I'm finally here. I moved about a week and a half ago to an apartment in Capitol Hill that I almost cried over when I entered the threshold. It's awesome. We have 3, yup 3 porches, and the third is a huge one right outside my bedroom. I feel secure and stable here in a way I didn't in New Haven. Perhaps it was because I thought I might move out after a year because of the conditions, but I'm glad I stuck it out :)
D.C. is wonderful. Every day brings me new things to be excited about - whether it's new, secret, tucked-away parks, driving through Rock Creek Park, or seeing the hustle and bustle of Columbia Heights; I still can't get over the excitement of living here. I can walk/run to the Capitol building from my house - and once I get a little more in shape, I'm going to venture down to the Potomac and jog along the river.
My roommates are fantastic. Eden is a nurse practitioner, who's family has had a long history of FOCUS involvement in the GWA (Greater Washington Area). She was in a small group, my first year in New Haven, with my two other co-workers while she was at nursing school. Monica, my other roommate, I have adored since I had her in my freshman bible study (as a sophomore) which I led during my senior year at Davidson. We share similar experiences from our study abroad semesters in Ecuador; as well as many college friends in the area. She is also a nurse practitioner who knew Eden while at nursing school.
My church is awesome. Eden told me about it last year and it sounded like the vibrant, Spirit-seeking church I was attending in New Haven - plus the background in Anglican tradition I love, sound teaching, and a lot of young people! The crazy thing is that my freshman and sophomore year roommate in college, and a friend from my growing up years in Philly also attend the church!
And FOCUS was officially "kicked off" today with a lovely picnic at Fletcher's Cove this afternoon. I was overwhelmed by the support and interest that students, parents, and volunteers showed. We are going to have a fabulous year! I drove 4 students from Episcopal High School (a boarding/day school in Alexandria, VA) to the event, and we're trying to start a meeting there soon. The school is as yet unwelcome to FOCUS meetings on campus.
Of course, I'm intimidated by the year ahead. This is much more student contact than I've ever had before, and I'm going to have to plan my time well to make meetings on time around D.C. traffic patterns. But I feel sent here.
Last week at church, the pastor preached on Paul's time in Corinth. He said how it's no accident that we are in D.C. Whether we're here for an internship or a job, God has CALLED us to this city for a specific reason, for as long as He has appointed us here. I feel God's hand on me here - from picking my roommates and apartment; to garnering the support, enthusiasm, and contacts to begin ministry here. I am extremely thankful.
I pray for myself to be as dependent on God equally in the hard and easy times. And I just pray I can be faithful and find joy during my time here.
Sunday, September 19, 2010
Thursday, September 2, 2010
Last Talk of the Summer (Middle School Adventure B) (on the Holy Spirit and "going home" after camp)
What is your favorite sport? (field hockey, crew)
Do you have a memorable coach?
What were qualities about these coaches that made them magnificent? (dedication, personal attention) (Ms. Buggy, Mrs. Kanopka)
Imagine your coach leaving right before one of your most important games of the season
Imagine how helpless you would feel
Jesus’ disciples faced a similar predicament –
Night before Jesus dies on the Cross, He tells them that He will die, be raised again, and then go to heaven
Remember: they had given up 3 years of their lives to follow Jesus; their leader was leaving; they weren’t “Christian pro’s” (fishermen, tax collectors, normal)
Jesus doesn’t leave them alone – He gives them a promise that is ours as well – if we have accepted Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior, we have the Holy Spirit.
2 main things: Who the Holy Spirit is – and then the tools that the Holy Spirit uses to draw us closer to God
First, let’s READ John 14:15-18, 23-27 – to hear what Jesus has to say about the Holy Spirit
This is great news to the disciples who thought they would have to go on alone after all that Jesus had taught them; facing real opposition (remember, all of them but one was killed for believing in Jesus)
We will most likely NOT face death in our lives because of our faith – but we need the SAME assurance that Jesus gives these disciples
Go back to the sports analogy. Imagine if your coach’s instruction, encouragement, and discipline were living inside of you.The Holy Spirit is God living inside of you. This is so much better than a coach!
The Holy Spirit is part of what’s called, the Trinity – God the Father, God theSon, God the Holy Spirit
No perfect analogy to describe this concept
Let me tell you a personal story of how the Holy Spirit has helped me
My junior fall semester in college I spent in Latin America – beauty and poverty
My time there was really difficult emotionally
Stuff I experienced there affected me really deeply.
