Battle

Everyday we as Christians go into battle, every minute I'm at war.

War against my flesh: Rom 7:18 "I know that nothing good lives in me, that is, in my sinful nature. For I have the desire to do what is good, but I cannot carry it out."

War against the sometimes "cultural norm": 1 Peter 2:11"Dear friends, I urge you, as aliens and strangers in the world, to abstain from sinful desires, which war against your soul."

But above all...

War against a real, true spiritual evil: Ephesians 6:12 "For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms."

But how often do I take a moment and really contemplate this fact? Not only that, but how often do I realize the dire significance of this war?

Hardly ever

However, it all goes back to what I truly believe. If I truly BELIEVED we were in a war wouldn't I be more proactive in how I live? That is why I'm taking this minute of contemplation, to help me refocus and remind myself of this battle. Because If I truly believed that this war was happening; then on a daily, hourly, sometimes minute to minute basis I would be consciously putting on my "armor." Eph 6:11 "Put on the full armor of God so that you can take your stand against the devil's schemes."

Just to remind you what our armor is...

1. Belt of truth
2. Breastplate of righteousness
   
3. Feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace.
4. Shield of faith
5. Helmet of salvation
6. Sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.
7. Prayer

Out of all of these, prayer truly seems the most abstract. Paul doesn't try to put it into a metaphoric word picture, he just states at the end of this section to pray. Pray about EVERYTHING!

I've really wanted to expand my prayer life this year. I've read some books, talked to some people, tried a few new things and learned alot during this journey. However, it just baffles me both how powerful prayers is, and yet how underused it is in my life.

At Harvest Bible the main topic of discussion was based on prayer and one of the pastors read some excerpts from "Do You Pray?" by JC Ryle. This was a great article that I'd recommended to all of you. Anyways, It really reminded me what a amazing gift prayer is.

Lately, in my personal life and in my relationships with people I've been more aware of the spiritual battle going on. It's actually kinda scary at times, to know that circumstances beyond your control are at work in my life and the lives of people around me. However, a verse that comforted me today was Psalm 140:7

"O Sovereign LORD, my strong deliverer, who shields my head in the day of battle-"

I'm not alone.
God is fighting my battles.
God is fighting the battles for my friends.
But above all NOTHING is out of His control.

All I have to do is pray. Pray and remember ALL of us are in a battle. Are you ready for battle?

Fireworks

Only a few hundred feet, that's how close were to the barge in the bay that shot off the fireworks.For the 4th of July we headed to San Diego, our home, arguably the largest vacation spot in the US right now. We had a really fun road trip with Gabe and Paul, our (brother and brother-in-law respectively). It was pretty sweet.

Once in SD, we grabbed some Woodstocks pizza and chilled. It was really cool to show Gabe around town knowing that this will be his home in just a matter of months. Sometimes I get so excited I just want to show him EVERYTHING. I have learned to love the city and campus God gave us so much that I can't help but want to share it with everyone. I'm so excited to share that same passion for our home with Gabe, my brother and one of my closest friends. My prayer is that my love for the people in SD will grow more and more like Jesus' love for people.


The next day, Krystal, a friend of ours from the ASU ministry drove down with her sister Maxzi from her home in Long Beach. Now that was a blast! We had so much fun just hanging. It was so good to be able to just sit and be ourselves with no agenda or expectations. I met Krystal (now a Sr. in the nursing dept) in a freshman bible study a few years ago. It was my first "go" at leading a bible study and I remember thinking many times what a blessing that study was in my life. It's been awesome to see Krystal and the others girls grow in Christ throughout the years. If anything reminds me why I am in college ministry it's those girls. I'm still close to many of those girls and they "refresh my soul in Christ" everytime I see them.

We hung out at a park for a bit with some of the Molascons. Watching Dave play with his kids, I'm reminded how grateful I am to have him as our campus leader. You learn so much from a person when you see them interact with kids. Dave is such a great dad, he plays with them, treats them with respect, and even disciplines them gently when they're not quite getting it. I can't wait to get to work with him and his family again this fall. My times with his wife Heather last semester were amazing, and I really hope our relationship just continues to blossom. She's an amazing women.

