Christmas Break To-Do List

Below is a list of good ideas for college students to consider doing during Christmas break, a time when we are tempted to go on break from our commitment to Christ. I tailored this idea specifically for the Kats for Christ ministry.

1. Discuss how you’ve grown spiritually this semester with at least one family member.
2. Take one whole day alone with Jesus.
3. Hang out with one person from high school with whom you need to reconnect.
4. Read one book of the Bible you’ve never read before.
5. Plug in fully to your church – volunteering, attending, going to the college ministry – even if it’s way less awesome than the Kats for Christ.
6. Tell your parents how much you appreciate them.
7. Pray regularly that God would make you the kind of student that glorifies Him best.
8. Pray through your course schedule for next semester and discern whether God would have you change anything.
9. Read one Christian book. (Ask Chris if you need ideas!)
10. Take at least three days in a row to fully rest.
11. Contact Chris at least once to let him know how things are going and how he can pray for you.
12. Help your parents in some way that surprises them.
13. Prayer walk a college campus in or near your town, even if it’s a rival school.
14. Pray for the Kats for Christ ministry every day (and write down anything God shows you).
15. Pray for your upcoming professors. By name.
16. Think up ways to serve your upcoming professors.
17. Pray through your areas of campus involvement. What needs to change?
18. Pray through your Kats for Christ ministry involvement. What needs to change?
19. Go through your closets at home and donate things you know you will never use anymore.
20. Keep doing the spiritual habits you’ve developed at college – avoid skipping even once, or it’ll be hard to keep the habit all Break.
21. Call your closest friends regularly, and keep each other on track spiritually.
22. Connect with Christian youth in your town (or even their parents), and help them think about preparing for college.

Even though this list is for those in college, some of them remind me that I too am tempted to "go on break" from my normal commitment to Christ!

Lord, may you strength me as I get ready for Christmas break. May my mind and heart turn toward your goodness and newness offered everyday. You have made today what it is, with its struggles and triumphs. I praise you for this day! I thank you! I imagine your smile wrapping me up into your love during Christmas break. Lead me, Lord, closer to you!

Fine Print

Yesterday, Doug Page preached a sermon using Luke 9:57-62. He did a great job at helping us commit to saying "I will" without any conditions. All three of the people in the text that came to Jesus said they would follow him. Even though we never know if they actually follow Jesus in the end, it is good (at least) to see their willingness to follow him.

Willing or not, the problem seems to be in the fine print of following Jesus. One says, "Lord, first let me go and bury my father." Another says, "...first let me go back and say good-by to my family." The fine print of following Jesus. They want to follow Jesus, but on their own terms. "These are the conditions under which I will follow Jesus."

I hear a lot of fine print in ministry. I deal with unspoken and even spoken fine print all the time. Here is where I hear the fine print most of the time: in the words "maybe," "I'll try," "I should," "if I'm not busy...," "I don't know yet," and the like. Throughout the year, attendance in our service projects or soliciting spontaneous help seems to bring out the fine print most often. I guess I am more sensitive to this now at the end of the school year more than ever.

Now I know that these words are spoken from good intentions, spoken perhaps from a perspective saying, "I'd rather not commit to something than commit and back out later." This is not an outright evil way of looking at things. But, if I read Luke's text correctly, Jesus doesn't want the fine print. Jesus isn't interested in our conditions. He doesn't want half loyalty. Jesus wants us to follow him unconditionally.

All week I have been wondering about what my fine print is. Do I have conditions through which I filter my walk with Jesus? Is there a place where I refuse to follow Jesus? Are my finances my fine print? Is my contentment? Is happiness the fine print I require before I follow my Lord? Is it that other people have to go with me before I follow Jesus? "I don't want to be the only one going on that project!" Is food my fine print? "I don't want to sacrifice that much...or I won't eat that!" Do I need everyone to agree with me before I follow Jesus? Do I require others to treat me the way I deserve? Am I requiring comfort in my following Jesus?

So many questions. But I continue to wonder about the fine print. Jesus wants us to get rid of the fine print and just follow him. What does that mean in your life?

Streams of Water

Psalm 1:

"Blessed is the man

who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked

or stand in the way of sinners

or sit in the seat of mockers.

But his delight is in the law of the Lord,

and on his law he meditates day and night.

He is like a tree planted by streams of water

which yield its fruit in season

and whose leaf does not wither.

Whatever he does prospers.

Not so the wicked!

They are like chaff that the wind blows away.

Therefore the wicked will not stand in the judgment,

nor sinners in the assembly of the righteous.

For the Lord watches over the way of the righteous,

but the way of the wicked will perish."

If there are any commitments I make for this year, it would be to explore the depths of this Psalm. Understanding this Psalm only goes as deep as you are willing to try it out.

I have been wanting to write a practical spiritual guide to help college students get through two semesters at school with all the ebbs and flows on a college campus. It is kindof like a devotional book for college students. The idea stems from Psalm 1.

All of us, however, need to spend time asking how are we like a tree planted by streams of water? From what are we drawing our nourishment? What is our delight?

Let's Start Talking

Tonight about 7 are meeting to begin taking the commitment to an LST project to the next level. It seems like 6 weeks is scaring many people away from doing anything. Because of this, a 3-week project is what I am pushing for right now. I asked them to think about when and where they would like to go next summer. I would like to have our first official training meeting on Sunday if at all possible.

For a while now I have been discouraged about the enthusiasm of the students. It seems like they just didn't want to come on board with LST. I have let it rest for a little bit without saying much to the students (I don't want to be the one they avoid because they know I am going to talk about LST all the time). I am starting back up now with more enthusiasm because I seriously let it go. But time is getting pretty short now; people need to be making the choice to go on a project. We are less than a month away from the Dec 1 deadline.

Check out my personal LST webpage. You can begin making contributions to help me on my trip for next summer.

Lord, give me strength to answer questions and challenge students to get started with the application process. I want them to make the commitment because I know that God can do amazing things through them. May you be glorified, God.