Our Campus Minister, and my good friend, Faithe joined Jonathan and I behind the wall today. She was telling us about a book that she is going to have the United Campus Ministry leadership read. It has to do with evangelism and what God has called us to do. She shared that recently at her church there was a speaker about evangelism. There were about 100 people in attendance and he asked them to stand if they had had a major conversion experience. Of the 100, only 4 stood. The point that the speaker made was that most people today aren't having major conversion experiences. It is more of a journey of coming to know Christ.
As Faithe was speaking of the book she shared that she would have enough copies so that I could read one. The book is supposed to be about how to minister as you go. It's supposed to be about relationships and not about calling people out for what they don't believe or sharing the Roman Road or 4 spiritual laws etc.
As our conversation continued, I was reminded of a recent article that I read about witnessing to people of other cultures and faiths. The author said that we are called to be "salt and light" not flashlights or fires. I have truly appreciated this analogy. It reminds me of the experiences that some of my international students had last year. Throughout each month, I would be contacted by various students with a concern. They were often crying because they had been told they were going to hell. What makes it worse is that they were told that their families were going to hell.
Here these students are, far away from home trying to fit in, go to class, make friends, adjust to living arrangements and food. The last thing they need to hear is that they are going to hell. The people that are telling them this are acting as "flashlights or fires." The author of the article I mentioned earlier said that being a flashlight or fire in witnessing is like shining on a person for a moment or a short time. It is like putting a person in the spotlight and showing them all their faults and scaring them into Christianity.
Is this the way that Christ showed us? No, in fact he was light. He remained a constant light. He was salt, a seasoning that helped humankind to be even better. As Christian witnesses we are called to be salt and light. We are called to create friendships and lead by example. We are called to help others. We are not called to shine the light on someones faults, tell them they are wrong, and then leave them.
Are you living as salt and light? Let's commit to not be flashlights or fire.
Thursday, August 28, 2008
Wednesday, August 20, 2008
Undo Me
Tonight was United Campus Ministry night at Campbell. At 7p.m. students gathered in Turner Auditorium for Campus Wide Worship. This was a time to hear scripture, sing songs, pray, and reflect. Each of the seven campus ministry groups on campus participate by leading in the various aspects of the service.
I wanted to attend tonight because of the experience that I had last year at the service. I went into that service knowing that I had been questioning my beliefs and my faith. I had just returned from Egypt and it was in Egypt that I was ready to give up all of my faith in Christ. Yet God spoke to me through a friend. After returning back to the States I had a talk with my good friend Faithe Beam, the Campus Minister. She mentioned that there would be a Campus Wide Worship service and that I should consider attending. I went and kind of just went through the motions. I closed my eyes when someone prayed, I stood to sing, and I listened to the scripture, yet my heart wasn't right. During that service, a Nooma video featuring Rob Bell was shown. The video was entitled Rhythm. While I don't remember the words of the video, I do know that it changed my life. It was about how things go together and about finding faith. While viewing that video, I began to cry. When the service was over, I left there a changed person. I shared this experience with Faithe and we rejoiced together. Because of this experience, I wanted to attend tonight.
I arrived tonight with a heavy heart. I have been working for days on end and not focusing on what is important. Today was my day off and I slept until noon. I went and got a pedicure and bought a new watch. I had some "me" time. Although I felt refreshed from the day off, my heart was still heavy. As the service began, I looked around at the numerous students around me. I was surprised when they clapped after everything, from the singing of songs to the reading of scripture. As I listened to a few testimonies, I was reminded of the world travels that I have been on and the people that I have shared Christ with.
During one of the songs we were singing, I must admit that I stopped singing. I stood there wondering why I was there and figured that I wasn't going to have the same experience that I had last year. And then God spoke. The lyrics to the last hymn were put up on the screen. As I stood there I looked at them realizing that it was my favorite hymn "Come Thou Fount of Every Blessing." I closed my eyes and began to sing the words by heart. This song was played at my ordination and has been a song that I have loved since about the age of 13. After we finished the song, Faithe got on stage and began to speak.
