I recently read an article called Off to College- Can we Keep them? by someone I dont know anything about, but he gave 12 reasons why college students lose their faith. Where I think this applies is- reasons why people that grew up in a Christian home and might not have ever really owned their faith, had a personal relationship with Christ- these are things that choke out any plant growing in their lives. Here a few I see at Furman alot-

1.Young Believers Think They Can Be Solitary Christians

Many young believers go off to college with what I call the "just you and me, God'' view of the Christian life. Separated from their hometown congregation, they think they can worship, pray, study Scripture, and practice the Christian disciplines all by themselves without fellowship with other believers. That's like a soldier thinking he can stay alive and fight Just as well when separated from his unit.

2.They Haven't Learned to Recognize the Desires and Devices of Their Hearts

It's an odd thing about us human beings: Not many of us disbelieve in God and then begin to sin-rather, we get involved in some clinging sin or start wanting to fit in, and then we find excuses to disbelieve in God. For this reason, the best apologetics in the world cannot succeed unless students know how to unmask their own secret motives.

3. They Think Good Intentions Are Enough to Protect Them from Sin

Like so many of the other stumbling blocks, this one is most prominent in the area of sex. For example, a Christian boy and girl may have every intention of remaining chaste but spend every waking moment alone together. This is an impossible combination.

4.Their Understanding of Christian Virtues Is Too Sentimental

Young Christians often confuse friendship with God with a state of their feelings. "I know the Bible says we should avoid doing such and such. But I prayed about it and felt that it was all right." Anyone who thinks like this is a sitting duck for the adversary, having become fatally vulnerable to attacks that would otherwise be easy to repel.

There are days when I wonder why God called me to Furman University, a small private school in the heart of the Bible Belt. But I am reminded- we have a mission field among us. We have a culture to redeem. As I walk the halls at Furman, I see people desperately in need of a savior, of a new life and new heart, of true fulfillment and love. And that can only be found in Christ alone.

Together for the Gospel!

Just had to write something in here to tell you all about our staff's time at a conference in Kentucky called Together for the Gospel. We all piled in a 15 passenger van and SUV to make the road trip ti Louisville, KY! The ride was long, but not boring...one fun thing about our staff team is that my twin sister Emily works at Presbyterian College with her husband so I get to hang with her! Of course I loved that :)

Upon arriving, we all went out to dinner together like one big family, which I also am so thankful for, and settled in for the week. This conference was specifically designed for pastors- about 7,000 of them! People were everywhere. And the coolest thing was that they were all there for the same purpose- to hear what it really means to preach an Unadjusted Gospel! That was the theme this year: The UNADJUSTED GOSPEL. As we all worshipped together (we were pretty much the youngest there), I thought of heaven, where we will all worship God together, finally seeing Him face to face.

My favorite talk of the conference was by Pastor John Piper, and if you know me, you know he is my favorite. He talked about justification, which is the act of God declaring a sinner (all of us in this world) not guilty but righteous in His eyes. Thats a crazy concept- that if youre a Christian, youre covered in Jesus's righteousness- when God looks at me, He accepts me not based on anything I've done, but on what Christ has done (lived a perfect life and sacrificed Himself) and God sees me clothed in Christ. Thats so freeing! It's not about me!

Anyways, John Piper talked about that in a very deep sermon, where I was challenged with the thought- what do I base my right standing with God on? On my transformation, my changed life? On being a good person? Or on JESUS Himself?? Am I looking to my goodness to save me?

Piper gave 7 points at the end of his talk, and the one I really loved was point 2 and 3-

2. Nothing We Do Is Basis for God’s Acceptance

3.Our Standing with God Is Based on Jesus, Not Us

I left challenged- Its not about me! Its all about the person and work of Jesus Christ.

I cant tell you how thankful I am to get to go to this conference!! It made me so excited about the future of the Church, where God might call me, and confirmed even more that where I am is where I need to be.

This past week my grandmother died- my dad's mom. We've lost all 4 grandparents in the last 4 years....it really makes me think of death, change, and rely on God. It makes me think of the verse in 2 Corinthians that says...."Thought outwardly we are wasting away, inwardly we are being renewed day by day. For our light and momentary struggles are achieving for us an eternal glory which far outweighs them all. So we fix our eyes not on what is seen but what is unseen- for what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal."

Springtime @ FURMAN!!

Spring has finally arrived!! This is probably one of my favorite times of the year, except for fall- long nights, crickets chirping, walks around the Furman lake, and being outside in general- I love all these things!

