Archive — November, 2008
20 Nov
Who Could Ever Learn to Love a Beast?
Next week, my school will be showcasing Beauty and the Beast, the classic Disney fairytale about a beautiful young woman who falls in love with a soul matted by an outward, beastly appearance. My director’s favorite quote and theme of the musical is taken from the narrator’s introduction in the opening scene – Who could ever learn to love a beast?
19 Nov
Reaching Back
Last week at the “Campus Outreach” service at Tennessee Tech a student shared a moving story about a family he knew that recently chose to adopt internationally. The family had told the student about how hard it was going to the orphanage in China and seeing the poor conditions these infants were being raised in, but said that what was even harder, was having to leave the baby that they wanted to adopt there in those conditions after first seeing her, as they couldn’t take the baby home with them upon their first visit.
18 Nov
Criswell College students spread gospel
BROWNSVILLE—For the third consecutive year, Criswell College sent students to the border town of Brownsville to prayer-walk, witness, distribute tracts, and help the city’s First Baptist Church in a weeklong Vacation Bible School, held July 13-18.
The 11-student team shared the gospel on the street more than 300 times, and their efforts during the VBS helped bring 27 children to faith in Christ from the 243 enrolled.
Seeking to Pursue
Recently I went on a trip with some friends I like to hang out with. We were all sitting around one night and I asked my buddies, “What do you think it takes to grow in your relationship with Christ?”
Now I asked the question to stir up some conversation, but I have to admit I was very surprised at their answers. When I say “surprised,” I’m not referring to the good kind of “surprised.” I was saddened how they responded. My heart was hurt and I felt so discouraged. Their answers focused on church attendance on Sundays and “being a good person” the rest of the week. No one mentioned pursuing the love that God gives or becoming more aware of the work of the Holy Spirit in their lives. The best word I can find in the Bible to describe the type of growing I was talking about is “seeking.”
I discovered that the word “seek” appears in the Bible more than 150 times. In order to grow in our relationship with Christ we must pursue that growth, and want it.
17 Nov
Short Sighted
Saturday started like any other day, except for the pressing weight on my conscience for the poor that somehow fly under my radar everyday. This was not a new feeling; it had haunted me for several months, yet never cultivating into action. To pursue this growing conviction, I drove to downtown Raleigh.
14 Nov
Sunday Morning Shoes
Sunday morning. Alarm clock rings. I swing my arm down upon the snooze button; a momentary lapse in noise, a momentary lapse in judgment. A few minutes of restless quiet envelope my sleepy frame before reality smacks me in the face. It is Sunday morning. It is SUNDAY morning! I am going to be late for church!
13 Nov
Training My Core
I spend a lot of my free time working out and training. Lately, I’ve been putting a lot of energy into training for bouldering (rock climbing without a harness, up boulders). Having strong muscles helps, but the secret to being a good climber is having a strong core. I was trying to climb a competition route when I found this out. After falling from the top several times, and finally giving up, an onlooker suggested I spend some time on specific muscles in my training. The next week I finished the route my first try! When I started focusing on what mattered, I got stronger.
12 Nov
Tiger Woods Ain’t Got Nothing…
What drew me to the game of golf? A love for the game? Or maybe oodles of raw, untapped talent and the irrepressible desire to excel? Or perhaps I simply wished to inspire others, less fortunate than I. Well that, and my buddy Rob had just invited me to shoot 18-holes with two pretty girls. Man…I love golf.
11 Nov
The Neglected
All was silent except for a scratchy voice filtering out of two black boxes. All was dark save for a flickering white screen, pouring forth the testimonies of multiple individuals all living on the street.
10 Nov
Roommate Wars
Perhaps the hardest thing for me to get used to has been the idea of living in a tight space with two other people. Now don’t get me wrong, my roommates and I get along great, but no matter who your roommates are, it’s going to take some getting used to.
