The first INN was last night, and was a blast. It was a great introduction to new students about what the INN will be like (in general) for the rest of the year. Students came, enjoyed, worshiped, laughed, and connected. A fantastic evening for sure.

I’m excited for what all this year holds. We’ve got a lot ahead of us. I’m busy the rest of this and next month pulling together details for mission trips, which means figuring out all sorts of logistics for about 80 students. I hope and pray that the strong tradition of excellence on INN mission trips continues.

My posting this blog is also a signal that I’m getting ahead on some things. My stack of to-do things is deep, but I’m moving through it! It feels good to be making progress. The possibility of emptying my email inboxes (I’m up to 6 right now), cleaning out the todo list, and making time to think creatively is inspiring.

Here we go!

Only recently have I realized that, while I enjoy reading these memoirs, I cannot totally connect with the author without feeling like I need to take my own spiritual road trip, or disappear into my thoughts for weeks on end. My faith story has been playing out, so far, in much more “everyday” ways. I have thoughts on faith on my way to or from the grocery store, or conversations in my everyday life that spur on additional musings on my faith. Growing up in the church, it seems there is very little documented about faith on a more steady, long-term, journey.

Repeatedly, Picking Dandelions had me laughing and repeating the stories I had just read to anyone nearby, only to find myself laughing more.  Sarah Cunningham has a way of telling stories that is relatable with a type of humor that feels more like a backyard conversation with a friend than a forced joke.

This conversational tone carries throughout the book, and the revelations about faith, life, and most anything else move me from my previous laughter to really connecting with the struggles and learning that take place.

The overarching theme of the dandelion has an interesting way of bringing all of the various sections together into a more cohesive story, and provides another level for me to relate on. Through phases of the dandelion, life stories are told and lessons in life and faith are revealed.

I recommend this book to anyone who enjoys funny, especially anyone who enjoys funny with a purpose. Through a variety of anecdotes in this book, Sarah Cunningham shares the realistic struggles and celebrations of someone walking in faith through day to day life.

As for other summer reading – check out Son of Laughter,  Traveling Mercies, and Exploring the Campus Tribes (an eBook about campus ministry).

Where have I heard that before? Oh yeah, the last ten blog posts. Coming close to time to write final “papers” for the Stead Halstead School of Biblical Literacy. Unfortunately, this has taken a bit of the back seat this year. Mainly unfortunate because I still long for the knowledge and the opportunity to dig further into the stories that are so familiar. In a lot of other ways though, not totally unfortunate though, because I wouldn’t trade what has taken up my time instead for anything!

Here’s a quick review:

ENGAGED

Sarah and I got engaged in January. We were out Geocaching, which I’m apprecating more and more as a great way to get outdoors with friends. Sarah and I really enjoy the hunt together, so it seemed like a good time to get engaged too. We’re getting married in two weeks!

BEND

Jim, Dave and I led a mission trip to Bend Oregon through the INN. A great trip for sure, we worked with Habitat for Humanity and did a wide variety of things, including drywall, insulation, siding, more drywall, crawlspace insulating, and installing in-floor heating systems. So great. I learned a ton about leading a trip and realized I’d like to focus the next year on what it means to be a spiritual mentor. The School of Biblical literacy ties in with this, of course.

KABOBS

Sarah and I decided to do build your own kabobs as our wedding food. This is a pretty good sized undertaking since it means the food won’t be catered. It also means the food is about 10% of the catering estimate (nice!). The rubber really hits the road in the next two weeks as we get ready for all things wedding. I’m slightly nervous about this food situation, but we’ve got a lot of great people helping us out who know far more about food prep than I do.

the INN

My role as a senior staff member at the INN has continued to develop more and more. I’ve also signed on to direct the summer INN, which will be great. Summer INN will also give me space to step back and look at a lot of my tasks for next year and re-evaluate how somethings could be done better, more efficiently, and in a way that frees staff time up to do what they work at the INN to do – help students explore faith. This continues to be a great job, and I’ve got a lot to learn! A lot. A lot. A lot.

Alright, that’s the recap. That gets us current, which always feels good for moving forward. This summer, fingers crossed for one post a week. I’m sure I’ll have some good stories and pictures from all the new adventures and travels that are coming up!

In the ten chapters I’ve read of John so far, I’ve been blown away. Firstly, by how different this gospel is in style than the others, and secondly, how some of the events just have a radically different perspective. There’s also more of an overall spiritual feel to it. Well, they all have that, but maybe more of it in John is sticking out to me.