As I type, I'm realizing how quickly this year has gone by...and how many changes I've experienced this year. More later on all of that. I cam honestly say this year has been one of the hardest, but best years of my entire life!

I can't believe this week is the our staff's last week full time on the campus before the Leadership Project! God has done so much this year in me, through me, and at Furman. So much that I could type about 8 pages on every prayer request He answered, all the things I've learned about Him, His character, and about myself, but I will spare you that novel on this blog.

Lately we have gotten to do some fun things with the girls and the guys,starting the building somewhat of a community here at Furman. I don't know if you've ever read Acts 2: 42-47, but that's my prayer for the women and men here at Furman. It says of the disciples,

"They devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching and to the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. Everyone was filled with awe, and many wonders and miraculous signs were done by the apostles. All the believers were together and had everything in common.Selling their possessions and goods, they gave to anyone as he had need. Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts, praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved."

If you ever wonder what you can pray for the ministry here at Furman, pray those verses :)

So in light of that, what has been going on at Furman?

-We have weekly spaghetti dinners at our director, Thomas Camps house! This time is a time to just talk, meet new people, fellowship together, and create welcoming environment for anyone to come to! These have been very successful and have accomplished what we prayed they would- giving us a connection point for people of all classes at Furman, guys and girls, and staff to come together!

-My Bible study girls have started, on their own initiative, eating dinner together every Monday night!! The crazy picture below is a picture of all the freshman girls in my Wed night Bible study at a bon fire we had last week!

-Girls dinner: A couple weeks ago, we had every girl involved in our ministry and anyone else who wanted to come over to my house for dinner and ice cream sundaes! It was amazing- my house was so full you could hardly walk!!

-Cookie swap- Sarah and I (thomas Camp's wife) organized a fun cookie swap where girls came for Cocoa & Cookies!! We had a blast!

Below are pictures from a concert some freshman girls and i attended last tuesday! The close up pic is me, Kylie, Virginia, Mary Grace, and Allie- all freshman at Furman!!

As we finish out this year strong, pray that God would continue to build a commmunity- even this summer at the Leadership Project in Myrtle Beach!!

prayer

"Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God which transcends all understanding will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus."

Tonight I'm praying these words from Philippeans would be true for me. That as I ask God for things and give over my anxieties to Him, His miraculous unfathomable peace will guard my heart and my mind in Jesus. If youre reading my blog, please pray for me that I would not doubt God and I would really trust Him deeply with where He has called me and all the things He has given/taken away recently, especially my support.

This weekend was our missions conference at Mitchell Road Presbyterian Church, where missionaries from all over the world come to update us and tell us all that God is using them to do to advance the gospel around the world. Honestly, its one of my favorite times because I get to experience a taste of ministry outside of the US or in america in many different contexts. My field right now is the college campus! Which is exactly where God has me and where I need to be- but as I write I can tell you the truth, my heart is open to go wherever the Lord would lead me- here or far away.

Something big for me personally this weekend was thinking about the Biblical character Jonah and the disconnect he had in his heart. He knew God but did his own thing and wanted an easy life- like me. When we're disconnected from the heart of God, we're really disconnected from our own hearts too :( In thinking about this, I was challenged with a couple thoughts-
- why do I run to being an orphan daily, when I've got a dad who never fails me and always wants me?
-What am I doing with the longings of my soul? What things am I giving more adoration and thought too than I am to Jesus?

How do I respond? In my sinful heart I want to do more, go harder, be more useful for the Kingdom..but God says our righteous acts are like filthy rags. I am praying for a humble needy heart, we all must see ourselves as broken and in need of a savior. The whole truth of all that God has given us in Jesus is a miracle, so deep and rich it really never gets old the more you know of God and the more He reveals Himself to you and changes you. I dont think it ever gets easy to walk with God but thats my tendency to desire an easy life.

Lately I've been thinking about death alot, if you know me well you know that one of my best friends and mentors, Jessica, died a little over a year ago in training to be a missionary in Spain. I often get the chance to talk about her life with girls I'm building relationships with and leading in Bible studies, and its pricked my heart to think: If I died today, what would I be remembered for? What treasures am I storing up for myself here on earth that are useless and self centered?

Some perspective helpers

Today I listened to the song "Send Me" by Lecrae on repeat while I ran....I just have to post the lyrics because they paint a beautiful picture of a life not wasted!! I don't want to waste my life- I really want to spend it here for God's glory, go out and reach people and share what God has done in my life and tell of all that He has to offer!! I want to be sent, and I am now sent to reach the lost at Furman, maybe away from America at some point, but I have a willing heart to be used. Do you?



