"God, I love You"

My prayers frequently begin with a deep breath. God, I love You. This began in Cairo, for one reason or another. I think it helped remind me what I was doing. God, I love You. I mean, that's why I'm here. If I didn't, I definitely wouldn't be here. And for a few days this made sense. I love God, and because I love God I went to Egypt to serve Him and His people. It was like I had sort of checked it off. Love God and act on it. Well I'm in Cairo, done! But one morning I was startled to realize that being there was not enough. Ok, so I physically went. But loving Him meant daily, hourly stepping out, bridging the gap between the Sudanese (and Egyptians) and myself and touching their lives with His love. I had to continually make the choice to play with the kids at school even though I didn't understand the games, struggle through conversations with people new to English, play with my 3 year old sister in our stifling apartment, do the dishes for my mom, smile at the curious girls on the metro. I was brought back to something David von Stroh, a young missionary, said in The New Friars (by Scott Bessenecker):

"I thought... that back at some point in the past, whether a quiet time of prayer in Boston, or a call session at a Trek debriefing, I had surrendered to the call and decided on a life of incarnation. But that was just the first step. Each day incarnation is a choice. I'm always tempted with easier ways out-- compromises, or healthy moderations, depending on how you look at it. It would be a lot easier to have just been able to decide on incarnation and then follow in autopilot. But my journey with Jesus is that much richer when I have to daily live out and reaffirm this decision to incarnate with free will. It makes ministry not just about accomplishment or objectives, but a discovery."

When we make commitments to ministry, we are not signing onto a one time deal. Just because I got on a plane, just because I signed onto leadership, doesn't mean I can put another tally mark in my "I tangibly loved God today" column. He wants us to daily walk in our commitments to following Jesus. I don't jump up and down with excitement when I think about conversations with random strangers at Quaerens. Sometimes I feel a little tired when I think about all the events we have coming up in the next two weeks. But I also rolled out of bed in Egypt with the same hesitancy and God moved me past that and gave me the beautiful gift that was this summer in Cairo. I know He has amazing things in store for us this year.

God, I love you. You know this. I'm here. But show me how I can love You more today. Help me to move past myself, past my insecurities and fear of rejection, to reach out to your people and love them the way You do. This is how I want to show my love for You today.

No longer out of sight

There are a lot of different kinds of ministry that people can be called to. There's nothing wrong with being a pastor in a middle class suburb if that's what you're called to, but I know for sure I am not. Jesus, in his ministry, spent the majority of his time with people on the fringes. The poor, the marginalized, people that society has cast out for some reason; whether they are sick or disabled or financially unstable or just different somehow. He was attracted to the least of these. And this summer I have become increasingly aware of how I am part of a tiny minority of people living more than comfortably in my wealth. Most of America is. I could easily avoid the kind of ministry that Jesus spent his 3 years in, but I think that would be running from God.

A fellow Trek team member who went to Mokkottam, a garbage village, used two phrases to describe his time in Cairo. "Ignorance is bliss" was the first. Ignorance may be bliss, but it is not blessing. Either way, I'm not ignorant any more. I have a vague understanding of Sudanese politics, I am so aware of how broken Africa is, I have friends who have grown up in refugee camps, I have seen discrimination on the streets of Cairo. I have seen people struggle and have felt their need completely overcome my own selfishness. The other one was "Out of sight, out of mind." The people living in the garbage village of Mokkottam in Cairo are no longer out of sight. The dark picture of a woman sorting through a mountain of trash with her child playing at her feet in the bottom room of an apartment building is forever burned in my mind. The children running to greet us as we walk down the street, so aggressive in their desire for attention from visitors it's almost creepy. The stench of garbage that permeates your clothing, your skin, and the flies everywhere. It's not out of sight anymore and people's stories and faces are burned into my mind in a way that I cannot escape it.

I remember the question that I kept getting from my Sudanese students; children and adults alike. "When are you coming back? Next summer?" I always struggled to answer this question and somehow managed to explain that I probably wouldn't come back next summer. "Why not?" Oh. Um. I don't know. I mean. I was going to get a job in the US. I have to finish school. And stuff. But what about after that? Why not go back?