I had a few verses that I wanted to write about, but the section that grabbed me and wouldn’t let me put it down is this: John 6:66-69:

From this time many of his disciples turned back and no longer followed him. “You do not want to leave too, do you?” Jesus asked the Twelve. Simon Peter answered him, “Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life. We believe and know that you are the Holy One of God.”

This section says a lot. Immediately before this, the disciples are grumbling about how hard Jesus’ teachings are. It seems to be a “when the going gets tough situation”, and a lot of the disciples decide to not follow on account of these “offensive” teachings.

What about us? When Jesus actually challenges us, do we stay and listen, or take offense and run away? If we’re sitting in church and something offends us, do we pack our bags and leave that church? In our culture today, we seem to be offense-adverse. I know, that sounds obvious, who likes to be offended, right? No one. But I have to admit that I would like a little more offense in my life. I’d like more people to teach, guide, and correct me. I’m surrounded by lots of people who have plenty of advice to give, and life guidance who are much wiser than I am in many places (many, many people!). In many cases, I wonder if someone isn’t commenting on what I’ve done or what I believe because they’re afraid to offend.

Of course, if I get my wish here and people start commenting on everything I say, do, or believe, I may be more careful with what I wish for in the future

I’m part of it though too. Even at things like church or the INN, a few words that might be offensive to others make me cringe. I start thinking who might be offended, who won’t ever come back, or who’s going to walk away with some skewed version of who we are. While it’s probably good to be a little mindful of these things, I probably need to chill out and trust that the Holy Spirit is doing something in listener’s hearts that I can’t see and don’t understand.

I find the second part of this verse even more profound than the first. Disciples are leaving, and Jesus asks the rest of them if they’re going to leave too. Peter’s response only adds to how much I already like Peter. Peter asks where else they would go, acknowledging that Jesus has the words of eternal life and is the Holy One of God.

It strikes me that Peter is someone who has looked other places for the hope and life he had found in Christ. He knows what else and who else is out there, and is putting his faith in Jesus. In the same way, I know what else is out there too. I’ve walked away from my faith before and filled my life with other things, only to discover that they don’t satisfy. Only a relationship with God through Jesus Christ has ever allowed me to live life to the fullest.

As we minister to students on campus, do we believe that there is no other place to go for the life that we’ve found in Christ? In a world that pulls students to place their time in a thousand different activities on campus and a culture that tells us to forget our faith, learning to articulate the unique relationship with and life that comes from following Christ is of huge importance, and unavailable elsewhere.

There’s so much more to be said and thought of about Peter’s response. I’ll be talking about this verse with people for a while! What do you think?

I didn’t make as much progress through the four Gospels as I hoped I would during fall quarter. Or maybe I made just as much progress as I hoped. I didn’t meet my schedule by about 25%. But I also took it slow through some sections to examine more, think more and blog better. With that in mind, I don’t really view my slowness as a failure. Although, perhaps 15% of my slowness could be attributed to regular laziness/needing a mid-quarter break, which is a pattern that I saw in myself during my regular academic career. In that case, I suppose I could add the two, and claim that the Stead Halstead School of Biblical Literacy is 90% doable. That sounds pretty good.

Anyway, digging into John today, the very first chapter struck me as amazing and hope inspiring. Specifically two sections stood out to me.

In John 1:5, it says, “The light shines in the darkness, but the darkness has not understood it.” This little verse captures what I have felt like recently in trying to understand how to effectively share my faith with the people around me, but INN folks and friends not connected with the INN. To say that God is doing a lot in my life right now would be too small of a statement. Things are great right now. I’m learning new things, seeing new things, and discovering new things as I continue as part of the staff at the INN. I have an amazing house. Great roommate(s). A nice lady friend. All those things are great.

And in the midst of that, as I sit on campus this morning, I’m watching people walk by in the commons. What does it mean for Christ to be shining in the darkness? As for the darkness on campus not understanding it, I understand that.

There are a lot of people on this campus that Jesus shines through. I’ve seen people serving others this morning, friends opening the doors for each other, great conversations happening, and more. INN students keep walking up to my table on their way to classes and meetings, and we both get excited about sharing about our time over Christmas break. I’m sure that Jesus shines in the small things.

