Once I was a pumpkin...

This Friday will be October 31st. For most people that means: Halloween! I remember as a small child helping mom to pick out my costumes and getting all dressed up. I remember the costume that mom picked for me before I was old enough to help her out. I was a pumpkin. Cute as a button with the bleach blonde hair poking out from under my green hat which served as a stalk. During the early years of my trick or treating, we would go with good friends Brandon and Clay. I would go around with them in their grandmother's neighborhood and we would get as much candy as possible. We would gather back at their grandmother's for hot apple cider and we would dump our candy into piles to see who had the most or to trade for something we might like better. As my sister and I got older, we started going trick or treating with some other good friends, Brandon and Lucas. We would go all around their neighborhood and then come back and compare candy. Sometimes we would have a bonfire and make smores and other times we would just eat as much candy as we could.

However, it never failed. When we got home from trick or treating, Mom would take our candy and put it into two jars. Then it would be rationed out over time so that we didn't eat all of it at once. For the first few days it was exciting to be able to pick the candy I wanted. Then, it lost its zeal and often my jar of candy would sit for weeks or months.

I remember the simple fun we had back then. I don't remember bad things. Now, the news is full of stories about child molesters putting certain signs on their doors to keep children away. You also have to be very careful about the candy you get. Each piece must be checked to make sure that nothing has been tampered with. The other thing I hear now is that this holiday is from the devil. Most churches will not condone Halloween and will have a Fall Fest or an All Saint's Day Celebration. What's wrong with letter kids have a little Halloween fun? By the way, my second favorite holiday to decorate for is Halloween.

So, as Halloween fast approaches, let us remember the more simple times. Do you remember your favorite childhood costume? Do you remember all of the candy? What are some of your favorite memories? I sure remember the good things and not trying to stay away from child molesters or people who thought this holiday was from the devil. Whatever the case may be, I hope that whatever you do on Halloween you find joy. I'll probably be with one of my friends giving out candy to trick-or-treaters and I will love every minute of it!

It warms my heart...

Last month I read an article in the Biblical Recorder about the Women's Build for Habitat for Humanity. What caught my attention was the picture of the new homeowner on the front dressed in full hijab. She and her family are Muslim and were putting in sweat equity with North Carolina Baptist women to build a new home. I was interested in how this Christian organization was working with Muslims. I hadn't thought much more about it since then, other than the fact that it was neat. The other night as I was reading online news, I found an article on fox news about Muslims working with Habitat for Humanity to build homes. The article gave me great hope for Christians working with Muslims. It's a wonderful source of encouragement as there has been so much turmoil between Christians and Muslims and now we are finding new ways to work together. Take a look at both articles and think about how you can help. It's something we can all do. Let's learn to get along and love God.

The difference an email makes...

I've been pretty sad this week and had a lot going on in life. This weekend I took the time to hang out with friends and just take care of myself. On Friday evening I received an email that made me smile. It reminded me that I do have a purpose and I am following God's call.

Here's what it said:

Sara:

I know that you probably do not get thanked enough for the work that you do to help out the International students and so many others on campus. Thanks for your Christian example simply by living your life--you do make a difference and your impact extends far beyond what you may ever realize.

Have a great weekend & God Bless.


This brightened my world and reminded me that I do make a difference.

How are you making a difference?

subs...

So I was laying here tonight watching the "new" 90210. I was not particularly enthralled by it, so I began to surf the web reading news and blogs. I came across the following:

IOWA CITY, Iowa -Iowa City police said a man who was driving drunk tried to bribe a police officer — with a sandwich. Police said a 25-year-old man was charged with drunken driving early Sunday morning after an officer saw him driving with his headlights off and pulled him over.

Police said the man was riding with a police officer in a squad car when he offered the officer free sub sandwiches if he could go home.

The officer declined.


Seriously???? I wonder if he offered Subway or Quizno's? That would make a difference in my world.

It reminds me of a cop joke I heard.

An old man bought a brand new sports car. He finished all the paperwork and was handed the keys. He got in and pulled out of the parking lot. When he got on the interstate his foot continued to press the gas. He was going faster and faster. He realized that he was speeding and thought about stopping, but didn't. No sooner than he took his foot off the gas, he saw blue lights in the mirror. The cop approached the car. He said to the man, "Listen sir, you were speeding quite a bit there. It is almost the end of my shift before the weekend. If you can give me a really good reason, that I've never heard for why you were going so fast I will let you go."

The man thought a minute and he said, "My wife ran away with a cop years ago. I thought you were bringing her back." The cop looked at the man and said, "Have a nice day and walked away."

I don't guess the guy is offering bribes from jail, but if he is, I'd like Subway.

While an era comes to an end, life continues

Today marked my sister Margaret's 22nd birthday. I was 4 years old when she was born. She came one month early and was very sick. I remember having to go with Mom and Dad as we took her for blood transfusions and tests galore. When she finally came home, I had to get used to not being the only child anymore. After she finally arrived home, I asked if we could take her back to the hospital. I much preferred to be the only child. As we grew older, our love for each other grew. We became good friends and talked to each other about many things. Now that I live 4 hours away, I don't get to see her that often, but when I do it's like a wonderful reunion. I'm thankful for her and pray for her continued health and good life.

Today also marked the end of a 43 year era. Today was the last game of the Richmond Braves. They played the Norfolk Tides in the Richmond stadium. From what I hear, the place was packed and traffic was terrible. The score was 9-3 and the Braves played a good game. I remember going to the Diamond as a kid. Dad would take me to see games. We would also get to see fireworks. As I got older, I would go with my youth group or friends. Going to a Braves game or two was something I did every summer. As the Braves leave the area, I will always remember the good times I had at the Diamond watching the games.

No... not a flashlight

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.

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.