Is there a dream trapped under the rubble of your failure?

I can’t claim that title. The other day I was watching Erwin McManus during a webcast from the Southeastern Leadership Forum. Good stuff. Erwin asked the question:

Is there a dream trapped under the rubble of your failure?

Some of the students I talk with, haven’t lived long enough to experience failure. Yet, there are way too many who feel they are destined for failure. Society, school, peers, teachers, bullies, and yes even parents have told them because they are __(fill in the blank), they will never amount to anything. Of course we know that is a lie of Satan, and these same student may even agree. But, they still feel trapped. I have felt trapped before. It’s not a fun place to be. Sadly too many people live life there.

It’s not enough to have people step into a relationship with Christ just to make it to heaven. In John 10.10, Jesus said:

A thief is only there to steal and kill and destroy. I came so they can have real and eternal life, more and better life than they ever dreamed of. (The Message)

Maybe this is a poor baseball analogy, but I’ll try it anyway. Most followers of Christ are content to let Jesus pinch hit so they can sit on the bench, but Jesus already demonstrated how to hit it out, now it’s our turn to go yard and really live out His purpose for us.

We are in the process of starting small groups on the OTC campus. As these students develop friendships and grow in their relationship with God – I pray to see them to dig their dreams out of the rubble of their past and hit one out. Will you pray that prayer with me?

Undecided

In one day at OTC (Ozarks Technical College), I met a deist, an atheist, an agnostic, and a young student who described herself in the most nicest sincere way as”non-religious.” Not quite sure what she meant by that. I wanted to ask is that like being an independent or undecided voter. Or was she was afraid to describe herself as agnostic in front of a Christian, so “non-religious” was a safe answer.  Surprisingly her next statement was

I’m still trying to decide.

It hits me every time I’m on campus and see the students walking from class to class, how many of these students are undecided. It should be that if these students come in contact with passionate followers of Jesus that it would remove all doubt? Would there be any other choice? It challenges me to represent Christ and live in such a way that they want what I have. Paul’s prayer for the the Thessalonians was the same:

11 So we keep on praying for you, asking our God to enable you to live a life worthy of his call. May he give you the power to accomplish all the good things your faith prompts you to do.12 Then the name of our Lord Jesus will be honored because of the way you live, and you will be honored along with him. This is all made possible because of the grace of our God and Lord, Jesus Christ. – 2 Thessalonians 2:11

May you too live in such a way that there will be no more “undecided.”

First lunch of the semester

Just wrapped our first Chi Alpha lunch at OTC (Ozarks Technical College). Students were a little shocked by the idea of some organization on campus providing free lunch.  Of course everyone is wondering what’s the catch? They still don’t want to believe you when you there isn’t one.  It was cool getting to hang out with some new students a few returning ones.  We had around 85 show up today without much publicity. Shawn, the Chi Alpha pastor for OTC, knows we’ll easily start having 125 or more once word spreads around that there is a free lunch every Wednesday. Should be a fun year!

International Students

There are over 22,000 students heading to Missouri State this fall. Heard a fellow Chi Alpha leader say today that of the over 800 Missouri State students 150 are from China. What a tremendous opportunity to reach students. Imagine reaching some of these students with life changing truth of the Gospel. We may not be able to send missionaries to China but after some of these students experience Christ working in their lives, they will return. OneMoreFriend.org encourages students to add one more friend in their life by reaching out to someone from another part of their world. This is not done to persuade or manipulate anyone from their beliefs or way of life. Make a friend, share your life and experiences and see how God speaks. Many international students are looking to experience America, what better way than to have some American friends. As leaders we are always encouraging students to be to be a part of something bigger than themselves. Get involved in leadership in Chi Alpha, your church, a missions trip, service project. Reaching out to international students really does provide the opportunity to reach and change the world!

We’ve Made It To Missouri!

We’ve moved.

A huge thank you to everyone for the many prayers & financial support. Although you may not be on the front lines of the university campus, you are supplying with us the strength, prayer, and support that we need as we take the Gospel to the campus.

God’s Provision.
Those we were able to meet with before we left Virginia, knew we had some huge financial needs.

1. New Laptop! – My laptop was on it’s last leg. A few days before moving, it died. Since it was seven years old, it was like an old family friend.  Saying good bye was still no problem, when a supporter offered to purchase a replacement!

2. Moving expenses – Another supporter, after hearing about our vision for Chi Alpha and our moving expenses, donated more then enough to cover the move!

These are the kind of things that confirm in our hearts that as God calls – He equips.

3. Monthly Support – As we began this journey, we knew we had a short time in Virginia before we needed to be in Missouri to begin working on campus. Because of your generosity we are now at 12% of the $4000 in monthly faith promises needed. Please know everyone of your gifts is very much appreciated as it helps us reach our goal.

Pray.
1. For our remaining monthly support
2. God sized dreams for Missouri State University & Ozark Technical College
3. Continued protection for our family

Thanks for your desire to see God move on the college campus! We are truly blessed to have such a great support team to reach students. We have gained a fresh understanding of how the Apostle Paul felt the many times he was so thankful for those supporting him.

A Pastor’s Priority

Saw this quote from Mark Batterson’s Twitter feed,

“Pastors don’t owe everyone in their church a close relationship. They owe them a close relationship with God and their family.”

Now that’s priorities! I’ve also been reading Tony Morgan’s “Killing Cockroaches.” Between reading that book and seeing that post from Batterson it has caused me to reflect on my own priorities. I spend so much time in ministry and wanting to “succeed” that I over complicate it and try to please everyone. Of course in doing this I spend too much time trying to get things right and killing cockroaches. I’m trying to be more proactive and not letting life and ministry come to me. We’ve just wrapped up the best family vacation we’ve had in a long time. It makes you appreciate the short time you have with your kids while they are young. I wish I could be close to everyone but that’s neither realistic nor beneficial. Priorities man, priorities!