And that’s what the darkness doesn’t understand. In a world that’s all about making sure that I’m alright, and I’m well taken care of, and I’m getting what I deserve, how can someone understand a selfless act of service? How can it be looked at as anything but totally foolish and throwing life away?

In verse 9, it says, “The true light that gives light to every man was coming into the world”. What a great hope! Sure, the darkness doesn’t understand the light, but Christ has come to be the light! Not only that, but to every man.

This is exciting, on so many levels. This is a great message of hope.

On this note, I’m excited to dig into this quarter. I’m excited to see what other things John holds, as well as to dig into the Old Testament and see what I’ve been missing. Thanks for sticking around!

In the mean-time, the “bible school” is going to look a little different this next quarter. I’m working on setting up meetings now for the coming weeks, as well as refining my old testament schedule to be more… realistic. Also, I’m trying to figure out how I’m going to finish half of luke and all of John in the middle of that. This is a great adventure. I love it.

In the meantime, here’s some interesting financial/year-end giving stats from mint.com:

budget planner – Mint.com

To support me, or my work at the INN, you can donate online at: http://www.theinnministries.org/donate/ or sign up for our monthly ministry newsletter by clicking here.

Thanks for following along! I hope you had a great Christmas and soon a happy new year!

What then of the Stead Halstead School of Biblical Literacy? Originally designed as a proactive use of my part-time status and a orderly way to fill my hunger for scripture that has been developing over the last few years, being full time would seem to get in the way. Not so though! My additional 20 hours a week are funded by the M.J. Murdock Charitable Trust, granting me title of “Second Year Intern”. One piece of the Trust’s desire for the interns that it supports is that they would be going through some sort of training program. The “Bible School” fits exactly that. Perhaps that’s why I had to put this thing together all along. God knew.

I’m still working out the details on how the school fits into the weekly INN schedule, especially since my primary study time used to be during staff meetings, which I now attend. This has caused the small delay and various hiccups in my planning, but I’m getting back on it. Digging into Luke today, I found myself reading and reading, and without even thinking about it, shooting straight past my target reading. I’m fine with that, but I was excited by how quickly the time passed, and how consumed I was by the reading. I had to get up and go though, only because it was time to be back at FPC getting ready for the INN tonight.

In particular, Luke 3:7-16 jumped out at me. People are gathered to be baptized by John the baptist. What seems like out of no where, John starts laying into those gathered, with insults about being a brood of vipers, their lineage, and that trees not bearing fruit would be cut down. Yikes! Tough words to swallow.

John doesn’t turn away after this verbal lashing though and leave the people to do whatever they wanted to do. If it were me dispensing the harsh words (from God, even), I think I’d want to get them off my chest and get out of town.

God has a different way though, and one I should take a lesson from. After John has said what he has to say, the people ask him, “What then should we do?”, and John answers. In so many ways, this is entirely more caring than I would have been. It reminds me that God’s message is both a reminder that I’m broken, as well as an affirmation that He is using my brokenness and with me through it.

Also amazing to me is the question, “What then should we do?”. It probably shouldn’t be so amazing, either. That’s the question I should be asking every time I read scripture. I think that it’s a question that my generation is missing and forgetting to ask. This question digs for application of scripture to our lives. It’s more than a, “So what?”, but still seeking to understand how to go forward with what we’ve learned.

Two chunks in this section struck me as I was reading through this morning. In Mark 11, as the disciples and Jesus are walking to Jerusalem, Jesus tells two of the disciples to go into the next city and as they enter, they will find a colt tied up (that has never been ridden)  and bring it back here.

In this bit, this sequence of items seems strange to me. A little bit of a random list. It’s like, go around the block twice, then you’ll find a man with a trenchcoat. Tell him that you love Taco Bell. If he responds with five words, ask him for whatever you need. Weird, right?

This is a reaffirming moment for me that God knows everything. How else could Christ have known that there would be a colt tied up, let alone one that had never been ridden?

Similarly, in Mark 15:12-15 it happens again!

‘So he sent two of his disciples, telling them, “Go into the city, and a man carrying a jar of water will meet you. Follow him. Say to the owner of the house he enters, ‘The Teacher asks: Where is my guest room, where I may eat the Passover with my disciples?’ He will show you a large upper room, furnished and ready. Make preparations for us there.”‘

Wow. This is such an incredibly simple moment, but so amazing too. How did Christ know that there would be a man with a jar of water? How could he have known that this man would take those disciples to the specific room big enough for 13 of them?