One of the lies I was believing while I was there: I am ALONE.
One of the first things Jesus says about the Holy Spirit – Spirit of Truth
What’s the opposite of truth? LIES
What are some of the things Jesus says to counter this LIE of being alone?
Truth #1: v.16 “this Counsellor will be with you forever”
REMINDER – I have to write things on my hand all the time. One of the ways the Holy Spirit sends us messages and reminders of truth is through reading the Bible. Sometimes I’ve read a part of the Bible, and felt like the ink was still wet – like God was speaking directly to me. That is the Holy Spirit.
The Holy Spirit also works to give us PEACE in the midst of difficult circumstances. Jesus says specifically in the verses we just read that He gives peace that is different than the world gives.
What does that mean? The peace in this world, we usually have to work for – it takes effort on our part to get peace and quiet in our lives, and it is often beyond our controlThe peace the Holy Spirit gives comes OUT OF our relationship with God that is NOW at peace. If we have accepted Jesus into our Lives – we KNOW who’s in control, and we KNOW He is good.
This last part of my talk is to talk about the TOOLS that the Holy Spirit can us to draw us closer to God
- as I mentioned, reading the Bible reminds us of truth and teaches us more about God – imagine if someone you really loved had written a bunch of love letters, it would be silly to store them all away and never read them – The Bible tells us about who God is, how He feels about us, and what He’s done for us. If the Holy Spirit is our coach, reading the Bible is like reading the play-book
- We’ve been talking about having a relationship with God, and this happens by getting to know Him – just like you would with any new friend. Remember how maybe the first time you talk to a friend on the phone it’s kind of awkward, you’re not used to their voice – but if you talk to them often – you get to recognize their voice! It’s like that with God – the more time you spend listening to Him in prayer and reading His word, the more you will recognize His voice. He will tell you when you are wrong, and when you are right. And most of all, He will remind you, like I said, that you are loved by Him
- Another tool: Fellowship. Fellowship is simply a fancy word spending time with other Christians. The purpose is to encourage us in our faith and relationship with God. Just like God designed us to be in relationship with Him, He desires us to be in relationship with each other – relationships that are based on Him. It’s like spending time with your teammates. You can’t play a game very well if you don’t know your teammates. It also makes the game so much more enjoyable. If they are Christians, they also have the Holy Spirit, so like in a game, they will also remember the “coach’s” instructions and encouragement.
- Lastly, God calls us to love one another – not just our teammates, but others who don’t know God. And one of the ways we can love them is to tell them about God and what He has done in our lives. One thing that is so fantastic about the Holy Spirit is that it can create change in us that others notice before we do – and that can make them want the peace and the joy that we have because Jesus is King in our lives. Remember how a leader told Rihanna how much she had changed since her last camp? That’s the Holy Spirit at work in her!
Guys – I want you to know that you are not alone. Like Heather said, the invitation to know God is waiting for you. And once you RSVP, the Holy Spirit begins working in your life and will be with you forever
I’m going to close with Isaiah 43:1-3 “This is what the Lord says – he who created you, O Jacob; He who formed you, O Israel: ‘Fear not, for I have redeemed you; I have summoned you by name, you are mine. When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and when you pass through the rivers, they will not sweep over you. When you walk through the fire, you will not be burned; the flames will not set you ablaze. For I am the Lord, you God, the Holy One of Israel.”
Do you have a memorable coach?
What were qualities about these coaches that made them magnificent? (dedication, personal attention) (Ms. Buggy, Mrs. Kanopka)
Imagine your coach leaving right before one of your most important games of the season
Imagine how helpless you would feel
Jesus’ disciples faced a similar predicament –
Night before Jesus dies on the Cross, He tells them that He will die, be raised again, and then go to heaven
Remember: they had given up 3 years of their lives to follow Jesus; their leader was leaving; they weren’t “Christian pro’s” (fishermen, tax collectors, normal)
Jesus doesn’t leave them alone – He gives them a promise that is ours as well – if we have accepted Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior, we have the Holy Spirit.