Afterwards a couple students came over, along with our teamate Ann (now newly engaged). I almost forgot how much I enjoy hanging with the students and our teamates. They really have devolved into great friends. God has totally blown me a way with the friendships he's already given me in SD. I think I just needed to step away for a moment to fully appreciate the relationships God has given us. It makes me even more excited to see what other relationships God has in mind for us in SD

Now the fun part. We decided to jump on the trolley to go downtown by the harbor to watch fireworks. It was a first time on the trolley system, so it was pretty exciting. Thankfully our friend Jenelle, an expert in the arena of public transportation, came along. Jenelle's friendship this year has been such a gift from God. Both her and Alison have really made me feel loved and excepted in my new home. So it was even more exciting to hear that she is pursuing an opportunity to join staff with the Navigators over in Maryland. How cool!

Anyways, we walked around the harbor and ended up only a few hundred feet from the barge that was to shoot up the fireworks! We were so close it was amazing. It was, bar none, the best fireworks show of all time. All I could think afterward, was how thankfully I was for the people around me that shared in the experience, and how exciting it is to think of who God will allow me to experience it with next year.

Ryan and I can't wait to continue the work at SDSU this fall. Please continue keeping us in your prayers. Fundraising, as you can imagine, is extremely difficult in this economy. However, we've decided that unless God very bluntly directs us in a other path, we will be back on the campus of SDSU come this fall. We need your help to do that though. Even $10 a month makes a huge difference because no gift is too small. We can't do this without help, so help us to continue building relationships at San Diego for the Kingdom of God.

Waves

by Val

Last week we took a "vacation". Funny how our home is perfectly situated for such a thing. We had such an intense time during the beginning of summer with our training in CO and our meetings with people in AZ, I was completely peopled-out when we got back home to San Diego. I pretty much just curled up for the week and relished in my introvert side. However, a couple high points of the week was our trip to the beach, a half-day with Jesus at a coffee shop, and a trip to an amazing farmers market.

Ryan and I love just staring out at the beach. For me, I love watching any moving body of water. The tranquility and serenity of it...it's amazing. But the ocean especially, it kinda just washes over me and my worries. When staring at the ocean it's almost impossible NOT to think of how big God really is. A God so huge he can hold this mighty ocean in the palm of his hand...So powerful he spoke the very waters into existence.

Jer 5:22
Should you not fear me?" declares the LORD. "Should you not tremble in my presence? I made the sand a boundary for the sea, an everlasting barrier it cannot cross. The waves may roll, but they cannot prevail; they may roar, but they cannot cross it.

Is 40:12
Who has measured the waters in the hollow of his hand, or with the breadth of his hand marked off the heavens?

As many of you know, Ryan and I will be in AZ most of the summer, funding and looking for summer jobs. However, though we may be very far from the ocean, this summer I'm praying that both myself and the students at SDSU will not forget tlook at the ocean. To look and remember how great and powerful our God is. We know that he keeps the ocean waves from prevailing, so why don't we trust him keep our personal troubles from prevailing. I worry so much and I know I need to discipline myself to trust God with my worries. To know that yes, the waves will roll...but they will not ultimately prevail.

New Path

Well, today we have to forge a new path for our summer. The previous path for our summer was to...
1) Go to Colorado for a week of training.
2) Go to Arizona to spend a couple weeks updating partners and thanking them for their support.
3)Go to California to help train students at a summer training program (STP) on relationships.
4)Go back to Arizona to meet with potential partners.

Well...our number 3 got blown out of the water.

Today we learned that the number of students attending the STP was far lower then expected. Also, our funding has been a difficult journey and never quite made it to 100% for the year. Because of that, our salary for a month or so has been cut back quite significantly to offset holes in our budget from last year. Because of these two factors we decided instead to go straight back to Arizona to find summer jobs and also to possibly meet with new people to share our vision and need.

This was an incredibly hard decision for both of us. However, we are praying that in the long run this decision will help free us up financially in the fall so we can be completly available to the students at SDSU.

We are completely financially dependent on the financial gifts of family and friends to allow us to minister full time on the campus. Their gifts enable us to be completely available to the students at SDSU with our time and resources. Without their gifts one or both of us will have to take a step back from the ministry in order to get part-time jobs. There is nothing wrong with an outside job, but we know from experience how draining it is on a person, a marriage and a ministry when one's time is pulled between work, marriage, community, and ministry.

We are praying for 38 new monthly partners this summer. Monthly commitments ranging from $10-$500, whatever God lays on one's heart. Would you consider partnering financially with us in the endeavor to proclaim Christ to this next generation? Please click on this link or email us at rpbuss@gmail.com.

Please free us to proclaim Christ to the students at SDSU without financial hindrances!

Please pray for us as we look for temporary summer jobs until we are freed up financially to minister full time with the students at SDSU!