College Life End of Year Party

It was a joyful time to celebrate with many of the students, remembering the good times and good things of this past year. And thanking God for all that He has done in each of us and in the community. It was sad, and yet exciting to pray for the several seniors who are graduating and heading in different directions. Our hope is that their time spent with us at New Church and with College Life has prepared them in some small way to live as intentional followers of Jesus the rest of their lives, and use the gifts they've been given in the churches where they find themselves over the coming years, whether that be here or elsewhere.

It's been a joy to be a part of their lives for this short time, and I'm looking forward to seeing what the Lord does in their lives as they move on from here.

Here's a couple pictures from the celebration time at our (Audrey and I's) apt. a little over two weeks ago. Enjoy!

Steve

End of Year Craziness

For two weeks now I've meant to sit down and write something about all that's been going on, but there's been so much that I haven't had a chance. Some things that have been happening that I'm hoping to write more about:

Ordination Ceremony 4/27
Housewarming 4/26
Last Spiritual Leadership Seminar 4/30
Last Bible study 4/29
Audrey's new job and our adjustment to that...
Last College Life Leadership gathering- 4/20
Graduation Sunday and the Dwight Way Partnership- 5/4
Jesus in Berkeley 2008
Trip to San Diego- 5/1-5/4

Yea, I think that'll keep me busy for a while. So yea, just to say I haven't fallen off the face of the earth, but lots has been happening.

Spiritual Leadership Seminar

Every Wednesday evening in April (2nd-30th) 18 students plus Audrey and I have been, and will be, meeting on campus to discuss issues surrounding spiritual leadership. It was really encouraging for me to see the great response as we invited people to consider coming to the class. The 18 students represent close to half of the students we have regularly attending bible studies and College Life events.

We using a book called "Spiritual Leadership" by Oswald Sanders to guide our discussions, but we hope it will mostly be used to spark discussion. We've had two meeting already and our third one will be tonight. The last couple went really well, it's been great hearing what they have to say in the discussions. We've asked each of them to take a chapter from the book and lead the class in a short discussion on that chapter, so it's been cool to watch them as they lead the class, see their style and what they find important. We've also had them write a one page reflection each week on one chapter of their choice from the reading, and that may be the best part as Audrey and I get to read what they are struggling through as they read the book and think about what it might mean to be a leader.

A common theme in their reflections so far has been that they never really saw themselves as a leader, or ever really becoming one, but now they are realizing that their perception of what a leader is was too idealistic and that it may be possible that God could use them to lead in His kingdom by serving others (which is what leadership in God's kingdom is all about).

Please pray for these students that they would take to heart the things God is teaching them about what He desires for their lives to be about.

Ordination Exam- Passed!

Thanks to those of you who prayed for me this past Thursday. I definitely felt the Lord's presence during the exam. I was still nervous, but it turned out to be a great time together with the pastors and ministry leaders that were there, and I felt like I didn't embarrass myself much at all. It was encouraging to hear their feedback afterward as they encouraged me to really take hold of the calling that I have and go for it.

It's a bit of a strange feeling being on this side of the exam that I had been working toward for so long. There's a sense of relief that it's over, excitement for what comes next, and a little bit of a let down not having that big thing to work toward. But most of all it's humbling to watch what the Lord is doing in my life, and see confirmation from those in ministry already. I hope and pray that the Lord keeps me faithful to the work to which He has called me, and that I hold on dearly to the one who has called me.

For now, it's time to catch up on all those things I put off while I was studying. =)

Ordination Exam tomorrow!!!

The day I've been studying for the last 4 years will be here tomorrow. The day where I stand in front of 20 or so pastors and ministry leaders and field questions as they try to determine that I am called and prepared for the ministry. My brain feels full of information, and yet doesn't feel full enough. But I also know that it's not mainly about knowing information, but it's about being confident of the call that God has made on my life, and trusting Him enough to follow Him where He leads. I am excited for it to finally be here, and I'm also anxious that I'll forget things, not know things, or just answer poorly. I am so grateful to God for this opportunity and pray that He is glorified through it.

Please pray for me if you have the chance. The exam is Thursday April 3rd at 3:30pm Pacific Time. Thanks so much!

The hope of the resurrection

"We believe that Jesus died and rose again and so we believe that God will bring with Jesus those who have fallen asleep in him." 1 Thessalonians 4:14

Celebrating the death and resurrection of Jesus was much more poignant for us this year. On Wednesday of last week we found out that one of the guys who had been coming to our young adult fellowship since the fall had passed away suddenly at work. He was in his twenties and worked at Pixar as a storyboard artist. He had a heart transplant when he was 12, but had been doing great and no one saw it coming. He brought an amazing amount of joy and life to our community, we were so blessed to have him around for the time he was here. I personally wish I had gotten to know him better and enjoy the amazing person God created him to be.

So it was with this at the forefront of our minds that we came to celebrate the death and resurrection of our Lord. It brought comfort to us knowing that Justin is now with Christ, which is better by far (Phil. 1:23), and that the hope of the resurrection awaits him, and us, when Christ returns. We are still sad and miss him dearly, but thankfully we can mourn as those who have hope of better things to come.

I hope and pray that the reality of Jesus' death and resurrection and the hope of our own resurrection has hit home for you this Easter season as well! May we learn to put our lives in perspective as David did in this psalm:

"Show me, O LORD, my life's end
and the number of my days;
let me know how fleeting is my life.
You have made my days a mere handbreadth;
the span of my years is as nothing before you.
Each man's life is but a breath.
Selah
Man is a mere phantom as he goes to and fro:
He bustles about, but only in vain;
he heaps up wealth, not knowing who will get it.
But now, Lord, what do I look for?
My hope is in you."

Psalm 39:4-7

Has worship lost its luster?

"The chief end of man is to glorify God and enjoy Him forever."

I was reminded tonight of the joy of just being in God's presence singing praises to Him along with brothers and sisters in the Lord. I remember during my college days at Cal soaking in every opportunity to worship, even creating them with "Dorm Praise," a weekly gathering of any interested parties at the Clark Kerr dormitory to just sing worship songs until we felt like stopping. I remember a church in Sacramento that used to have huge Sunday evening worship times for college students, several hundred would attend. Perhaps they still go on, I just haven't been around. At Cal, Interpraise used to overflow the capacity of First Pres., and if you didn't get there a half hour ahead of time you had to sit in the balcony or outside. Now most people seem to show up a half hour late, and the pews are sparsely populated.

I really am in no position to judge whether things are going up or going down as a whole. These are just observations I've made in my minute corner of the universe, and it's caused me to wonder, can worship lose its luster? And it's brought me first to ask myself if I have made it my chief aim lately to glorify God and enjoy Him forever. I think I try to consider how I am serving the Lord each day, and of course always come up short. But it seems a more difficult thing to really stop and delight myself in the Lord simply for who He is. But surely a life lived in service to Him must start with a heart enamored with Him.

May my heart be such a one, and may more and more hearts turn to Him, and overflow in worship.

Steve