religion

A lot of people that I’ve met recently have shared with me their frustrations with “organized religion.”  A lot of them have been burned by religious institutions, let down by religious leaders, conned by selfish congregation members.  This is just so saddening to me.  I want to take people who have experienced “church” in this way and bind up their wounds.  I want them to see that the church is a body of broken people, and that we can’t put our hope in anything but Christ! People will let us down, churches will do the same.  My theory is that the hurt is more amplified within the church because its just a whole lot of broken people under one roof.  Let’s strip it down: what does our God think about religion?  What is pleasing to him?  Won’t that be the kind that is most pleasing to us as well?  

Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world. (James 1:27, NIV)

Light bulb moment…So that’s what God wants?  He wants us to love each other, look after those who can’t provide for themselves.  He wants us to bind together in a community as a “salty” people that preserve his goodness in a crooked and perverse generation.  He wants us to shine out his love like stars in the milky way, that each person that he has created will recognize his goodness and love. As a body of believers, we should give freely, love deeply, act justly, and above all, remain connected to our source, our Heavenly Father.

Now that’s what I call church.

legit

The Gospel Coalition:

Why did it take me so long to find out about this.  I flippin love it.  I’m seriously all about this….I love their articles (especially those meant for campus ministry!)  This stuff speaks to my heart. Here’s the meaty article I’m working on right now.  It is a huge help with all of the spiritual conversations I’ve been having lately.  Here’s where I can find some answers to the people that are constantly asking me, “So, do you judge me?  Am I going to hell if I don’t believe in your God?”  Check it out!

how would you describe your faith?

I had my last training shift at Upper Crust last night. Joanne, one of the regulars, sat at the bar as I finished up my side work.  Her book caught my attention.  I didn’t read the whole title, but in bold orange letters, the word JESUS beckoned to me.  I asked her about the book, and she explained why she was reading it.  Joanne told me about her beliefs, and then I asked her to describe her faith to me.  She said that she’s in the pursuit of truth, always learning.  She said that she was a Christian, “in the most liberal sense of the word.”  Then she turned the question on little-old-unsuspecting me.  She asked me as I wiped the counter, “How would you describe your faith?”

There was no turning back.  I stared at the black and green flecked granite bar for a moment, then answered, “I’m a follower of Christ.”  After a pause, I rephrased my response: “I’m surrendered to Christ.”  I have found that this answer is solid.  The word “Christian” has so many negative, ugly and unseemly connotations.  How sad!  I can’t even use the phrase Christian to describe myself without seeming cold, judgmental and hateful.  

Quite frankly, that’s not the Christ I serve.  The Christ I serve created me for a divine romance with himself, that I might know the Greatest Love.  He laid down his life to pay the penalty of my shortcomings, that I would be reconciled with the Father.  He lavishes a love so great on my that I can’t even imagine its limits. That’s the love that he died to share with me, with you, with Joanne.  He even died so that my Agnostic and Atheistic professors would recognize his love.  My prayer in this time is that I could be a witness of this beautiful dance of Grace and Truth that Jesus so perfectly modeled.

Also–had a wild spiritual convo crop up outa no where tonight at the MLL Spring Banquet.  I just sat and picked at my Thai food (yuck) while my fellow students (and professors!!!) asked me to describe my beliefs and the work that I’ll be doing with Campus Crusade for Christ next year.  So, naturally I just presented the gospel to three other students and two professors. One prof wanted to stay late to discuss spiritual things.  The two of us sat the restaurant for a half hour after the rest of the party had left.  Absolutely loco, I tell you.  That stuff doesn’t just happen.  The Holy Spirit is alive and moving in SLO. Pray for changed lives!

back

I realize it has been a bit since I’ve written anything on here.  Well, after a little hiatus, I am back.

Most noteworthy:  I went to El Salv last week during my spring break.  It was so good.  I reconnected with friends that I haven’t seen since summer and fell in love once more with this miniscule Central American country.  Spanish came even easier than it did last time.  It was great to work alongside the Stint team and to get to know them more.  As great as it was to be in El Salv with a team of 29 people from Poly, it was really strange to be there without the peeps from my summer project team.  Overall, I loved my week there, and wouldn’t have chosen to spend my money or time any other way.  The Lord has placed a special passion on my heart for the people of this country, and he whispers so gently and clearly into my heart while I am there.  Will the future hold more trips to El Slav? Only my Savior knows.  Needless to say, it was wonderful to be back.

In other news:  school is so lame.  I seriously detest it sometimes.  I used to have this passion for learning and eagerly anticipated the start of a new quarter.  I would listen to my professors in lecture, hanging on their every word, hoping that they would notice my excitement for their classes.  Now I just sit there, ho-hum, watching the seconds tick away on the clock in the back of the room, hoping the professor doesn’t notice how frequently I turn my head and look  backwards to check the time.  I had to buy two tiny (around 200 p) French texts for about $250, and I can’t even really read them (because, let’s face it…I don’t really comprehend French).  I have homework for the first time tonight, and I feel myself growing more and more apathetic towards the text.  In this case, I’m not so happy to be back.

Economics update:  back in the work force.  Double timing.  I’m starting to Nanny for two families here in SLO for just a few hours a week.  Sophia, a 3 year old whose energy is only surpassed by her immense appetite should be a handful. After watching her last night, I had a nightmare that it was my responsibility to put her to bed.  Oh dear.  Cassius, a 3 week old boy is so tiny and so sweet.  I hope I don’t break him when I hold him.  Baby got back.