Faithe shared of her experience of turning 40 and Tom and Patrick giving her the chance to go skydiving. She equated the trust that she had to put into her skydiving guide to the trust that we need to have in fellow believers and in God. She gave the imagery of how the guide clipped himself to her to prepare for the jump out of a plane at 14,000 feet, God is clipped onto us. Just like jumping out of a plane and free falling, Faithe was attached to an experienced person that knew what to do. When we take a leap God is holding onto us. Sometimes we forget he is there, but he always is.
When I left the service, I began to think about the lyrics to my favorite hymn. "Come Thou Fount of Every Blessing" was written by Robert Robinson in the 18th century. Robert was just 22 when he penned the words to the hymn. Robert had a pretty interesting life. His father died when Robert was young and so he turned to recklessness and hooliganism. He had a conversion experience when he was listening to a sermon by George Whitefield. He began to repent for his sins and turned his life to following Christ. Robert became a Methodist minister following this.
As I thought of the words to this hymn, I wondered about what Robert must have been dealing with when he wrote the words. If you look up "fount" you will realize that it means"a source or origin." Basically the song says: Come thou source or origin of every blessing. When we sing this song, we are calling upon God to make his presence known, he is the source of our every blessing. In the second verse, Robinson wrote "Here I raise mine Ebenezer." If you look this up online, there are various definitions of it, usually seen as "standard." Ebenezer is also mentioned in the book of Samuel as a place of battle. Basically, the verse means, I'll raise my standard, and I will wait upon the Lord to help me through. The third verse is one that Faithe mentioned in her "talk". It says, "Prone to wander, Lord I feel it. Prone to leave the God I love." We are all going to struggle, we are all going to wander. What's important is that we have faith in God and know that even though we wander, He won't leave us, he won't give up on us.
Reflecting on the words to this hymn made me think about one other song. One of my favorite songs in my early college years was Undo Me by Jennifer Knapp. The chorus of the song says, "And it's time to get down on my knees and pray, Lord undo me. Put away my flesh and bone til you own this spirit through me Lord. Undo me." Tonight I realized that I needed to pray for the Lord to undo me. It's time to be on my knees. It's time to be in prayer. This is no time to give up. This is the time to be undone so that the light shines through.
So I pray, Come thou source of every blessing, tune my heart to sing thy grace.
I wanted to attend tonight because of the experience that I had last year at the service. I went into that service knowing that I had been questioning my beliefs and my faith. I had just returned from Egypt and it was in Egypt that I was ready to give up all of my faith in Christ. Yet God spoke to me through a friend. After returning back to the States I had a talk with my good friend Faithe Beam, the Campus Minister. She mentioned that there would be a Campus Wide Worship service and that I should consider attending. I went and kind of just went through the motions. I closed my eyes when someone prayed, I stood to sing, and I listened to the scripture, yet my heart wasn't right. During that service, a Nooma video featuring Rob Bell was shown. The video was entitled Rhythm. While I don't remember the words of the video, I do know that it changed my life. It was about how things go together and about finding faith. While viewing that video, I began to cry. When the service was over, I left there a changed person. I shared this experience with Faithe and we rejoiced together. Because of this experience, I wanted to attend tonight.
I arrived tonight with a heavy heart. I have been working for days on end and not focusing on what is important. Today was my day off and I slept until noon. I went and got a pedicure and bought a new watch. I had some "me" time. Although I felt refreshed from the day off, my heart was still heavy. As the service began, I looked around at the numerous students around me. I was surprised when they clapped after everything, from the singing of songs to the reading of scripture. As I listened to a few testimonies, I was reminded of the world travels that I have been on and the people that I have shared Christ with.
During one of the songs we were singing, I must admit that I stopped singing. I stood there wondering why I was there and figured that I wasn't going to have the same experience that I had last year. And then God spoke. The lyrics to the last hymn were put up on the screen. As I stood there I looked at them realizing that it was my favorite hymn "Come Thou Fount of Every Blessing." I closed my eyes and began to sing the words by heart. This song was played at my ordination and has been a song that I have loved since about the age of 13. After we finished the song, Faithe got on stage and began to speak.
