Session 1

Tonight was our kick-off for our summer study. We went over the importance of why we should have an answer to people's questions. 1 Pet 3:15 "But in your hearts set apart Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect," A familiar passage to most but It was so good to be reminded that our job is to be faithful to provide the answers, and that our job is NOT to change people's minds. Changing minds and harts is thankfully the job of the Holy Spirit.

During our time together I felt we had some good discussions and shared our questions and concerns we had related to the subject. One of the students brought up similarities of the Biblical worldwide flood account to many other stories of floods in ancient cultures and writings. Many people would like you to believe that that similarities of the flood stories therefore points to the Bible being a copy of ancient writings. However, another student shared how that would completly make sense since the flood was an actual event. These various writters did not copy each others writings but rather each wrote about an actual event as it was passed down and in some cases changed from generation to generation, hence the differences in the accounts as well. However, where as the other flood accounts are vague and at times non-nonsensical the biblical account is direct, detailed, informational and has direct ties to the whole thesis of the book. The Bible shares the flood account in almost textbook like detail compared to the other flood accounts.(for more info on these flood accounts)

It was so cool though to talk through things like this with the students tonight. I loved it!

Summer Study

Next six weeks we're going through "Defending your Faith", by RC Sproul with students staying in the area this summer. Please that our time will be fruitful, intentional, and refreshing.

SDSU '09-10...check

Finals are over. Graduations commenced. Students are leaving. School is done for this year at San Diego State University. However, Ryan and I are still here...and so are at least 3 students.

In fact, these 3 students are driving at this minute 40 minutes east for 2 weeks to be part of a time of training and encouraging in the Christian walk. These 2 weeks are known as Summer Training Programs and are put together by staff from The Navigators. We are so excited for them and ask that you keep them in your prayers for these next two weeks. Please pray that the things they hear, learn and experience in these next 2 weeks will stick with them for the rest of their life.

Performance

Sometimes life and ministry feels a little like this picture. Trying to balance the two precariously on top of one another, hoping the wind won't topple it all over one day

I remember once as a student at ASU our friend Emily showed us this video clip of a man trying to spin plates on poles. He would spin one plate and then go to the next and do the same. However, in order to keep the plates spinning he'd have to keep going back to each plate again and again. Exhausting work, and in the end the plates always end up falling anyway.

From what I remember, the plates represented our tasks and responsibilities. Somewhere along the line we decide that God can't do all this on His own, that He needs our help if He's ever going to get anything done around here. So we began taking on burdens and responsibilities to "help Him out."  Burdens and responsibilities that our not ours and that He's never asked us to carry.

In life I have the tendency to "spin plates." I create busy work for myself to help justify my presence and create for myself some sort of man-made identity. I "spin plates" to try and gain worth and value. It's funny though, because whether I have a roomful of plates or just one plate I still find myself spinning them and becoming completly exhausted in the process. I know that this is not God's way of doing things. He has never asked me to spin these plates. He gives me responsibilities and asks me to be faithful to things He's called me to, no more, no less. Yet, I find myself constantly worrying about all the things I cannot control.

The ministry at SDSU this semester has been so encouraging. Both men and women are growing in their walk with God, their vulnerability with each other, and their perseverance to press on despite set-backs. However, somedays all I see are the ways that I supposedly have failed them. The "what-ifs" and 'if-onlys" sneek in and I begin to doubt whether God is really using me.

The semester is coming to a close quickly. I want to savor these last few weeks, instead of wasting my time worrying about them. I want to learn how to serve these students, not fix them. To love them where they are, and not push them to where I think they should be. To challenge them in what God's leading me to tell them without feeling like I'm failing if they're not ready to listen. I want to stop pretending I have any kind of control and just let the Holy Spirit do His work. Most of all, I want to pray like I've never prayed before. Because I feel only then will I see my plate spinning act as what it really is...an exhausting performance to an empty room.

1 Peter 5:7 Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.

Ps 55:22 Cast your burden upon the LORD and He will sustain you; He will never allow the righteous to be shaken.

Mat 11:30 For my yoke is easy and my burden is light."