College

Hello everyone.  I am coming to the end of my second year in college.  Looking back over these last two years I see how I have changed since starting my college career.  When I came into college I planned on perusing a BS in Youth Ministry.  However, after just one year I realized that was not where I wanted to be.  Something about the Youth Ministry program just did not settle well with me.  It was hard to describe but I knew it wasn't quite where I wanted to be. 

After thinking and praying I decided to switch to the Bible and Religion department.  I am currently pursing a BA in both concentrations (Biblical and Religions Studies).  Why?  It made more sense in my mind.  Something in side of me wanted to be challenged.  Youth min is all about processes and formulas.  With a BA degree I would be challenged to think and create my own opinions and develop these new ideas.

I hear a lot of people that complain about college.  About there school work and taking classes from the Core.  I love taking those courses.  Core classes are were we are challenged, shaped, molded into thinking human beings.  Isn't that what God has created us to be?  We live in all his creation so shouldn't we be thinking about all of his creation?

College is more than a degree.  It is where we learn to think independent of our parents, learn to live on our own, learn to live our own faith and where we learn to learn.

This has been my college experience so far.  Thank you Huntington University.

Until next time...

laterDays

Good Friday?

Today is what Christians call "Good Friday."  The day that Jesus Christ was hung on a cross to die a death that he did not deserve.  The day that our savior died a death of horror...  Why do we call this Good Friday?  What was so good about Christ's death?  It was more like a horrible death.  Good Friday was the darkest day ever.  The one man to walk this earth and never hurt, never lie, never cheat, never kill or never use anyway died an unjust death.  Yet, out of this horrible death came a good.  A good that the High Priest, that Pilate, that even the disciples did not see.  A good that gives all of us the chance we never deserve.  Why then is this day so overlooked?  Why are we not on our knees praising God for the gift that he has given us?  Why aren't our churches full of thankful Christians?

It is as if we are so consumed with our own lives that we miss the point of Good Friday:

NO CLASS!  I need to hurry and get my stuff around so I can get home!  Finally, a day when I can sleep in.  Lets go shopping!  Sometimes I like to picture the world and all the people on this earth, as they busily rush from here to there.  Is there every anytime for rest?

What about when we pray?  What are we asking for?  How much of our prayers are consumed with what God needs to fix in our lives?

I am guilty of all of the above.  I challenge all of you to slow down your busy lives today, tomorrow and Sunday and stop to reflect upon Jesus.  Stop and thank him for what he was done for you.  Thank him for his grace.  Thank him for his patience.  Thank him for his love.  Why not take these next few days to place God's gift center in your mind?  Isn't that what God does for us?

Until next time...

-laterDays