Faithe shared of her experience of turning 40 and Tom and Patrick giving her the chance to go skydiving. She equated the trust that she had to put into her skydiving guide to the trust that we need to have in fellow believers and in God. She gave the imagery of how the guide clipped himself to her to prepare for the jump out of a plane at 14,000 feet, God is clipped onto us. Just like jumping out of a plane and free falling, Faithe was attached to an experienced person that knew what to do. When we take a leap God is holding onto us. Sometimes we forget he is there, but he always is.
When I left the service, I began to think about the lyrics to my favorite hymn. "Come Thou Fount of Every Blessing" was written by Robert Robinson in the 18th century. Robert was just 22 when he penned the words to the hymn. Robert had a pretty interesting life. His father died when Robert was young and so he turned to recklessness and hooliganism. He had a conversion experience when he was listening to a sermon by George Whitefield. He began to repent for his sins and turned his life to following Christ. Robert became a Methodist minister following this.
As I thought of the words to this hymn, I wondered about what Robert must have been dealing with when he wrote the words. If you look up "fount" you will realize that it means"a source or origin." Basically the song says: Come thou source or origin of every blessing. When we sing this song, we are calling upon God to make his presence known, he is the source of our every blessing. In the second verse, Robinson wrote "Here I raise mine Ebenezer." If you look this up online, there are various definitions of it, usually seen as "standard." Ebenezer is also mentioned in the book of Samuel as a place of battle. Basically, the verse means, I'll raise my standard, and I will wait upon the Lord to help me through. The third verse is one that Faithe mentioned in her "talk". It says, "Prone to wander, Lord I feel it. Prone to leave the God I love." We are all going to struggle, we are all going to wander. What's important is that we have faith in God and know that even though we wander, He won't leave us, he won't give up on us.
Reflecting on the words to this hymn made me think about one other song. One of my favorite songs in my early college years was Undo Me by Jennifer Knapp. The chorus of the song says, "And it's time to get down on my knees and pray, Lord undo me. Put away my flesh and bone til you own this spirit through me Lord. Undo me." Tonight I realized that I needed to pray for the Lord to undo me. It's time to be on my knees. It's time to be in prayer. This is no time to give up. This is the time to be undone so that the light shines through.
So I pray, Come thou source of every blessing, tune my heart to sing thy grace.
Tuesday, August 19, 2008
People Amaze me....
Today was the annual Street Fair at Campbell University. Ashley Shanlever was in charge of this event, and I helped her to plan and carry it out. We work together wonderfully as a team. This year we decided to move the time to 4 to 8p.m. We had over 100 tables filled with vendors, businesses, clubs, and local groups. It was awesome. We mailed out letters in early June inviting people to participate giving them a deadline of July 11 to register. This was so that we could receive a permit from the Fire Marshall for our event. We have to map everything out by number of tables, chairs, and electrical outlets.
By July 11, we had received many forms for groups wanting to participate. However, they continued to come in after the date. We continued to take them until we ran out of tables. We then began to allow groups to sign up to participate if they brought their own table. This didn't seem to be a problem.
However, people amaze me. I was sitting at the registration table when a local youth minister approached the table. She said, "I don't think that I registered." Knowing who she is, I said, "no, you didn't." She said, "Well what do I do?" I replied kindly, "You may secure one of the extra tables here behind me and set it up at the end of the walkway." She made a face and began to grumble. She said, "I can't be under a tree?" I said, "no, you didn't submit a form to participate today." Then she said, "well can't I find an empty table and set up?" I said, "no. There are groups that reserved these tables by July 11 and they will be here soon. I cannot give you their tables." She continued to grumble and walked away. I watched her go and set up her table. About 1 hour later I was amazed to look down and see that she was not in her spot. As I began to walk down fellowship commons, I found her about half-way down. She had taken over a table that was reserved for someone else.
As a person who is seminary trained, one would think that she would reply on time to something she wants to participate in, as well as follow the rules. she did neither. I wanted to slap her... and ask her to move back, but I didn't. To top it all off, she left early. What a way to minister to students.
