest personal needs right now is friendship. And to some I probably related that I had by chance (and you know I don't believe in chance per-se) run into and befriended a member of my old 3rd grade elementary class from Princeton, NJ.
This friend is a a bartender in Eastern Market, a "hip" section of town that's actually close to where I live! We've begun to spend time together quite frequently.
I joke that with the hours in my job I need friends that are "free at noon on a Tuesday,"--only we odd-job types, the ministers and restaurant folk seem to fit the bill. Working nights and weekends can do a toll on your social life.
Little did I remember that this "noon on a Tuesday" is a friendly reference to a Sheryl Crow song "I just wanna have some Fun"--"We are drinking beer at noon on Tuesday," where she talks about watching the working folk wash their cars and do socially acceptable things while she and her friend sit by. I sometimes feel that way about the scheduling and off-nature of my life.
But back to this friend. I'm very thankful for having him in my life. I think we both can suffer from a little loneliness--so it's nice to have someone who lives close--and is likely free. Even this weekend, I went with one of my girlfriends from college to his bar Friday night--and this afternoon I skated at the Sculpture Garden where his second job is a rink guard.
Most of my friends live in suburban Virginia--this aftenoon I took all of 2 hours out to see him and back--whereas getting out to my other friends might take that time alone.
I've been thinking about this friend also in relation to my ministry at Georgetown. We encourage the students we spend time with to think about how they can share Jesus with their friends and love their friends who aren't Christians (some call it evangelism, touchy subject and I have a hard time articulating--so hope I don't offend with my language).
But at a leadership meeting on Saturday I asked each member of the team to think of one friend in their life who didn't know God--who they'd like to see know God. We did this exercise then called "Glimpses of the Gospel" where we thought about our friend, prayed for them and considered how God was already working in their lives---considering what kind of gospel values and pieces of Jesus we saw in them.
As the staff person, of course I participated and talked about my elementary school friend. I talked about his generosity and inclusivity--he's very friendly, of course and sharing as a bartender. He's befriended a local homeless man---who now I've met as well who comes in during happy hour. He listens to his stories and treats him with dignity and respect. Christ did that---he treated the poor as people worthy of love and consideration.
We finished by praying for each other's friends--and considering how we can continue to be praying for each other's friends.
It was exciting for me even today, skating around the Mall on a Sunday afternoon, watching my friend then attending someone who'd fallen and had a serious injury on the ice, to be able to pray for him and watch God work in his life. Pray for my friend!
Thursday, January 10, 2008
Waiting to Live your Life?
I work with college students. College is supposed to be a time of learning and training--for our future careers right?
But what if we also looked at this time our lives as a time for living....not just preparing to live later? I think many people--over all of their lives fall into the "next thing" trap--I remember a poem I got from my high school senior year english teacher called "the odyssey" expressing this idea. It challenged us to not live waiting for life to come--the next job, when we had kids, when we took a vacation--because then life would pass us by! Such a simple concept--but how I see myself and those around me falling into this trap of living in the future.
It's similar to a parable in he bible--the one with the "talents" where a master leaves servants to care for his money--each receiving 1,5, and 10 talents. The one who receives one talent buries it--at least it will be there with the master gets back! The others take a risk and bring back multiples of what was given to them. I'd usually use this as an example of "blessed to be a blessing"--but I think it has some lessons about wasted potential.
I see the same thing often on Georgetown's campus. Some of the world's best and brightest come to spend four years there--for many, thinking they're preparing for a lifetime of service--service in health, in politics, in education. But a challenge I always want to pose to them--what about if they started trying to serve now? Not just wait until after graduation to think about serving the poor, or changing their spending habits. If they plan to one day be able to wake up and selflessly attend to the needs of those around them--in a slum, a hospital, or the political arena---what kind of practices are they developing now?
We all know we can't just one day wake up and be able to pray intimately to God for hours on end if we haven't been developing spiritual disciples of praying, reading our bibles and knowing God for time before that (hard example--know there could be exceptions!).
Similarly--if we want to be living as Christian people, loving the poor and lame--how are we doing loving our neighbor--in a dorm? a worker at the cafeteria? Our friend who is depressed? The needy are not always this "other" far away on the other side of the globe.
He who is faithful with the little will be faithful with the big.
Let's start practicing with the little bit in front of us now---rather than dreaming of the big that we will encounter "someday."
But what if we also looked at this time our lives as a time for living....not just preparing to live later? I think many people--over all of their lives fall into the "next thing" trap--I remember a poem I got from my high school senior year english teacher called "the odyssey" expressing this idea. It challenged us to not live waiting for life to come--the next job, when we had kids, when we took a vacation--because then life would pass us by! Such a simple concept--but how I see myself and those around me falling into this trap of living in the future.
