Spring 2011

I've been meaning to write something about this past Spring semester for a while now, but I've been distracted and/or lazy and/or busy. Anyways here goes.

I'll start from the end (for some reason). The past few weeks I really stressed myself out by working three overnight shifts in the computer lab and worrying to death about everyone leaving for the summer. Recently my best friend and roommate of five years moved out of our apartment, getting ready to move in with his soon-to-be wife Leisa. Of course Ryan and I will still be best friends, but it was definitely a major change to see him leave and not be my roommate anymore. I'm glad we're both still living in Lynchburg for another year though.

Now looking back... there are several aspects of this year that I want to recount:

1. FCC
This has been the best semester at FCC yet! I used to have to drive by myself... for the past few months, there have been times where I've had to arrange two cars because we had so many people. What a blessing it has been! Kim, Jonathan, Jane, Katrina, Christie, and EB helped create a new dynamic at church that I have never before seen. From my ordination service, to Easter, to Youth Sunday... every step I saw God working in my heart and in the lives of others. Truly He is good and is starting a work at FCC that I don't think we would have seen without the help of our volunteers this semester.

2. Life Group
While I was at Passion 2011, I got a vision for my job at the ILRC Computer Lab. I felt that my work there could be used for the Gospel. Now to be working in the computer lab at a Christian university doesn't lend itself to much ministry, but I was determined to find a way. I talked it over with three co-workers... three men of God that I have grown to trust and love. Stephen, Phil, David, and I got together to discuss a Life Group program that we could offer to the c-lab's student workers. We made a plan, presented it to the higher-ups, and offered it to the workers not knowing what the response would be. We had enough response to offer two groups this semester. I decided to have one at my apartment that met on Sunday afternoons. We went through part of Philippians over the course of the semester. I was so encouraged to see God use a vision He gave me and actually create something from it. This group made a huge difference in my life this semester and I hope to continue it in the Fall.

3. CMT
No, not Country Music Television. The Center for Ministry Training. As if two jobs wasn't enough, I decided to take on another role in October. Dr. Wheeler asked me to help his office coordinate internships with the North American Mission Board. Because I knew the it would be great opportunity to work with him, I decided to accept. Getting to work with Dr. Wheeler, Dr. Earley, Val, Ryan, and others from the CMT has been truly amazing. These are all men of God who are passionate about the Gospel and how the CMT can spread the Gospel through church placement, church planting, and by sending our students out into the mission field. I am just now hearing of people who have been placed at churches for the summer, and I'm so humbled to have been a part in helping them find those positions.

4. Impact Georgia
Ohhhhh boy. Impact. Nothing has ever challenged me more. You ever seen a music major try to half-run a business? It's not pretty. Luckily Matt is the man and knows what he's doing (sort of) more than I do (maybe.) Honestly we are both stumbling through this and have no idea what God's going to do with it, but we are trusting Him.

This may need to be a To Be Continued post. I feel like I have more to say, but words are currently failing me. That's all for now!

Prayers

When I was at Passion, God gave me the idea to start a small group ministry at work. I'm a supervisor at Liberty's Computer Lab, and for a long time I had felt that I was not able to use this job for the advancement of the Gospel. So I came back and decided to start some small groups. I discussed this with some fellow supervisors, and the four of us made a plan to move forward. I am thankful for this dream that God birthed in me, and for the men I share it with. We answered this call and God used us to start two "Life Groups" with our student workers.

The group that I was leading decided to go through Philippians. We have been going through chapter one all semester, and this past week, we got to verses 27-30. The first part of verse 27 is one of the verses that grabbed my attention at Passion: "Whatever happens, conduct yourselves in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ." This verse is part of what inspired me to pursue this small group ministry.

As I looked at these four verses, I kept seeing things that reminded me of our need for others. Anyone who has known me for very long knows how strongly I feel about our need for other people in our lives. I saw words in this passage such as: "I will know that you stand firm in the one Spirit, striving together as one for the faith of the gospel" (verse 27). Paul also talks about our suffering for Christ, and in verse 30 says: "since you are going through the same struggle you saw I had, and now hear that I still have." Paul seems to be saying here "I know what you're going through. I know the hard times you've had... I've been there."

As I was praying over these four verses in preparation for Sunday's Life Group meeting, I could not get away from the fact that we needed to pray for each other. I kept thinking about James 5:16... "Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed." I know we all seek that healing, and I knew we all needed it.

So we prayed. One person would share, and then the rest of us would pray for that person. The second part of James 5:16 says "The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective." We who are saved by the blood of Jesus are made righteous in Him. Therefore our prayers are powerful and effective. Knowing this, why do we not pray more? Why do we do we not pray together? Sunday's Life Group meeting retaught me this important lesson and I hope to pray with other believers more often.

Thoughts on Jesus (after Passion 2011)

This post was going to be called "Thoughts on Passion 2011" but I thought that would have been against everything that they taught us this week. So thus, the title is "Thoughts on Jesus (after Passion 2011)" or the longer title: "Thoughts on Jesus based on what I learned and how the Spirit moved in my heart at Passion 2011"

First off, I want to say that I'm actually a little excited that Passion's over. Of course I loved it and in some ways I wish it would last forever... but this time, God put so many things on my heart that I want to do and showed me so many ways I want to be different. I'm excited to go back to work and to FCC and to my friends and share what I've learned with them.

Now, I don't want to iterate every little specific thing that I learned. That would be way too much to read, and I'm pretty nice and don't want to ask you to read very much on my blog. To start off, I'll share some of my favorite quotes. (Note: all quotes are paraphrased because I can't write very fast while listening to a speaker)

"We were enemies, but God made peace with us."

"Choose to chain yourself to Christ or something else will chain you."

"It takes the renewing of the mind to discern His will for us individually."

"Whatever He's called you to do is more than you can do on your own."

"There is either more of the Spirit, or more bondage to sin. The mind does not allow us to stay the same."

"Change how you think and it will change how you feel."

"Does your life look like the Gospel?"

"Jesus' mindset was all about glorifying God."

(I'm going to have to write a whole blog post on Andy Stanley's message about Appetites, so I'll do that later.)

"Jesus says to us: 'You follow me? Then I'm all you've got.'"

"Are the Word of God and the Spirit of God enough for you?"

"God's design in loving us is that He be made much of."

"Jesus is praying for us and asks that we would see how glorious He is." (John 17:24)

"...self can never satisfy a heart made for God."

These quotes barely even begin to explain what God did in my life this week. I'm blown away that He loves me enough to keep seeking after me and desiring to use me for His glory! I hope I can make my life look more like the Gospel, and I know that Christ in me can accomplish this. I come away from this experience longing to make everything I do about bring glory to God. It's not going to be easy, and I don't make light of that. Otherwise I know that I will fail almost instantly. But I know that Jesus' power is more than enough to bring this about in my life, and He can do it for you too!