People continue to amaze me.
By July 11, we had received many forms for groups wanting to participate. However, they continued to come in after the date. We continued to take them until we ran out of tables. We then began to allow groups to sign up to participate if they brought their own table. This didn't seem to be a problem.
However, people amaze me. I was sitting at the registration table when a local youth minister approached the table. She said, "I don't think that I registered." Knowing who she is, I said, "no, you didn't." She said, "Well what do I do?" I replied kindly, "You may secure one of the extra tables here behind me and set it up at the end of the walkway." She made a face and began to grumble. She said, "I can't be under a tree?" I said, "no, you didn't submit a form to participate today." Then she said, "well can't I find an empty table and set up?" I said, "no. There are groups that reserved these tables by July 11 and they will be here soon. I cannot give you their tables." She continued to grumble and walked away. I watched her go and set up her table. About 1 hour later I was amazed to look down and see that she was not in her spot. As I began to walk down fellowship commons, I found her about half-way down. She had taken over a table that was reserved for someone else.
As a person who is seminary trained, one would think that she would reply on time to something she wants to participate in, as well as follow the rules. she did neither. I wanted to slap her... and ask her to move back, but I didn't. To top it all off, she left early. What a way to minister to students.
People continue to amaze me.
Saturday, August 16, 2008
An Update
So, I haven't written in a while. I've had way too much on my mind and been way too busy to write. There have been several things that I have wanted to write about, so maybe I will get that that sooner or later.
I just thought I would update my readers. Today Welcome Week began. This means a week from you know where for me. Although I love my job, it means A LOT of hours of work. We have planned a lot of excellent events for the week, so I am excited about it. Freshmen moved in today and returning students come back tomorrow. I have about 68 new international students that I am excited to meet as well.
I begin classes at Div school on the 26th. This will begin my last year of Divinity School. I have 19 hours left to complete my degree. I'm looking forward to meeting new faces and making new friends. I'm also looking forward to graduating and moving on.
Joey has been gone for 2 weeks. I miss him a lot, but I'm holding together. I'll get to see him at Six Flags in Atlanta in just a few weeks so I am extremely happy and looking forward to that.
So, there's my update in case you've been wondering. I'll write more this week (I hope.)
I just thought I would update my readers. Today Welcome Week began. This means a week from you know where for me. Although I love my job, it means A LOT of hours of work. We have planned a lot of excellent events for the week, so I am excited about it. Freshmen moved in today and returning students come back tomorrow. I have about 68 new international students that I am excited to meet as well.
I begin classes at Div school on the 26th. This will begin my last year of Divinity School. I have 19 hours left to complete my degree. I'm looking forward to meeting new faces and making new friends. I'm also looking forward to graduating and moving on.
Joey has been gone for 2 weeks. I miss him a lot, but I'm holding together. I'll get to see him at Six Flags in Atlanta in just a few weeks so I am extremely happy and looking forward to that.
So, there's my update in case you've been wondering. I'll write more this week (I hope.)
Wednesday, July 23, 2008
$75,000...a little much I think
Today I was reading the news and came across an interesting story. As I was reading it, I was reminded of a similar experience that I had in high school. It turns out that a 14 year old is suing a teacher from her high school for $75,000. Back during Valentine's the student wanted to join the choir in singing valentine grams. When she went in to ask the teacher if she could participate, the teacher supposedly called the girl "ugly" and a "brat". Then she was literally kicked out of the classroom. The school district would not comment, but I wonder what in the world was that teacher thinking? Does she not realize how much damage those comments would make in the life of that child?
While I was never physically kicked out of a classroom, I did have an experience with a teacher in the 9th grade. I was taking Spanish 2 with Sra. Rodriquez. She was a short woman, in her mid 30's and was originally from Puerto Rico. I had heard many things about her and had met her a few times so I was trying to look forward to the class.