It's similar to a parable in he bible--the one with the "talents" where a master leaves servants to care for his money--each receiving 1,5, and 10 talents. The one who receives one talent buries it--at least it will be there with the master gets back! The others take a risk and bring back multiples of what was given to them. I'd usually use this as an example of "blessed to be a blessing"--but I think it has some lessons about wasted potential.
I see the same thing often on Georgetown's campus. Some of the world's best and brightest come to spend four years there--for many, thinking they're preparing for a lifetime of service--service in health, in politics, in education. But a challenge I always want to pose to them--what about if they started trying to serve now? Not just wait until after graduation to think about serving the poor, or changing their spending habits. If they plan to one day be able to wake up and selflessly attend to the needs of those around them--in a slum, a hospital, or the political arena---what kind of practices are they developing now?
We all know we can't just one day wake up and be able to pray intimately to God for hours on end if we haven't been developing spiritual disciples of praying, reading our bibles and knowing God for time before that (hard example--know there could be exceptions!).
Similarly--if we want to be living as Christian people, loving the poor and lame--how are we doing loving our neighbor--in a dorm? a worker at the cafeteria? Our friend who is depressed? The needy are not always this "other" far away on the other side of the globe.
He who is faithful with the little will be faithful with the big.
Let's start practicing with the little bit in front of us now---rather than dreaming of the big that we will encounter "someday."
Monday, January 07, 2008
InterVarsity Staff Conference 2008
I just got back from a 5 day all-InterVarsity staff conference in St Louis Missouri.
There are about 1,200 people on InterVarsity staff--from people working at the national service center in Wisconsin, people working for InterVarsity press and people working at the more than 550 campuses where InterVarsity exists in the United States and Internationally with the ministry called LINK.
Every 3 years all InterVarsity staff gather for encouragement, prayer and teaching.
Some highlights:
-hearing again the history of InterVarsity as a movement, entering the US about 1940 until now where our ministry is at more US campuses than any other.
-hearing the "field intiatives" for 2004: growth, evangelism, leadership development, fund development, alumni, and multiethnicity. These 6 commitments are a good eye into the core values of InterVarsity.
-seminars on recapturing student-led ministry where the leader challenged us to think is our ministry more about seeing InterVarsity be programatically perfect or about being good stewards of the leadership development of our students?
He challenged us saying are you living as more: chapter program keeper-together?
loose end tier-upper?
Large group coordinator? Small group coordinator?
Fire fighter?
Keeper of the secret vision?
Or would we rather be: discipler, counselor, scripture teacher, shepherd, minister to campus, vision-caster, model to students for witness, leader builder, empowerer.
***In this model, our end goal is to strengthen churches, Christian communities and turn out graduates who know how to lead!
*Another Seminar on "recruiting male students" that went well with the seminar I went on experiential learning.
--A challenging question here: Is InterVarsity's understanding of the gospel big enough to love Alpha males? we talked alot about the alpha male personality, how to create space for and empower these natural leaders who can sometimes be arrogant and pushy.
--We also talked alot about visual and kinestetic learning styles and how men responded better to visual aides or getting up and doing something--especially in response to a message. This is something I want to be thinking about more!
--suggested taking any opportunity to create competition, make spirituality fun
Other things:
-getting to meet IV gurus on urban and international mission
-meeting someone who will be moving to DC to help expand our urban missions there next year
-the single staff gathering!--actually was done pretty well, basically mixer games.
Good time of renewal and refocusing.
There are about 1,200 people on InterVarsity staff--from people working at the national service center in Wisconsin, people working for InterVarsity press and people working at the more than 550 campuses where InterVarsity exists in the United States and Internationally with the ministry called LINK.
Every 3 years all InterVarsity staff gather for encouragement, prayer and teaching.
Some highlights:
-hearing again the history of InterVarsity as a movement, entering the US about 1940 until now where our ministry is at more US campuses than any other.
-hearing the "field intiatives" for 2004: growth, evangelism, leadership development, fund development, alumni, and multiethnicity. These 6 commitments are a good eye into the core values of InterVarsity.
-seminars on recapturing student-led ministry where the leader challenged us to think is our ministry more about seeing InterVarsity be programatically perfect or about being good stewards of the leadership development of our students?
He challenged us saying are you living as more: chapter program keeper-together?
loose end tier-upper?
Large group coordinator? Small group coordinator?
Fire fighter?
Keeper of the secret vision?