2 main things: Who the Holy Spirit is – and then the tools that the Holy Spirit uses to draw us closer to God
First, let’s READ John 14:15-18, 23-27 – to hear what Jesus has to say about the Holy Spirit
This is great news to the disciples who thought they would have to go on alone after all that Jesus had taught them; facing real opposition (remember, all of them but one was killed for believing in Jesus)
We will most likely NOT face death in our lives because of our faith – but we need the SAME assurance that Jesus gives these disciples
Go back to the sports analogy. Imagine if your coach’s instruction, encouragement, and discipline were living inside of you.The Holy Spirit is God living inside of you. This is so much better than a coach!
The Holy Spirit is part of what’s called, the Trinity – God the Father, God theSon, God the Holy Spirit
No perfect analogy to describe this concept
Let me tell you a personal story of how the Holy Spirit has helped me
My junior fall semester in college I spent in Latin America – beauty and poverty
My time there was really difficult emotionally
Stuff I experienced there affected me really deeply.
One of the lies I was believing while I was there: I am ALONE.
One of the first things Jesus says about the Holy Spirit – Spirit of Truth
What’s the opposite of truth? LIES
What are some of the things Jesus says to counter this LIE of being alone?
Truth #1: v.16 “this Counsellor will be with you forever”
REMINDER – I have to write things on my hand all the time. One of the ways the Holy Spirit sends us messages and reminders of truth is through reading the Bible. Sometimes I’ve read a part of the Bible, and felt like the ink was still wet – like God was speaking directly to me. That is the Holy Spirit.
The Holy Spirit also works to give us PEACE in the midst of difficult circumstances. Jesus says specifically in the verses we just read that He gives peace that is different than the world gives.
What does that mean? The peace in this world, we usually have to work for – it takes effort on our part to get peace and quiet in our lives, and it is often beyond our controlThe peace the Holy Spirit gives comes OUT OF our relationship with God that is NOW at peace. If we have accepted Jesus into our Lives – we KNOW who’s in control, and we KNOW He is good.
This last part of my talk is to talk about the TOOLS that the Holy Spirit can us to draw us closer to God
- as I mentioned, reading the Bible reminds us of truth and teaches us more about God – imagine if someone you really loved had written a bunch of love letters, it would be silly to store them all away and never read them – The Bible tells us about who God is, how He feels about us, and what He’s done for us. If the Holy Spirit is our coach, reading the Bible is like reading the play-book
- We’ve been talking about having a relationship with God, and this happens by getting to know Him – just like you would with any new friend. Remember how maybe the first time you talk to a friend on the phone it’s kind of awkward, you’re not used to their voice – but if you talk to them often – you get to recognize their voice! It’s like that with God – the more time you spend listening to Him in prayer and reading His word, the more you will recognize His voice. He will tell you when you are wrong, and when you are right. And most of all, He will remind you, like I said, that you are loved by Him
- Another tool: Fellowship. Fellowship is simply a fancy word spending time with other Christians. The purpose is to encourage us in our faith and relationship with God. Just like God designed us to be in relationship with Him, He desires us to be in relationship with each other – relationships that are based on Him. It’s like spending time with your teammates. You can’t play a game very well if you don’t know your teammates. It also makes the game so much more enjoyable. If they are Christians, they also have the Holy Spirit, so like in a game, they will also remember the “coach’s” instructions and encouragement.
- Lastly, God calls us to love one another – not just our teammates, but others who don’t know God. And one of the ways we can love them is to tell them about God and what He has done in our lives. One thing that is so fantastic about the Holy Spirit is that it can create change in us that others notice before we do – and that can make them want the peace and the joy that we have because Jesus is King in our lives. Remember how a leader told Rihanna how much she had changed since her last camp? That’s the Holy Spirit at work in her!
Guys – I want you to know that you are not alone. Like Heather said, the invitation to know God is waiting for you. And once you RSVP, the Holy Spirit begins working in your life and will be with you forever
I’m going to close with Isaiah 43:1-3 “This is what the Lord says – he who created you, O Jacob; He who formed you, O Israel: ‘Fear not, for I have redeemed you; I have summoned you by name, you are mine. When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and when you pass through the rivers, they will not sweep over you. When you walk through the fire, you will not be burned; the flames will not set you ablaze. For I am the Lord, you God, the Holy One of Israel.”
Wednesday, August 18, 2010
Wednesday, August 4, 2010
Crossroads B
What an amazing camp. It's unbelievable that I have two more week-long camps left of this summer. Crossroads B is a camps specifically geared for students going into either 9th or 10th grades.