I am stuck in America for the next two years to finish my degree. But I am still called to loving the least of these. And so my challenge to you, to IVJM, is to reach out to the marginalized on our campus. I don't entirely know what this looks like yet, but there are plenty of outcasts in every society and UT is no different. As a multiethnic fellowship we want to look different, to be diverse, and I think this can be more than racial. So I'm pretty excited. I am also terrified, because I know that this is hard, talking to and loving people different than you is so hard. But we already knew that following Jesus wouldn't be comfortable. So here goes...

What Matters to InterVarsity

Here's a fun introduction to what InterVarsity cares about.  Thanks to 2100, our media folks, for putting this together :)

pre-school retreat

Our pre-school retreat (Aug 20-23) is a great opportunity for us:

• to reconnect with God
• to reconnect with each other --and--
• to get ready for reaching out to new students.

Plus, it's a lot of fun. It does mean getting back to Austin early, but I think you'll find it's worth it. You don't have to have been super-connected with IVJM to be a part of this. If you were hoping to get more involved this semester, what an awesome way to do it!

Please REGISTER by Aug 8th!

Details:
* Arrive in Austin on August 20th at 6pm. We'll finish by helping with move-in on Saturday, Aug 23
* We'll be staying in Austin, at each others apartments (super cheap!)
* Cost is $20. That includes an InterVarsity T-Shirt, book and 2 breakfasts. (can be free if you need help)
* Please bring an extra $25-35 for 2 lunches and 2 dinners

Schedule includes:
* 10:2 Advance. That's our all of InterVarsity at UT worship on Wednesday night.
* Training and preparation for our Proxé station outreach with the other UT fellowships
* Planning for our IVJM events for Aug. and Sept.
* Bible study, prayer and reflection
* Eating and spending time together

Let me know if you have any questions! I look forward to seeing everyone.

Taking Risks

I actually wrote this over a month ago… but never posted it. Sorry!!

So, as many of you know, I set a goal for myself to read at least 3 books this summer. And, Praise God! I just finished my first one! It was a book I've had on my shelf for a while... I've actually had quite a few books on my shelf that I've purchased or received for a long time. So, I prayed about which book I should start with. And God led me to a book I received from a Stone on Campus event last academic year -- John Piper's book entitled, "Don't Waste Your Life."

There was one chapter that stood out to me – it was about risk. Taking a risk means doing something that could possibly lead to a loss of some kind, whether it be emotional or physical. Really, we all take risks in every single thing we do because we cannot possibly know what will happen or how things will turn out. When we take risks, we are putting our faith and trust in all-knowing God. We trust that he will protect us, keep us safe, and guide us through our decisions. God promises that if we follow his will, we will be eternally and supremely happy in Him. However, I know that the love of Christ does not eliminate all suffering or pain or persecution for us on Earth. But as Christians, we need to not be held back because we want to keep a sense of safety and security anyway. The temptation of safety will keep all of us from fulfilling God’s plan for our life. Now, I know that for most of us as students in college, the risks we take probably aren’t life threatening. The risks we take could result in a loss (or hopefully gain) of relationships or experiences. In our risk taking, we must remember that all we do is all for the glory of God and not to ourselves.

Romans 8:35-39
“Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or danger, or sword? As it is written, “For your sake we are being killed all the day long; we are regarded as sheep to be slaughtered.” No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.”

Matthew 6:25, 31-33
“Do not be anxious about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink, nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing?...do not be anxious, saying, “What shall we eat?” or “What shall we drink?” or “What shall we wear?”… your heavenly Father knows that you need them all. But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.”

Pray that:
- We will trust in God with everything in our life. I know that I struggle with wanting to control everything, but that only leads to anxiety and stress in my life. Pray for peace for when people are struggling.
- Those who are risking their lives on mission trips this summer. Pray for their continued protection, guidance, and for those they are serving.
- We will be risk-takers for Jesus. For the IVJM leaders to step out in faith to reach the new freshmen in Jester. For all Christians to not stay comfortable where they are and begin to fulfill the calling in their lives.

Help! I'm a Freshman

As we continue to prepare our hearts with prayer for the new semester, I would recommend checking out this article, "Help! I'm a Freshman".