Or would we rather be: discipler, counselor, scripture teacher, shepherd, minister to campus, vision-caster, model to students for witness, leader builder, empowerer.
***In this model, our end goal is to strengthen churches, Christian communities and turn out graduates who know how to lead!
*Another Seminar on "recruiting male students" that went well with the seminar I went on experiential learning.
--A challenging question here: Is InterVarsity's understanding of the gospel big enough to love Alpha males? we talked alot about the alpha male personality, how to create space for and empower these natural leaders who can sometimes be arrogant and pushy.
--We also talked alot about visual and kinestetic learning styles and how men responded better to visual aides or getting up and doing something--especially in response to a message. This is something I want to be thinking about more!
--suggested taking any opportunity to create competition, make spirituality fun
Other things:
-getting to meet IV gurus on urban and international mission
-meeting someone who will be moving to DC to help expand our urban missions there next year
-the single staff gathering!--actually was done pretty well, basically mixer games.
Good time of renewal and refocusing.
Friday, December 28, 2007
Church Hunt
In earlier posts I've said that I've actually found two churches in DC--I split my time between two congregations--an gospel-style Catholic congregation in Anacostia and a non-denominational, contemporary congregation that meets in movie theaters near Georgetown University.
While this is true--when I'm back in Southlake at White's Chapel I'm struck with how not "mine" these churches--and the church I went to in college was.
Will I ever be able to really be involved in the community of a congregation like that again? Especially now that I'm in a ministerial occupation--I feel so stretched thin, especially when it comes to ability and free time to lead evening or weekend activities.
But being home, I think about how my family has really invested in the life of our home church--for one we've been going there since I was 10 years old--soon to be 13 years. We went to Sunday school, did Vacation bible school, I was an accolyte, I worked in the church nursery, was the receptionist for awhile, active in the youth group, mission trips, my mom teaches Sunday School, my dad's a communion server, my mom's in the choir, we usher and serve communion. While there are certainly more visible, involved families--a large portion of our life's energy goes into that place. Even when things happen there we don't like (as will happen in any church situation)--we don't leave, we commit to being part of the change.
But getting to that place took a lot of energy. Maybe it's because we were a family--my parents worked on a generally 9-5 schedule, making them available for weekend and evening functions. They didn't get this involved in a church until they started having kids--it's a place for kids to grow up in (that's a whole other blog topic on what we go to church expecting to "receive"--but for another day). But I don't want to be someone who doesn't commit to a church significantly until I have children--that could be over 10 years!
But I see myself caught in a difficult place--I want to know people at church. I want to have the time to do that first.
But also I want to know that I've chosen the place I want to settle down and commit to sticking through difficult times, being part of the change again. But now, when I go to two congregations--and really have no friends in either--it's difficult to think I'm in a great place ot start making those decisions.
But then given my job--working nights, being gone weekends and long school breaks--will this ever happen? It speaks to larger issues of having trouble getting involved really anywhere or making new friends or even getting to know my housemates.
-But really my job effects my choice in church in more than a scheduling dillema. This is where I'd start to take issue with someone who is so thoroughly convinced that InterVarsity is not a church--it is a gathering, a body of believers. And I am appointed to help shepherd this part of God's flock. Or something like that.
And beyond that I'm heavily involved in a community--the community of my house--and the larger network of DC area community homes. I see that really as my church congregation if anything--I have leadership and contribution there--but it's not a formal organization, there's not a weekly meeting in a specific building.
It's somewhat like a relationship--you have to commit and see it through. At this stage it looks like a lot of time and alot of work--and when I can see some of the later stages (my church in southlake)--it's hard to remember what the beginning was like....
But still I have trouble when pondering how this fits in with my parachurch job and community living?
Please comment! email! anything!
While this is true--when I'm back in Southlake at White's Chapel I'm struck with how not "mine" these churches--and the church I went to in college was.
Will I ever be able to really be involved in the community of a congregation like that again? Especially now that I'm in a ministerial occupation--I feel so stretched thin, especially when it comes to ability and free time to lead evening or weekend activities.
But being home, I think about how my family has really invested in the life of our home church--for one we've been going there since I was 10 years old--soon to be 13 years. We went to Sunday school, did Vacation bible school, I was an accolyte, I worked in the church nursery, was the receptionist for awhile, active in the youth group, mission trips, my mom teaches Sunday School, my dad's a communion server, my mom's in the choir, we usher and serve communion. While there are certainly more visible, involved families--a large portion of our life's energy goes into that place. Even when things happen there we don't like (as will happen in any church situation)--we don't leave, we commit to being part of the change.