The camp began with a hilarious and memorable afternoon in Vineyard Haven. Around 11:30 on the first day of camp, I picked up some early arrivals from the airport - a girl from Richmond, and a girl from Baltimore. Both of these girls I became pretty tight with as the camp went on. We decided to head into Vineyard Haven, as students weren't technically allowed to be "on site" until later in the afternoon. We went to get sandwiches at Mocha Motts, and as we sat down, a large man and his friend asked us to watch his dog for us. This would have been fine, except this dog was clearly a watch-dog, and very scary. It got riled up as it saw other dogs, which intimidated the three of us. However, thanks to our kindness to this stranger, he gave us a combined $30 gift certificate to the store he owned down the street!! I guess it pays to help a stranger out :)
My cabin was a hoot. These girls had me and my co-cabin leader, Corbin, in stitches every evening. The patience and love we showed this girls became more and more fun as we got to know this crop of girls who were mostly all originally from DC. There were a bunch of students from DC, so that was wonderful. I now feel like vision for my future work is growing :)
The camp began with a hilarious and memorable afternoon in Vineyard Haven. Around 11:30 on the first day of camp, I picked up some early arrivals from the airport - a girl from Richmond, and a girl from Baltimore. Both of these girls I became pretty tight with as the camp went on. We decided to head into Vineyard Haven, as students weren't technically allowed to be "on site" until later in the afternoon. We went to get sandwiches at Mocha Motts, and as we sat down, a large man and his friend asked us to watch his dog for us. This would have been fine, except this dog was clearly a watch-dog, and very scary. It got riled up as it saw other dogs, which intimidated the three of us. However, thanks to our kindness to this stranger, he gave us a combined $30 gift certificate to the store he owned down the street!! I guess it pays to help a stranger out :)
My cabin was a hoot. These girls had me and my co-cabin leader, Corbin, in stitches every evening. The patience and love we showed this girls became more and more fun as we got to know this crop of girls who were mostly all originally from DC. There were a bunch of students from DC, so that was wonderful. I now feel like vision for my future work is growing :)
Saturday, July 24, 2010
Fellowship Talk at Internship One
given on Friday morning, July 16th -
Fellowship talk at Internship One
INTRO
Two years ago I came up to this study center to lead at Internship One, a total wreck. I had just flown back to the States from the West Bank (which is next to Israel) two months before my arrival here.
So fresh in my mind was this experience that I had just had of spending six months in the West Bank, working at a university student center in a town, hanging out with students, and learning about the political situation there up close.
If anyone knows anything about the Israeli/Palestinian conflict, you know that it is incredibly complex, emotionally charged, and honestly seemingly hopeless.
And that’s exactly how I felt – conflicted, emotionally charged, and hopeless.
I had honestly had gone to my limit emotionally and physically.
Not only that, but I also felt like a total failure because I had had to leave about a month and a half early. I wasn’t able to handle the emotional and physical toll this experience was having on me. So therefore, when I arrived at the study center in early July 2008, I was also wrestling with guilt and shame, on top of the immense grief and anger I felt from my time in the West Bank.
I came up to Internship because Jon-Marc had asked me to, on a previous program that summer that I also volunteered at. I should have actually been job-searching, but the fun and the emotional space, and more importantly, the connection with God and with other Christians that I had been given on that previous program showed me that I needed to lead at Internship for my spiritual survival.
However, showing up at the vineyard in the state I was in, felt like showing up to a group project badly prepared – You know what that’s like. You feel awful about it, but there is nothing you can do. There’s only so much of a front you can put up before people around you realize what a mess you truly are.
But what helped me overcome that initial fear was that I’d known enough about Christian fellowship and my experience at FOCUS programs, to know that the people I was going to be with would show love and grace, regardless.
So, instead of having people shun me, feel sorry for me, or scold me for the emotional and spiritual darkness I was going through, I remember feeling totally accepted for who I was, HOW I was – but then ALSO encouraged toward transformation that only God could bring.
I remember the first night I was there at the study center, sitting around in this barn with a couple of the leaders even before the students got there – just praying for each other – hearing about where we were emotionally and spiritually coming into the program, and our greatest expectations and greatest fears about the camp that lay ahead.
Three things happened in that time that sum up what true Christian fellowship is all about. And you might want to write this down (possibly overhead ECW)
There was encouragement, comfort, and we wrestled in prayer for one another.
(I’m going to say that again).
There was encouragement, comfort, and we wrestled in prayer for one another.
