Focus Institute Series

I know the series thing is so cliche, but I'm not smart enough* to try to think of a more clever title, so just deal with it...

I can honestly say, by far and away, my experience at Focus on the Family Institute (FFI) was the most transformational 3 1/2 months of my life as a Christian. However, I have a hard time conveying that experience. I realize when I do talk about my experience at FFI, and I do it a lot**, most people just give me this blank "deer in headlights" stare back. So I figured I would write a short synopsis (in series form) on my experiences while living in CO Springs and taking classes at FFI. Hopefully, through stories and pictures, everyone will have a slightly better idea of why I deeply love Colorado, FFI, and the people I met there.

*by not smart enough I mean too lazy to think of/look up a synonym
**This means an inordinate amount (like Steve Conn talking about Taylor University or Cubs fans talking about this year being 'the year')

Changing Relationships

It's all about relationships! This has become my theme recently and maybe has even become a crutch to me at times. However, God has placed this innate desire for deep relationship within us, and as much as we can hate relationships in our lives, we sure can't survive without them.

Over Thanksgiving a couple weeks ago, I experienced quite a few changing/new relationships. It was interesting to see how I felt towards each one as I experienced that change. For the sake of length, I will just mention a couple.

I started a brand new relationship (as new as I think you can get) with Preston Quinn Miller, my newborn nephew. He is so tiny, and as I held him for the first time, I felt this rush of joy and excitement in me. It wasn't that I knew this little guy so well, but the fact that there was a new, meaningful relationship in my life. It's amazing what a new life brings to your world.

The second one was saying goodbye to an old high school friend who is going to Turkey to be a full-time missionary. Just for precaution, I won't mention her name, but I'm assuming most of you know this person. It was a mixed bag of emotions saying goodbye to a longtime friend. On one hand I was sad to see her go, but I was also full of excitement for the opportunities and experiences that await her on the mission field. I don't know how much I'll see her the rest of my life, but I know that she is impacting lives for Christ and I'm proud of her for taking a step of courage and faith and living with abandon. What's great is that because of our connection in Christ (coupled with great technology) our relationship doesn't have to end, it's just going to look a lot different.

Maybe I'll mention my other changing relationships in another post, but reflecting on these two was enough for me to be reminded to live with intention every day. In light of that, I would just remind everyone to invest in the people around you, because you never know when your last day together will be.

Doing Things the Right Way

I love ND football, and I think everyone I've ever met knows that.  But a good part of the reason I love ND is because they do things the right way.  I just saw this video of Defensive Coordinator Corwin Brown and it reminded me of why I love ND and why many people hate ND... because they do things the right way.  It's just like everything else in life, when you have high character, don't take short cuts, and make your way to the top doing the little things, the right things, people are always trying to rip you down.  It's their mission.  Here is a coach who understands all that and the importance of not stooping to others' levels.  He has a great perspective of responsibility and ownership, and an understanding that getting to the top is a LONG and HARD process when you do it with character and class. But IT IS ALWAYS WORTH IT.  Watch this video of a coach that gets it and tell me it doesn't fire you up.

The Prosperity Gospel

I don't know if I've ever heard John Piper this worked up, but he definitely got my attention. 

When I first started watching this, I thought that John Piper was using some strong language, maybe too strong.  But as I watched, I realized that this is a serious problem with the American church.  We are getting sucked into this mindset and we don't even know it.  How is this happening?  What are we thinking?  This mindset prostitutes the gospel and says that it is glorifying God!  We really need to guard ourselves and make sure that we are staying grounded and rooted in the Word.  We need to measure our teaching, against what the Bible says, and not get distracted by the feel good stuff, that isn't necessarily the Truth.  

I'm officially in the MAHE cohort

I don't even know what this means, but I was repeatedly called a member of a cohort today and I repeatedly felt like I was a member of a massive crime ring.

Apparently, in this case, it's a good thing because I'm now an official member of the MAHE (M.A. in Higher Education) program at Taylor University and, in the process, am starting yet another adventure in my life.  After learning that the program director and his partners in crime (colleagues) aren't out to destroy my life for 2 years, I became very excited to get this baby rolling.

My classmates and I spent the day getting to know the faculty, the second-year program "cohort", and each other.  It was exciting to get a peek into the lives of the people that I will be pretty intimately connected with 20 months from today.

So I'm taking the plunge into somewhat of the unknown, but it's not one of fear, but rather one of excited anticipation and expectation.  I feel that God has called me to and prepared me for this program and I've been very affirmed in that.  I'm excited to see what He has for me here.  Let the "fun" begin.

Huntington Rush

Today is the day!!!!  All the freshmen are moving in!!  Campus is buzzing.  All faculty are off work so they can help move people into their new homes for the next 4 years of their lives... And I'm sitting in my apt. after an RA brunch/mtg., expecting maybe 3 or 4 people to move in to my 2 buildings... exciting day (sense the sarcasm?)  

No Expectations?!?