Forecast: finally submitted my application to Campus Crusade today.  It’s official folks….I’m planning to intern with Crusade here in SLO after I graduate in December.  I am excited/nervous/overjoyed/anxious/shaking in my boots.  Ministry is my passion.  I just love sharing the gospel.  I just fear raising support.  All of your prayers for my heart are appreciated.  I trust a big God for big results.  I really do believe that he loves me, that he has a marvelous plan for my life, and that this plan includes joining staff with Campus Crusade.  After all of this time wandering away from his fold, making my own plans for the future; I’m following his lead as he calls me back.

I guess that’s all for now. My heart hurts today, and I’m not really sure why.  I feel like I’m being refined.  And I feel the tender touch of the Lord as he molds me into his image.  He is protecting me from what could be big time heartache, and yet I still feel the pang of loss as I surrender my plans to him each day.  It is good, hard, stressful, painful, lonely, exciting, satisfying, to be back.

Renewing My Strength

“but those who hope in the LORD 
       will renew their strength. 
       They will soar on wings like eagles; 
       they will run and not grow weary, 
       they will walk and not be faint.”   

-Isaiah 40:31

Ok, confession time.  Sometimes I fall into the trap of thinking that some verses are too “cliché” to be applicable to my life.  Isaiah 40:31 has pretty much always fallen into that category of cliché scripture in my mind, most likely because I spent 2 years at a Christian school that used this verse as a reason to be the BCHS Eagles.  Lame.  Not the whole school, just the fact that 80% of Christian schools use this verse as a motto and an eagle as a mascot.  Ok, I made up that stat.  Anyway, my friend Xavier (Salvadorian) just graduated from Josué Christian School here in San Salvador. Guess what their mascot was?  The Eagles.  Proof that the eagle is an over-used mascot in Christian schools AROUND THE GLOBE.  What exactly is so holy about eagles anyway?  Nothing as far as I can tell.  End of rant.

The Lord definitely has been teaching me a thing or two about how important and “un-cliché” the whole Word of God is.  He keeps bringing this verse to my mind each day here in El Salv.  I’ve been here for over 2 weeks now, and fatigue hasn’t got the best of me yet.  I definitely don’t have the strength to go on my own power.  I believe the reason for this is that I want to renew my strength each day by putting my hope in the Lord.  So, what does it mean to hope in the Lord?  I’ve been really digesting this as I have been working on a devotional called Thirsty while here on project (it’s a new release, and may not be added to the posted link for a bit).  I need to be emptied of myself, confessing my dirt, grime and sin before a holy and righteous God, and then ask and believe that I am empowered, filled up and controlled by his Holy Spirit.  Its a miracle.  

And that is what my hope in Him looks like.  I hope (I have an ultimate expectation) that He is faithful and just to forgive my sins and cleanse me of unrighteousness.  See 1 John 1:9.  I hope in the salvation of my soul, that he who began a good work in me will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.  See Philippians 1:6.  I hope that my Lord is made known in my weakness, that he is so great that he can use my sin to draw others into a knowledge of who he is.  This is where I draw strength.  A crazy amazing breakfast, a great team, relationships with students and a Hilton Princess bed will only leave me weary in comparison with the renewed strength I get from putting my hope in him, the Everlasting One.

Pray for Olga, Delmy and Johanna…the girls who accepted Christ with me last week.  Pray that they would feel urged to come to our follow-up meeting this next week, that they would desire to know more about this salvation that they have been adopted into.  Pray for our ministry, which will be completely on Universidad Evangélica for the next two weeks.  Pray for momentum, for ministry contacts and for a MOVEMENT.  We want to see a growing, thriving movement here in El Salvador.  A movement that provides fellowship, accountability and friendship while reaching out to all of the lost souls in the community.  Pray that our team would not grow weary while doing good, but that we would see the fields that are white with harvest.  We want to go out in the name of Christ, in whom we are more than conquerers.  

I appreciate all of your prayer support!  It’s helping me to renew my strength!

 

Photo Update:

Day off….at Sunzal Beach with Alyssa!

Ordering Chinese food in Spanish poses a challenge….

Your eyes do not deceive you.  Genuine “Sara” soup found at your local Hiper Paiz (Salvadorian Wal Mart).

At the Dinner Party hosted by Lio and Luchi (National Crusade Directors).  We met up, ate and danced alongside the Destino Summer Project team.  A great night!

Alyssa and I at the Vida Estudaintil Party yesterday.  We had students in attendance from 4 different universities in San Salvador!

Photo Journalism

…well not quite photo journalism.  But I did add a El Salvador photos link on the right side of my page…check it out to see all of the action that I’ve been experiencing.

Praise the Lord!  Xavier, John and I had the opportunity to pray with three girls to receive Christ today.  It was the first time I’ve been able to pray with students to accept the Gospel.  So encouraging!  Pray for Delmy, Olga and Johanna as they enter into a life with Christ.  We’ll do some follow up Bible study with them starting on Friday.  

Also pray for the first Vida Estudiantil meeting tomorrow at Universidad Evangélica.  Pray that students would get connected, start the movement.  Pray that it would be more than a self-sustaining ministry, but that it would be a place of outreach, discipleship and a sending ground to the nations.  Pray for a MOVEMENT.  It’s what we’re about.  And by “we” I mean all followers of Christ.  That means you too!  Your support means the world to me!

Here’s how the Lord is revealing himself to me while I’m here.  He’s so faithful to lead me, to give me nourishment for my soul.  I can’t imagine life without him!  From Psalm 2:7-8:

“I will proclaim the decree of the Lord:

     He said to me, ‘You are my [daughter];

     today I have become your Father.

     Ask of me,

     and I will make the nations your inheritance,

     the ends of the earth your possession.’”