I didn’t just get this from my head, Paul talks about it in a passage in Colossians.
I want to show you how Paul and fellow Christian friends experienced this kind of fellowship.
Let’s look at Colossians 4:7-18. Everyone please turn there. Please look up when you have it.
(READ passage
Let me give you some context to this passage. As we’ve said before in other talks, while Paul is writing this letter to the Colossians, he is in prison. You might have a title above this section in your Bible that says something like, “Final Greetings.” He wants to address these people directly, or pass along greetings.
Imagine a few weeks from now that you want to write a letter to some people from this internship. You might use language that shows how much these relationships mean to you.
Paul uses some dear language here to describe and communicate how important these relationships are to him.
So where do we see ENCOURAGEMENT, COMFORT, AND WRESTLING IN PRAYER?
ENCOURAGEMENT
Remember how I said Paul was separated from these people? Why does he send Tychicus? He sends him so that the Colossians could know about how Paul was doing. Because they were concerned. How does Paul describe Tychicus? As a dear brother.
Think about people that have encouraged you – What does encouragement do?
It literally means to give courage to another’s heart.
Maybe you’ve had a coach that pressed you on further than you thought possible. Perhaps you have people back at home, or here that have given courage to your heart to face tough situations at home or at school.
COMFORT
How do we see comfort in this passage? It seems that in v.11, Paul describes his friendship with Justus as a real comfort to him. Why? Because he is one of the only workers for the Jews among him.
Imagine moments where you have been lonely, and all of a sudden a friend shows up, and their presence is reassuring to you.
WRESTLING
Finally, what does it mean to wrestle in prayer? Where do we see it here in this passage? Paul describes Epaphras as someone that has wrestled in prayer for the Colossians.
How many of you have ever wrestled? I’m sure some of the guys have! I’m not an expert on wrestling, but I know it’s not easy. That’s why sometimes wrestling in prayer often is called “laboring” in prayer. Agonizing, struggling over something – with God.
FINALLY
Paul talks about in v. 12, if you look at it, that there is a further goal to fellowship than just experiencing encouragement, comfort, and wrestling in prayer. The purpose is that God gives us the gift of fellowship, of other Christians in our lives to accomplish this:
That we would stand firm in the will of God; that we would be mature; and that we would be fully assured of what we believe (go back to overhead)
Let me go back to my story for a little bit.
As the camp progressed, I sensed a massive “culture” of acceptance, of grace, of acknowledging our weaknesses to each other in freedom; of correcting each other in love. Amazing things happened among our community - People acknowledged areas to one another in their lives where they had been struggling over eating disorders, lust, and depression – and we able to call out the lies we believed, the “philosophies” that we’d been taught and had been engrained within us; and then acknowledge the truth of God that could combat these lies that we’d struggled with for so long.
And within this “culture of grace,” I like to call it – we could bring each other to the ONE that we all knew could really take care of our sorrows and our struggles.
Ok, so that first night of Internship 2008, having a place to voice these circumstances I had just come out of and be prayed for, began the process of transformation.
This is because we were ENCOURAGING one another.
We were COMFORTING one another.
We were, in essence, dressing each other’s wounds of hurt and bitterness through our patience with one another, and just mere presence as we hung out.
And we also WRESTLED in prayer for one another.
We met each other in prayer and brought each other before the only true Healer.
It was a culture that was founded on and moved ahead by our love for God – and foundationally and essentially – His love for us and acceptance of us.
And this encouragement, comfort and wrestling in prayer did not end there. It’s NOT supposed to. God desires to give us what we need at home, wherever we are – that we may be encouraged, comforted, and prayed for.
I know what you’re thinking – “I see that at work here! But I really want to see that at home… HOW does that happen when I’m not around all these people again, and in this context?”
How do think Paul became friends with these people that he says are encouraging, comforting and that have wrestled in prayer?
Well, how do you become friends with people?
You live your lives with them. This is nothing fancy.
How do you think college friends are often so much closer than any other friends than any other stage in life? Life is lived together, doing not just the spiritual things of prayer, but you also eat meals with together, walk to class together.
I don’t think Paul would have made many friends if he was constantly in intense conversations or prayer all the time.
However, he knew the value of fellowship. And he knew that at its core, if it is to grow us more assured of what God wants for our lives, it would include encouragement, comfort, and wrestling in prayer for one another.
I’m going to leave you all with a final story about fellowship, and I hope this encourages you (hey!) to think practically and also intentionally.