Is this possible in our relationships?  Is it possible to have no expectations of people, especially those who you've invested in the most?  Would it be right, or would it just lead to apathy?

This is a thought that I have been confronted with several times in the past few weeks.  I was exposed to it in the book 'The Shack'.  It was a powerful statement when I first read it: God doesn't have expectations of me.  This isn't to say that he doesn't want us to follow Him and his Truth, but He knows our nature.   So instead of feeling let down when we screw up, He simply is there to pick us up and show us the Way.  Because He had no expectations in the first place, He is not inhibited to continue teaching, leading, guiding, correcting, and loving us unconditionally and with abandon.

I was recently at an ACSD conference that gathered RDs from Christian universities around the mid-west, where this exact thing was discussed.  We were called to live in relationships with no expectations.  This is tough for me to comprehend.  Often I feel when I pour myself into someone in a mentoring, discipleship, or even friendship role, they owe it to me to not mess up; to perform at a higher level.  Is it ridiculous for me to think like this?  Aren't we supposed to expect more from those we are bringing alongside us?  

The thing that I have to remind myself of, is that the person is on a journey, and unfortunately we humans tend to learn from our mistakes (many times it takes multiple mistakes).  So when you find yourself in a Paul-type position, don't allow yourself to be discouraged or to give up when someone "let's you down", even if it is the 30th time.  Let go of your pride and realize that they are not living for you; and that their mistake is not a reflection on your ability to lead them.  Rather, be there to humbly pick them back up and continue guiding them on their own personal journey because, although that may be their 30th correction, it could just be that it is the 30th in a line of 31 and there is only one more to go in the process that is molding and shaping them into the image of Christ.  

Let me know what you think about this concept?  Is it way off line?  Is it a challenge to you?  Should we make a shift to start thinking like this?

The Best Day of the Year

The War Room

This past Sunday, nine of my closest friends and mentors and I got together for what truly fuels us.  No, it's not ministry or missions, it's fantasy football.  The long awaited draft that signals the start of something new, new possibilities and hopefully a new winner, was finally upon us.  

This is the day that we live for.  

Where we sit for 4 hours hashing out new bylaws and rule changes and survive through an intense 20 round draft.  It is where we can finally start ripping each other over annoyances, shortcomings, and, in this years case, blogging like a girl, and not feel bad about it.  It is the time when we live to destroy all hope for a championship year after someone makes stupid draft choices (like picking Minnesota D in the 8th rd; nice Teddy).  This is no ordinary league; it's not for the faint of heart.  There is good 'ole fashioned competitive hatred, rivalries, and trash talking taken to another level.  

Now, before you start to think that this is starting to sound like straight cruelty to each other, I should point out the positives.  

1. It allows us to have a healthy release of our competitive natures.  

2. It allows us to hear words from certain people that you would never expect to hear.

3. It adds years to my life because I often find myself, literally, rolling on floor in laughter after reading the message board.

4. And most importantly:  It keeps our group connected and gives us a reason to talk to each other more (for at least 4 months out of the year).

So here's to another fun-filled fantasy football season.  

DOWN WITH 'THE FORTRESS'!

My First Official Day(s) of Work

For those of you that don't know, I recently moved to Huntington, IN to start my new job as an RD at Huntington University.  I'm joined by 3 other 1st year RD's, so I'm definitely not alone in my incompetence (sorry to those referenced if I offended you), which may or may not be a good thing.  My first official day at my first "real" job was last Fri. (Aug. 1).  We went to an ACSD conference which was okay* until we all got icey juicys and then it was amazing (well that and my boss spouting off about reading a book about a rooster that made him cry).   

My first work day on campus was yesterday (Mon. the 4th), but I can't really sum it up better than a new friend and colleague of mine, Steve.  This dude is hilarious and I can't wait to have some great times and memories with him.  Read his blog if you ever get bored.  You'll laugh.  

Basically, I think I'm going to love this job and the people that I'm working with.  Good days at HU. 

*(More thoughts on the not so lame conference will be coming).

My home-boys a.k.a. 'The Association'

Kyle, Michael, Ben, Adam, Nate, Me, Ted

I consider these guys to be one of the biggest blessings from the Lord in my life. I can't sum us up any better than what Kyle did on our blog and Adam did recently on his. We recently spent 4 straight days together which only happens once or twice a year anymore because we think we need to be all over the world all the time. It's so refreshing to spend that kind of time together because of the inexorable bond that we have together and because we can always pick things up like it was just yesterday that we were punk high schoolers trying to rule the world. I love these dudes and look forward to more great times together.

This may or may not be interesting...

but I'm going to give blogging a shot. I started this blog almost a year ago to keep people informed on my life. I was moving all over the place, experiencing a ton, but just didn't think I had the time or motivation to write, so I ditched the idea before I even started. Recently, I've been inspired/encouraged to start it back up, and I'm excited to be able to tell stories of where I've been and how God is changing me, vent my frustrations and concerns, ask questions, and simply write out my thoughts... so here it goes