After the first test, I hadn't done as well as I would've liked. The day she returned the tests she asked us to take out a piece of paper and wrote a letter home to our parents that would share the grade we got on our first test. While I did not fail it, it certainly was not an "A". Sra. Rodriquez waited until we wrote our letters and then she went around the classroom to sign them. When she got to me, I handed her my note to sign. She shook her head and said, "You are stupid." I thought I heard her wrong so I said, "Excuse me?" She looked me straight in the eye and said, "You are stupid."
I was less than happy at this point. I gathered my things and walked out of the classroom. She followed me into the hallway yelling something about how I couldn't leave and she would write me up. I walked into the office and requested to speak to our principal. I was denied a meeting with him so I went and sat in the guidance counselors office until that block period was over. I went home that day and spoke to both of my parent's about it. The next day, all three of us were in the principals office sharing what had happened with my teacher.
The principal brought Sra. Rodriquez in and questioned her. She said that she told me I was stupid only to challenge me to do better. She claimed it had something to do with her culture and that is the way they worked in Puerto Rico. I kindly looked at her and said, "Well, this isn't Puerto Rico. We don't tell students they are stupid here." After that meeting with the principal she was never reprimanded. My parents couldn't believe it.
One would think after that experience I would have dropped the class or gotten a different teacher. Well, I didn't. I stayed in that class to prove Sra. Rodriquez wrong. I ended up getting an "A" and on the last day of class I walked up to her and said, "See, I'm not stupid" and I walked out.
Obviously, teachers are human and don't always think about what they say. I know this from experience. While I don't think the teacher should have called the teen ugly, a brat, or physically kicked her, I think the $75,000 law suit is a little ridiculous.
While I was never physically kicked out of a classroom, I did have an experience with a teacher in the 9th grade. I was taking Spanish 2 with Sra. Rodriquez. She was a short woman, in her mid 30's and was originally from Puerto Rico. I had heard many things about her and had met her a few times so I was trying to look forward to the class.
After the first test, I hadn't done as well as I would've liked. The day she returned the tests she asked us to take out a piece of paper and wrote a letter home to our parents that would share the grade we got on our first test. While I did not fail it, it certainly was not an "A". Sra. Rodriquez waited until we wrote our letters and then she went around the classroom to sign them. When she got to me, I handed her my note to sign. She shook her head and said, "You are stupid." I thought I heard her wrong so I said, "Excuse me?" She looked me straight in the eye and said, "You are stupid."
I was less than happy at this point. I gathered my things and walked out of the classroom. She followed me into the hallway yelling something about how I couldn't leave and she would write me up. I walked into the office and requested to speak to our principal. I was denied a meeting with him so I went and sat in the guidance counselors office until that block period was over. I went home that day and spoke to both of my parent's about it. The next day, all three of us were in the principals office sharing what had happened with my teacher.
The principal brought Sra. Rodriquez in and questioned her. She said that she told me I was stupid only to challenge me to do better. She claimed it had something to do with her culture and that is the way they worked in Puerto Rico. I kindly looked at her and said, "Well, this isn't Puerto Rico. We don't tell students they are stupid here." After that meeting with the principal she was never reprimanded. My parents couldn't believe it.
One would think after that experience I would have dropped the class or gotten a different teacher. Well, I didn't. I stayed in that class to prove Sra. Rodriquez wrong. I ended up getting an "A" and on the last day of class I walked up to her and said, "See, I'm not stupid" and I walked out.
Obviously, teachers are human and don't always think about what they say. I know this from experience. While I don't think the teacher should have called the teen ugly, a brat, or physically kicked her, I think the $75,000 law suit is a little ridiculous.
Monday, July 14, 2008
Reason to get your Burqa in a wad
This week as I was reading the news online, I found an article that shocked me. The article tells of a Muslim woman named Faiza who has been denied citizenship in France because she wears a burqa. A burqa is the dress of some Muslim women that covers them from head to toe, only leaving a small place for the eyes to look through. Faiza has lived in France with her husband, a French native, and their children since 2000. In 2005, Faiza applied for citizenship in France and was denied. She appealed and last month the French High Court upheld the
decision and denied her citizenship. Their reason: her practice of "radical" Islam is not compatible with French values.