In New Haven, every Sunday night, after church, my friends and I would gather at someone’s house, have dinner and play games – like literally, the same games we play here at FOCUS during game time or downtime. Now, let me tell you something about this group of people. It was incredibly random.….. We had a Yale graduate student in sculpture, a University of New Haven grad student in forensic psychology, 3 FOCUS staff workers, a coach, a teacher, a scientist, and an architect. If you think our professions were diverse, you should have seen our personalities. However as hosts, and as Christians, we accepted each other, and we kept our focus on Christ. And because of this, the love that we had for each other spread throughout our community and many of our friends that would NEVER even think to talk about their spiritual beliefs, started coming to church and asking us questions about our lives.
A final thing that I want to say about fellowship is this.
You might now know where to start. You may not have many Christian friends where you are, but I would ask you to pray about it.
These relationships at Internship One will continue, as they did for me after two years ago.
Ask God to provide for you, and He will. We were not made to be dependent on our experiences at camp, as Jon-Marc talked about last night. We were made to live in fellowship always – to have this encouragement, comfort, and wrestling with prayer for and with one another at all stages and seasons of our life.
Fellowship talk at Internship One
INTRO
Two years ago I came up to this study center to lead at Internship One, a total wreck. I had just flown back to the States from the West Bank (which is next to Israel) two months before my arrival here.
So fresh in my mind was this experience that I had just had of spending six months in the West Bank, working at a university student center in a town, hanging out with students, and learning about the political situation there up close.
If anyone knows anything about the Israeli/Palestinian conflict, you know that it is incredibly complex, emotionally charged, and honestly seemingly hopeless.
And that’s exactly how I felt – conflicted, emotionally charged, and hopeless.
I had honestly had gone to my limit emotionally and physically.
Not only that, but I also felt like a total failure because I had had to leave about a month and a half early. I wasn’t able to handle the emotional and physical toll this experience was having on me. So therefore, when I arrived at the study center in early July 2008, I was also wrestling with guilt and shame, on top of the immense grief and anger I felt from my time in the West Bank.
I came up to Internship because Jon-Marc had asked me to, on a previous program that summer that I also volunteered at. I should have actually been job-searching, but the fun and the emotional space, and more importantly, the connection with God and with other Christians that I had been given on that previous program showed me that I needed to lead at Internship for my spiritual survival.
However, showing up at the vineyard in the state I was in, felt like showing up to a group project badly prepared – You know what that’s like. You feel awful about it, but there is nothing you can do. There’s only so much of a front you can put up before people around you realize what a mess you truly are.
But what helped me overcome that initial fear was that I’d known enough about Christian fellowship and my experience at FOCUS programs, to know that the people I was going to be with would show love and grace, regardless.
So, instead of having people shun me, feel sorry for me, or scold me for the emotional and spiritual darkness I was going through, I remember feeling totally accepted for who I was, HOW I was – but then ALSO encouraged toward transformation that only God could bring.
I remember the first night I was there at the study center, sitting around in this barn with a couple of the leaders even before the students got there – just praying for each other – hearing about where we were emotionally and spiritually coming into the program, and our greatest expectations and greatest fears about the camp that lay ahead.
Three things happened in that time that sum up what true Christian fellowship is all about. And you might want to write this down (possibly overhead ECW)
There was encouragement, comfort, and we wrestled in prayer for one another.
(I’m going to say that again).
There was encouragement, comfort, and we wrestled in prayer for one another.
I didn’t just get this from my head, Paul talks about it in a passage in Colossians.
I want to show you how Paul and fellow Christian friends experienced this kind of fellowship.
Let’s look at Colossians 4:7-18. Everyone please turn there. Please look up when you have it.
(READ passage
Let me give you some context to this passage. As we’ve said before in other talks, while Paul is writing this letter to the Colossians, he is in prison. You might have a title above this section in your Bible that says something like, “Final Greetings.” He wants to address these people directly, or pass along greetings.
Imagine a few weeks from now that you want to write a letter to some people from this internship. You might use language that shows how much these relationships mean to you.
Paul uses some dear language here to describe and communicate how important these relationships are to him.
So where do we see ENCOURAGEMENT, COMFORT, AND WRESTLING IN PRAYER?
ENCOURAGEMENT
Remember how I said Paul was separated from these people? Why does he send Tychicus? He sends him so that the Colossians could know about how Paul was doing. Because they were concerned. How does Paul describe Tychicus? As a dear brother.