But getting to that place took a lot of energy. Maybe it's because we were a family--my parents worked on a generally 9-5 schedule, making them available for weekend and evening functions. They didn't get this involved in a church until they started having kids--it's a place for kids to grow up in (that's a whole other blog topic on what we go to church expecting to "receive"--but for another day). But I don't want to be someone who doesn't commit to a church significantly until I have children--that could be over 10 years!
But I see myself caught in a difficult place--I want to know people at church. I want to have the time to do that first.
But also I want to know that I've chosen the place I want to settle down and commit to sticking through difficult times, being part of the change again. But now, when I go to two congregations--and really have no friends in either--it's difficult to think I'm in a great place ot start making those decisions.
But then given my job--working nights, being gone weekends and long school breaks--will this ever happen? It speaks to larger issues of having trouble getting involved really anywhere or making new friends or even getting to know my housemates.
-But really my job effects my choice in church in more than a scheduling dillema. This is where I'd start to take issue with someone who is so thoroughly convinced that InterVarsity is not a church--it is a gathering, a body of believers. And I am appointed to help shepherd this part of God's flock. Or something like that.
And beyond that I'm heavily involved in a community--the community of my house--and the larger network of DC area community homes. I see that really as my church congregation if anything--I have leadership and contribution there--but it's not a formal organization, there's not a weekly meeting in a specific building.
It's somewhat like a relationship--you have to commit and see it through. At this stage it looks like a lot of time and alot of work--and when I can see some of the later stages (my church in southlake)--it's hard to remember what the beginning was like....
But still I have trouble when pondering how this fits in with my parachurch job and community living?
Please comment! email! anything!
Saturday, December 22, 2007
Sharing Stories
I'm back in Texas now, having ended my first semester as InterVarsity staff at Georgetown University.
Being at home so early in the holiday seasons, I've taken most of this past week to devote to visiting donors who helped get me "on the field" in DC.
I spend most of the day making candy and cookies to bring people people and then about 4:30pm set out in the car to visit people all around town!
It's been an awesome week--going around sharing stories of the semester.
I get to talk about the bible studies I'm a part of, how i've gotten to help out at the elementary school down the street, share the struggles of life transition, answer questions off of my blog or emails, have people pray for my spiritual development and ministry.
But actually my favorite part of the whole things has been hearing other people's stories.
I wonder sometimes if it's the title of my job as a "religious" profession that allows people the license to talk about God in a more explicit way than they would otherwise--some might say that's just the holy spirit working, opening up two people to hear his presence period.
But regardless, many people I visit take the time to tell me about how God's been impacting their live this year--how they've seen changes in their family, felt God move in dreams, been impacted by encounters in their neighborhood. I've heard about all kinds of mission work as well--an orphanage built in Cambodia, family mission trips to a racially divided town in the deep South.
I sit back sometimes and think that people might look at these visits and think--wait, weren't you supposed to get a "report"--almost financial accountability of what's been going on in the ministry all semester? Sure, I get a chance to do that some--but what really interests me is seeing how God's impacting the lives of people here in Dallas just as much as people in Washington DC.
They say it to us over and over again in InterVarsity training "fundraising is ministry....fundraising is ministry." Sounds like they're right.
Being at home so early in the holiday seasons, I've taken most of this past week to devote to visiting donors who helped get me "on the field" in DC.
I spend most of the day making candy and cookies to bring people people and then about 4:30pm set out in the car to visit people all around town!
It's been an awesome week--going around sharing stories of the semester.
I get to talk about the bible studies I'm a part of, how i've gotten to help out at the elementary school down the street, share the struggles of life transition, answer questions off of my blog or emails, have people pray for my spiritual development and ministry.
But actually my favorite part of the whole things has been hearing other people's stories.
I wonder sometimes if it's the title of my job as a "religious" profession that allows people the license to talk about God in a more explicit way than they would otherwise--some might say that's just the holy spirit working, opening up two people to hear his presence period.
But regardless, many people I visit take the time to tell me about how God's been impacting their live this year--how they've seen changes in their family, felt God move in dreams, been impacted by encounters in their neighborhood. I've heard about all kinds of mission work as well--an orphanage built in Cambodia, family mission trips to a racially divided town in the deep South.
I sit back sometimes and think that people might look at these visits and think--wait, weren't you supposed to get a "report"--almost financial accountability of what's been going on in the ministry all semester? Sure, I get a chance to do that some--but what really interests me is seeing how God's impacting the lives of people here in Dallas just as much as people in Washington DC.
They say it to us over and over again in InterVarsity training "fundraising is ministry....fundraising is ministry." Sounds like they're right.