How does wearing a burqa make her radical? She's not out killing people. She just lives in her home, takes care of the children, and tries to be a good wife. The government in France doesn't think that she should be so submissive to her husband. The truth is, in Islam the women are supposed to be submissive to their father and husband. They are taught this through their religious beliefs. In their world, there is nothing wrong with wearing a hijab or burqa. It is about modesty.
After I read this article, I was interesting in finding out something about religious freedom in France. I did a little research and found that freedom of religion is guaranteed in France by constitutional rights set forth in 1789. There is to be separation of church and state. However, there is a law that states that students in public schools may not wear articles of religious symbolism. While this does include crosses and stars of David, etc. the people of France felt like it was against Muslim hijabs. I don't see how this law makes sense. How does that keep separation of church and state in tact?
The truth is, denying this woman citizenship over her wearing a burqa is absolutely ridiculous. It is her choice to wear that and no one else's. If the Muslims in France get their "burqa's in a wad" over this one... I think they have every right.
decision and denied her citizenship. Their reason: her practice of "radical" Islam is not compatible with French values.How does wearing a burqa make her radical? She's not out killing people. She just lives in her home, takes care of the children, and tries to be a good wife. The government in France doesn't think that she should be so submissive to her husband. The truth is, in Islam the women are supposed to be submissive to their father and husband. They are taught this through their religious beliefs. In their world, there is nothing wrong with wearing a hijab or burqa. It is about modesty.
After I read this article, I was interesting in finding out something about religious freedom in France. I did a little research and found that freedom of religion is guaranteed in France by constitutional rights set forth in 1789. There is to be separation of church and state. However, there is a law that states that students in public schools may not wear articles of religious symbolism. While this does include crosses and stars of David, etc. the people of France felt like it was against Muslim hijabs. I don't see how this law makes sense. How does that keep separation of church and state in tact?
The truth is, denying this woman citizenship over her wearing a burqa is absolutely ridiculous. It is her choice to wear that and no one else's. If the Muslims in France get their "burqa's in a wad" over this one... I think they have every right.
Friday, July 4, 2008
Freedom for a few...or for all?
Today we celebrate the adoption of the Declaration of Independence that occurred on July 4, 1776. As citizens of the United States we are thankful for the freedoms that we have in this country, although I think that we often take many of them for granted.
The 4th of July as it is often called is usually celebrated with parades, food, fairs, sports games, and fireworks. The fireworks are my favorite part of the holiday. I'll be going tonight to view a fireworks show and I hope it's good.
One of the freedoms that we often take for granted comes in the form of the First Amendment. It says, "Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances."
As a small girl growing up in a Baptist church I remember that we often mentioned the freedom of religion that we have in the United States and prayed for people in other countries who don't have that same freedom. I remember discussing foreign countries that don't have this freedom and about the people who wished they lived in the USA for just that reason.
On this 4th of July, I am thankful for that freedom. This week I read an article that angered me. The article told of some Houston, Texas residents that were angered because they began finding Holy Korans on their doorsteps about two weeks ago. The Korans on the doorsteps did not anger me. The response of the recipients angered me.
The Korans have been distributed by The Book of Signs group. The group claims to have distributed 30,000 books to people. The foundation, which left the books on doormats or hanging from doorknobs, said in a note accompanying the Koran that "rather than judging Islam and Muslims by the actions of a few, we want our fellow citizens to judge us by the book that influences and guides the lives of over 1 billion Muslims.
The article reports that some people destroyed the book. One woman reports that she did not, but what she had to say is angering. "If we went into a Muslim country and left a Bible, we would be in prison and then decapitated a few years later," said Sue Ann Pieri.
Well, Ms. Pieri, this is not a Muslim country. We live in the United States of America. We are free to choose our own religion. Her statement shows her ignorance because distributing Bibles in a Muslim country has nothing to do with this Koran distribution. I wonder, what is the difference in the distribution of Korans than that of the Gideons leaving Bibles in hotel or hospital rooms or Jehovah's Witnesses going from door to door with pamphlets about their beliefs?
I really see no difference. We have freedom of religion here and I'm thankful.
Happy 4th of July!
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