Think about people that have encouraged you – What does encouragement do?
It literally means to give courage to another’s heart.
Maybe you’ve had a coach that pressed you on further than you thought possible. Perhaps you have people back at home, or here that have given courage to your heart to face tough situations at home or at school.
COMFORT
How do we see comfort in this passage? It seems that in v.11, Paul describes his friendship with Justus as a real comfort to him. Why? Because he is one of the only workers for the Jews among him.
Imagine moments where you have been lonely, and all of a sudden a friend shows up, and their presence is reassuring to you.
WRESTLING
Finally, what does it mean to wrestle in prayer? Where do we see it here in this passage? Paul describes Epaphras as someone that has wrestled in prayer for the Colossians.
How many of you have ever wrestled? I’m sure some of the guys have! I’m not an expert on wrestling, but I know it’s not easy. That’s why sometimes wrestling in prayer often is called “laboring” in prayer. Agonizing, struggling over something – with God.
FINALLY
Paul talks about in v. 12, if you look at it, that there is a further goal to fellowship than just experiencing encouragement, comfort, and wrestling in prayer. The purpose is that God gives us the gift of fellowship, of other Christians in our lives to accomplish this:
That we would stand firm in the will of God; that we would be mature; and that we would be fully assured of what we believe (go back to overhead)
Let me go back to my story for a little bit.
As the camp progressed, I sensed a massive “culture” of acceptance, of grace, of acknowledging our weaknesses to each other in freedom; of correcting each other in love. Amazing things happened among our community - People acknowledged areas to one another in their lives where they had been struggling over eating disorders, lust, and depression – and we able to call out the lies we believed, the “philosophies” that we’d been taught and had been engrained within us; and then acknowledge the truth of God that could combat these lies that we’d struggled with for so long.
And within this “culture of grace,” I like to call it – we could bring each other to the ONE that we all knew could really take care of our sorrows and our struggles.
Ok, so that first night of Internship 2008, having a place to voice these circumstances I had just come out of and be prayed for, began the process of transformation.
This is because we were ENCOURAGING one another.
We were COMFORTING one another.
We were, in essence, dressing each other’s wounds of hurt and bitterness through our patience with one another, and just mere presence as we hung out.
And we also WRESTLED in prayer for one another.
We met each other in prayer and brought each other before the only true Healer.
It was a culture that was founded on and moved ahead by our love for God – and foundationally and essentially – His love for us and acceptance of us.
And this encouragement, comfort and wrestling in prayer did not end there. It’s NOT supposed to. God desires to give us what we need at home, wherever we are – that we may be encouraged, comforted, and prayed for.
I know what you’re thinking – “I see that at work here! But I really want to see that at home… HOW does that happen when I’m not around all these people again, and in this context?”
How do think Paul became friends with these people that he says are encouraging, comforting and that have wrestled in prayer?
Well, how do you become friends with people?
You live your lives with them. This is nothing fancy.
How do you think college friends are often so much closer than any other friends than any other stage in life? Life is lived together, doing not just the spiritual things of prayer, but you also eat meals with together, walk to class together.
I don’t think Paul would have made many friends if he was constantly in intense conversations or prayer all the time.
However, he knew the value of fellowship. And he knew that at its core, if it is to grow us more assured of what God wants for our lives, it would include encouragement, comfort, and wrestling in prayer for one another.
I’m going to leave you all with a final story about fellowship, and I hope this encourages you (hey!) to think practically and also intentionally.
In New Haven, every Sunday night, after church, my friends and I would gather at someone’s house, have dinner and play games – like literally, the same games we play here at FOCUS during game time or downtime. Now, let me tell you something about this group of people. It was incredibly random.….. We had a Yale graduate student in sculpture, a University of New Haven grad student in forensic psychology, 3 FOCUS staff workers, a coach, a teacher, a scientist, and an architect. If you think our professions were diverse, you should have seen our personalities. However as hosts, and as Christians, we accepted each other, and we kept our focus on Christ. And because of this, the love that we had for each other spread throughout our community and many of our friends that would NEVER even think to talk about their spiritual beliefs, started coming to church and asking us questions about our lives.
A final thing that I want to say about fellowship is this.
You might now know where to start. You may not have many Christian friends where you are, but I would ask you to pray about it.