Send me I’ll go,
send me I’ll go,
send me I’ll go,
lemme go lemme go!

i seen it with my own two,
there’s no way i can show you
a perfectly poverty stricken people with no view.
And i bet you can’t believe this,
they never heard of jesus.
Heard young butler, lil wayne, and young jeezy.
No one’s signing up to go on missions this summa.
Rather sit at home and watch exibit pimp in a humma
while a nine year old is shot down.
No one’s screaming ’stop now!’
no bridge illustrations for criminals who on lock down.
People deep in africa
looking for an answer bra’.
In china man,
they’re dieing man,
until they know who died for sins.
So look what grace did.
Not for us to stay here
inside our comfort zones
at home in mama’s basement.
Get out on the grind y’all.
Ain’t no better time doll.
I know y’all read the great commission.
Let me just remind y’all:
make disciples of the nations.
Teach’m to obey the lord.
Have to lead someone to christ before i face the lord.


Send me I’ll go,
send me I’ll go,
send me I’ll go,
lemme go lemme go!

hey! After, 1,000 years in the west and the churches
get’n bigger daily without understand’n worship
Some regenerate but a lot ain’t saved.
You walk outside and be surprised cuz the block ain’t changed.
And the numbers they be get’n me.
Something just ain’t hit’n them.
America ain’t christian they practice’n the ritual.
That’s why we should be mission though.
Hey, what you think i’m spit’n for?
The united states is die’n
and in the east is looking pitiful.
Some places if they catch you
they’ll arrest you.
They’ll serve you,
but they still need the word too.
The gospel should be heard too.
We claim we ain’t ashamed,
but we ain’t hit the block up.
Were in our christian bubble,
while our brotha’s get’n locked up.
Lord i wanna stock up,
pack a bag and walk up
in a country where my faith may get me shot up
anywhere i go, whether my city or far abroad,
i just wanna show’ christ the risen holy god.

Send me I’ll go,
send me I’ll go,
send me I’ll go,
lemme go lemme go!

i know they’re die’n in the streets over in the middle east.
Some kids sink in piece
others hold’n up a piece.
If the violence doesn’t cease,
then at least the deceased
might know jesus as their savior as their bodies hit the streets.
And i know this is a graphic view.
And i pray that it’s attack’n you.
Track’n you to act and do
what you see in the back illusion.
Mathew twenty-four and fourteen.
We should read it twice
before we think that life is just a battle
see we free in christ!
Look dawg! Life is more than church work and football!
What if you were dead and seen that christians overlooked y’all!
This is why we leave the couch
and leave the comforts of our house
to show a die’n world a god they’ll probably never read about.
The great commission says make disciples of all nations.
Have we even made them in our own nation?
Come on christians!
Missions exist because worship doesn’t.
People don’t worship the god who made them.
We’re ambassadors.
Let’s go!
Send me I’ll go,
send me I’ll go,
send me I’ll go,
lemme go lemme go!

Paradox 2009

I havent updated in forever. Don't worry, it doesnt mean what you think it might mean- that nothing is going on- but actually means quite the opposite!! God is doing great and many wonderful things at Furman!! Some highlights are:
-Our trip to Washington DC was AWESOME!!!
This Christmas break, a bus full of Furman students made the long road trip to Washington DC, where over 500 college students from all over the southeast met together to worship God, learn, and have fun for 4 days!!
Why was Paradox2009 such a success?
Students and staff were were challenged on so many levels- in the area of giving financially and sacrifically, being content (learning to be content as Paul says in Philippeans), how will we share our faith as we get older and will we??, and who IS Jesus, what does a relationship with HIm look like??

A whole clan of freshman girls came that I have been hanging out with and leading in a Bible study this fall!! The pictures above show us all having fun shopping, hanging out at the hotel, and loving DC! I wish I had pictures for all of our times spent studying the Bible, worshiping God, and learning through talks and seminars but I dont!

On a more personal level, God is teaching me and has been teaching me about what it means to be content IN Christ and with Him alone. Please pray for me as I am learning this and want to be content no matter what the circumstances, like Paul says, " I have learned to be content...."

Recent Pic!

Whats been going on this semester @ Furman?

Ive been hanging out with students a ton!!!! Here are some pictures of some things Ive been uo to.....

Going to concerts with students! Some freshmen girls and I hanging out :)
Halloween party @ my house! Tons of students came!
Making turkeys after freshman Bible study!
Dinner party! I cooked dinner for the girls on thursday night! Were going to make it a weekly tradition!!