It’s comforting knowing that God knows all of these things. It’s comforting that God is big enough to know them, and comforting that God is small  enough to care about them.

That’s all for now. It’s INN staff play day today, so that’s where my mind is going now. Woo hoo!

Today I was hit by Mark 9:38-41. The scene looks a little bit like a team meeting to me. They’ve just arrived in Capernaum. On the way there the disciples have been arguing about who is greatest. Jesus calls them all together in the house and they sit down for a bit of a chat and Q&A session.

Then there’s a question that I think I might come up with if I were part of the early startup of this thing. The disciples said, “Teacher, we saw a man driving out demons in  you rname and we told him to stop, because he was not one of us.”

While, I expect to hear Jesus say, “yeah, that’s fine”, He brings much more than that. He instructs his disciples not to stop the others,  and later says “whoever is not against us is for us”. Whhhaaaaat?

In the middle, Jesus says that no one who does a miracle in his name can then say anything bad about Jesus. I wonder if this has something to do with the faith of the person doing the miracle in Jesus’ name. If faith in Christ were a requirement to perform the miracle in the first place, I guess this seems logical.

If this were true, then the disciples statement in the begining takes a new shape. There was a man driving out demons in Jesus’ name. It was working. Following what Christ said, since it was possible to drive out the demon, the man must have had faith in Christ and therefore was on their side.

This one left me confused. I’m not sure writing about has helped me. I’m going to keep thinking about this one today.

In all of this, I am caught by Mark 1:35-39. In this chunk, Jesus gets up early in the morning and heads off to a place to be alone and pray. Later, Simon and a few others went looking for him.

If I were Simon and the others, I would be worried. Probably a little mad and afraid too. Earlier in this chapter, Simon had been called away from his boat to become a “fisher of men”. After that, they went around and Jesus taught, drove out an evil spirit, and healed many people until late in the evening. Through this, if I were Simon, I’d be getting excited. In the beginging, when Jesus called me off my boat, and away from the life that I knew, I’m sure I would start wondering what I had gotten myself into as soon as the healings started.

But then my attitude might start to shift. As I listened to the teachings of Christ firsthand, and had the opportunity to interact with him and see how the teachings were lived out, I would begin believing more and more. By the end of a week of teachings, healings, and following Jesus closely, I would be committed. I would believe the things he was teaching and know that I was getting behind something incredible. Maybe the status would start to go to my head.

And then waking up, Simon finds that Jesus isn’t there. What the heck. Has he ran away? Left for good? Was this a quick scam? Something I had fallen for whole heartedly has gotten up and left me without explanation. In a small way, this fisherman had become less of an everyday laborer to the world and kind of an important guy as a Disciple of Christ. But he’s gone.

He’s gone.

So Simon does what I would do too, he goes looking for Jesus. I would imagine this is a bit of a frantic looking, like a parent looking for a lost child in the supermarket, “and when they found him, they exclaimed: ‘Everyone is looking for you!’” When I read that, I hear my parents saying the same to me as a kid. Something like, “Where have you been! We’ve been looking all over for you!”

And Just as Simon might be starting to think that they’ve found Jesus and can return to the city to continue to grow in popularity together, Jesus suggests they go somewhere else. Not just another big city though, but to “nearby villages”. We don’t get to see Simon’s reaction to this, but maybe he just went with it, happy to have found Jesus.

At any rate, it’s clear that Jesus wasn’t in it for one city of popularity or sitting in one place and waiting for people to come to him. Instead, he goes out to villages in the area and preaches there as well.

How often do I wait for people to come to me? What a challenge to not just sit down in FPC on Tuesday night for the INN and wait for people to come to us, but instead also being up on campus meeting with people, being downtown, serving locally and connecting with people in the dining hall. This isn’t saying that I don’t think Tuesday nights at the INN are valuable. They are. I actually really dig Tuesday nights, but I have to remember that it’s only part of it. That as diverse as the crowd is that wanders down on Tuesday nights, there is still so many others in different circles up on campus and around town.

Please pray that we would always be challenged to get out of our comfort zone and get up on campus and wherever we’re called to be. Also, think about how Jesus might be calling you to take his message to others outside of the current “city” you’re in. Sharing the Good News with those we are initially uncomfortable with is not only what we are called to do, but also teaches us about different aspects of God’s love that we are incapable of learning outside of the diverse community of the Kingdom of God.