These relationships at Internship One will continue, as they did for me after two years ago.
Ask God to provide for you, and He will. We were not made to be dependent on our experiences at camp, as Jon-Marc talked about last night. We were made to live in fellowship always – to have this encouragement, comfort, and wrestling with prayer for and with one another at all stages and seasons of our life.
Monday, July 12, 2010
Internship One 2010
I just got back from weeding at Felix Neck Bird Sanctuary with about 12 students, and earlier this morning, directed a "FOCUS"-version triathlon. I was actually pretty overwhelmed with these tasks just 24 hours ago.
To direct this triathlon, I and another leader had to figure out where students would be stationed, when, how, and what exactly we needed to do to make a successful race involving a 1/4 mile swim, 1 mile run, 1 mile bike ride, another 1 mile bike ride, a final 1 mile run, and then a short sprint carrying members of the team. It felt like a massive SAT math problem. But everyone was into it!
More importantly, this morning in our staff devotions, one of the leaders led some thoughts and prayer out of Hebrews 12:1-3 "Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us. Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfector of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Consider him who endured such opposition from sinful men, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart."
This was very confirming, that even though working through the logistics of this triathlon was a pain, it would definitely be worth it.
The weeding was a part of the service aspect of our program which comes out of the teaching program for this camp which we are taking out of the book of Colossians.
Even though I find myself somewhat distracted at this camp because of certain circumstances in my life - God is clearly at work among this 40 prep school students on the Vineyard. "Hoo-ray," as Richard Gwathmey (long-time Philly staffworker would say).
To direct this triathlon, I and another leader had to figure out where students would be stationed, when, how, and what exactly we needed to do to make a successful race involving a 1/4 mile swim, 1 mile run, 1 mile bike ride, another 1 mile bike ride, a final 1 mile run, and then a short sprint carrying members of the team. It felt like a massive SAT math problem. But everyone was into it!
More importantly, this morning in our staff devotions, one of the leaders led some thoughts and prayer out of Hebrews 12:1-3 "Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us. Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfector of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Consider him who endured such opposition from sinful men, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart."
This was very confirming, that even though working through the logistics of this triathlon was a pain, it would definitely be worth it.
The weeding was a part of the service aspect of our program which comes out of the teaching program for this camp which we are taking out of the book of Colossians.
Even though I find myself somewhat distracted at this camp because of certain circumstances in my life - God is clearly at work among this 40 prep school students on the Vineyard. "Hoo-ray," as Richard Gwathmey (long-time Philly staffworker would say).
Friday, July 2, 2010
A Gift
Soon after I left New Haven, a talented friend of mine made a piece of art for me as a going-away gift. I didn't realize how meaningful it would be.
And this is what she wrote about it:
She took two of my favorite U2 songs, and extracted a certain portion of the lyrics, and watercolored the background.
The lyrics are from "Bad" and "Pride (In the Name of Love)"
This is the piece in entirety:
And this is what she wrote about it:"I'm glad you got the gift! I never found time to write a card to go along with it. It would have explained what I was thinking with the piece- it's small but I think it came out more powerful than I imagined- I'm so glad these were your favorite songs. I was baffled by how deep the lyrics were and how in my mind, the lines that I extracted from the two songs fit together so well. The lyrics for the first song, though I've never heard it in full before, just seemed somber but real. I feel like this is our reality. Apart from Christ, this is where we are, struggling through different situations of painful desperation- and the words they chose were perfect to express the anguish. I imagined this as a note to us from Jesus- "Let it go, let these things go" and in a sense it is a cry of empathy for us, but it is also a command. "What more in the name of love" referring to His sacrifice, that washed away all the chains and oppression of this reality, He is saying 'What more can I ask- my sacrifice is perfect. Let it go, I have better for you."
I don't know, I looked at that combo over and over after I put it together and I just kept hearing the Spirit tell me that the grasp sin has over us might not be as tight as I imagine it to be. That in my fear, in my oppression, I give it power, but He can and will enpower me to let go and be free in Christ. I want that for you too. I want us to know what it looks like to love and live in freedom because of Christ."
I don't know, I looked at that combo over and over after I put it together and I just kept hearing the Spirit tell me that the grasp sin has over us might not be as tight as I imagine it to be. That in my fear, in my oppression, I give it power, but He can and will enpower me to let go and be free in Christ. I want that for you too. I want us to know what it looks like to love and live in freedom because of Christ."
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