If you had the chance to communicate one message to incoming students — 2 months before their arrival — what would it be?
We are in the midst of our summer orientation here at BU. It’s probably not too different from what happens on most other campuses around the country that practice this same methodology of “introducing” new students to campus.
Hi. My name is Guy — and I’m an introvert.
No, I’m not a recovering introvert, just one that needs to remind myself — and others — from time-to-time that God has made me this way.
I enjoy my cave time. A LOT.
Summers on campus often feel like a blissful hibernation of sorts. Sure, there are the occasional meetings, interactions with other members of my staff, etc.; but for the most part there’s a lot of quiet space.
About a year and a half ago I had the chance to grab lunch with a very accomplished thinker, educator, author, minister-type.
He has done so much over the course of his life, so I just had to ask, “how do you do it all?”
I was a little surprised by his response:
Sleep is overrated!
In my reading this morning I sat with Paul’s encouraging letter to the believers in Philippi. The first half of chapter 2, on imitating Christ’s humility, has always been a challenging word to hear…
This morning was no different.
Well, we’ve made it to June.
For many of us this means that students have been gone close to a month… so, how’s your summer going? If the answer is ‘too quickly’ than I can relate.
As much as I might like to spend each day of the summer months immersed in the scene to the right, making good use of our summer can be the difference between fumbling our way into the new school year or a GREAT start, between a strong, well-planned year or a chaotic, hap-hazard one.
One of the biggest pitfalls that those of us in ministry leadership face is getting too caught up in the doing of ministry that we cease to simply be with Jesus.
Prayer is meant to be the life-line between Jesus and His followers. It’s meant to be the means by which we bring our will into conformity with His. It’s meant to be a means through which He shapes us, prepares us, equips us and speaks to us — in every way — for everything.
Campus has grown quiet here. The students have left for the summer (well, most of them anyway) and it’s time for a change of pace… right?!
Obviously the ministry landscape of the summer months will look different in comparison to those of the academic year; with space for assessment, planning, preparing… and of course, some much-needed vacation!
But I wonder how many of us are simply turning off the ‘ministry spigot’ because it feels like the natural thing to do… I know, for the most part, that’s typically what I do.
As a kid I loved watching cartoons on Saturday mornings. I especially liked watching Wile E. Coyote attempt to catch the Roadrunner – forever without success – he always made me laugh!
As I’ve observed our students for the past 7 years attempt to transition into this place [spiritually speaking] the best [and most unfortunate] image that comes to mind for many of them is the one to the right.
80% of our students self-identify as Christians.
What that means [for them] exactly, I don’t know.
Did you happen to catch the season finale of The Biggest Loser last night? I love that show! The transformation that takes place, on […]
I wrote this blog post after returning from a mission trip with eleven students. It is mostly in response to a deep conversation we had about what will happen when the students leave college. See, they get it – they’re tired of churches that are more concerned with creating their own world rather than changing THE world for the sake of The Kingdom.
So as our students walk across their stages and receive their long-expected degrees, will there be a church they can be part of? Will there be a movement of Jesus followers who actually pray as Jesus taught us… and believe it?