It's funny how quickly we can forget the displaced feelings of our first year at UT! Remembering gives me some helpful reminders of things to be praying. Things like:

• that every student would have the opportunity to be loved on by an authentic Christian community
• that new students wouldn't be quick to define themselves with things that are hollow
• that we would quick to include and serve, just as Christ included and served us

I like this line from the article, "Remember that freshmen are more than recruits to grow your numbers. They are people you will soon learn to love." God, give us hearts to love!

A Taste of the Rain Forest

Sarah's mom volunteers at the Center for Great Apes in Florida.  They take in orangutans and chimpanzees in need of long-term care, specifically those who have been used in entertainment, kept as pets by private owners, or served as research subjects.

Linus, one of their apes, has a great story.  He was kept for 20 years in a small enclosure, I think in the owner's garage.  When Linus arrived at the center, his hair was matted with feces and his muscles had atrophied.  Those working at the center cleaned him up and began to nurse him back to health.

One day it rained.  What a marvelous sight, this animal whose natural environment is a rain forest, feeling rain on his face for the first time!  Linus was stunned and delighted!  To this day, when the rain starts, though other apes head for cover, Linus heads out into the rain just to enjoy the feeling he had missed for so many years.

I felt my heart moved as I heard Linus' story.  I also realize it moves the heart of God.  This is HIS story, and we see it every day as we live the gospel at UT.  God created us to feel his love rain down on our faces and our delight to bring him glory.  This fall, some students who have missed their natural habitat for decades will discover the love of God!  And we will witness God doing a new thing!  Let's be a people who quickly head out to be soaked in the rain of grace and the glory of God.

Thus says God, the Lord, 

    who created the heavens and stretched them out,

    who spread out the earth and what comes from it,

    who gives breath to the people on it 

        and spirit to those who walk in it:

"I am the Lord; I have called you in righteousness;

    I will take you by the hand and keep you;

    I will give you as a covenant for the people, 

        a light for the nations, 

        to open the eyes that are blind,

        to bring out the prisoners from the dungeon,

        from the prison those who sit in darkness.

I am the Lord, that is my name;

    my glory I give to no other,

    nor my praise to carved idols.

Behold, the former things have come to pass, 

    and new things I now declare;

    before they spring forth I tell you of them."   

Isaiah 42:5-9

God is bringing you into a good land

I just returned from 12 days in Madison, WI at InterVarsity's headquarters. Sarah was going through orientation for new staff (ONS) as a new staff and I went through as a small group leader. It was SO encouraging and faith-building to spend time so much time in God's Word. It was also invigorating for me as an IV staff to reconnect with God's heart for the campus! What an awesome ministry we have been entrusted with!

(I got to see an early version of our UT video that 2100 was filming this spring. It looks great! I was teary eyed. I can't wait for you all to get to see you.)

If you're looking for a passage to look at today, might I encourage Deut. 8:1-18. I think it shows us a lot about God, whether you're in a desert place right now or whether you're in the midst of plenty. He is the one who brings water out of hard rock. Let God's Spirit minister to you as you remember all that He has done for us. Keep the faith :)

Growing Up

I gotta hate the thief, but love the man inside.

Hate the thief but love the man.

Relational Courage

I was going to say something about this even before I read Wilson's post, but I think it really relates. I've been reading Who You Are When No One's Looking, and one of the positive character traits that Bill Hybels champions is courage. He talks about how courage is more than the crazy-hero stuff. A lot of its day-to-day. And one of the places where we need courage most is in our relationships. He says:

It takes relational courage to build significant relationships with friends, to look another person in the eye and say, "Isn't it time we stopped talking about the weather and the stock market and started talking about what's going on in your life and mine?" Not many have the courage to challenge each other, to fight for each other's spiritual and relational growth. But I have learned over the years that I will never be a success in my marriage, with my kids or with my friends, without courage.

Last week, my wife Sarah and I met with a friend of mine who's hit a serious dry patch in her journey with God. What's really hard is that she doesn't want to burden others with her spiritual doubts and she fears the pity of others. So, she keeps herself pretty isolated. I couldn't help but wonder what would happen if she took the risk to let more people in. I'm wondering what risks I might need to take to encourage her. (God, give me and my friend wisdom and courage!)

This summer is a great time for us to have courage with each other. The courage to pray for each other (and new students we haven't even met yet). The courage to ask each other how we're really doing. The courage to ask for prayer. "For God has not given us a spirit of timidity, but one of power and love and self-control." (2 Tim 1:7)