Wednesday, December 19, 2007
Since I last wrote
Since I last posted, I've done some traveling and made it back to Texas.
My last weekend in DC we had a Georgetown visioning retreat for InterVarsity.
The students looked at a lot of materials, prayed, and found a vision they would get behind for the coming semester. Current goals/vision includes focusing on prayer, increasing student involvment and leadership, and inviting more friends to fellowship events.
It was a very successful day and it is exciting to see them all be happy and energetic about this vision!
After that, I went to a WM alums party at Tom and Sara's apartment, great to reconnect with that crowd!
Sunday after church at St. Theresa's, my local Catholic parish (where the priest is on the board of Sojourners!), I got an interesting visit from some friends of the Catholic volunteers down the street. I classified them as "Christian anarcists"--because of all their anti-politics talk. They want to start a Catholic worker house that serves more as spiritual renewal for those people out "serving in the field" more.
Monday through Wednesday of last week I went to another installment of New Staff Training--this time on New Student populations. We talked about how to expand our InterVarsity chapters to include different kinds of students than we've included in the past.
My coworker and I focused on Catholic students and athletes.
My favorite exercise we talked about looking for "glimpses of the gospel" in the cultures and actions of our student populations. For instance, when talking about trying to include GLBT (gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgendered) students in our fellowships--one staff person talked about admiring the group's willingness to be unashamed in their identity. This is something we would want Christian students to feel more about claiming their faith.
Thursday we had a spring break bible study planning meeting at our house, talking about several sections from Luke.
I left early to volunteer at International Justice Mission (www.ijm.org)'s annual benefit banquet. I got to bring 7 students and friends alongside me. During my time at William and Mary I was heavily involved in a campus chapter of IJM. It was a lot of fun to connect students to some of the people working for IJM and other justice-related careers. One of my students had never heard of IJM before! That was a lot of fun to see her discover it for the first time.
Friday was my last day on campus. Friday evening we had our staff Christmas party.
Early Saturday morning I flew back home to Texas.
Being home has been great.......
Got to attend Nikki's graduation and post-parties.
Lots of time to bake, visit donors and get moderate amounts of sleep. I've found some free-week offerings at local gyms I'm enjoying.
I'm also starting a 4-week "back from college" bible study with students from my home church. This past sunday's first study was well attended and people really enjoyed talking about Jonah 1 and whether they were running from God. Great time!
My last weekend in DC we had a Georgetown visioning retreat for InterVarsity.
The students looked at a lot of materials, prayed, and found a vision they would get behind for the coming semester. Current goals/vision includes focusing on prayer, increasing student involvment and leadership, and inviting more friends to fellowship events.
It was a very successful day and it is exciting to see them all be happy and energetic about this vision!
After that, I went to a WM alums party at Tom and Sara's apartment, great to reconnect with that crowd!
Sunday after church at St. Theresa's, my local Catholic parish (where the priest is on the board of Sojourners!), I got an interesting visit from some friends of the Catholic volunteers down the street. I classified them as "Christian anarcists"--because of all their anti-politics talk. They want to start a Catholic worker house that serves more as spiritual renewal for those people out "serving in the field" more.
Monday through Wednesday of last week I went to another installment of New Staff Training--this time on New Student populations. We talked about how to expand our InterVarsity chapters to include different kinds of students than we've included in the past.
My coworker and I focused on Catholic students and athletes.
My favorite exercise we talked about looking for "glimpses of the gospel" in the cultures and actions of our student populations. For instance, when talking about trying to include GLBT (gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgendered) students in our fellowships--one staff person talked about admiring the group's willingness to be unashamed in their identity. This is something we would want Christian students to feel more about claiming their faith.
Thursday we had a spring break bible study planning meeting at our house, talking about several sections from Luke.
I left early to volunteer at International Justice Mission (www.ijm.org)'s annual benefit banquet. I got to bring 7 students and friends alongside me. During my time at William and Mary I was heavily involved in a campus chapter of IJM. It was a lot of fun to connect students to some of the people working for IJM and other justice-related careers. One of my students had never heard of IJM before! That was a lot of fun to see her discover it for the first time.
Friday was my last day on campus. Friday evening we had our staff Christmas party.
Early Saturday morning I flew back home to Texas.
Being home has been great.......
Got to attend Nikki's graduation and post-parties.
Lots of time to bake, visit donors and get moderate amounts of sleep. I've found some free-week offerings at local gyms I'm enjoying.
I'm also starting a 4-week "back from college" bible study with students from my home church. This past sunday's first study was well attended and people really enjoyed talking about Jonah 1 and whether they were running from God. Great time!
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