Keeping the "Awe"

Please take a few minutes to listen to this challenging message by Chuck Swindoll, presented in chapel at Dallas Theological Seminary. It is extremely pertinent to those of us in ministry, especially in the Bible College setting!

An Occupational Hazard to All in Ministry by Charles R. Swindoll

Dr. Swindoll does a masterful job connecting the text of 1 Corinthians 10 to our lives today. He ends his sermon with a call to "keep the awe," but doesn't offer any clear direction regarding the means to accomplish this. I think the passage does. What was their problem? They lusted after evil things. And why is their example included in Scripture? That we should not lust after evil things. I think it was this very "lusting" that led to the idolatry, the sexual immorality, the tempting of Christ, and the complaining - the sins listed after the statement about lusting after evil things.

So, how do we keep the awe? We stop lusting after evil things. Or, stated positively, we "lust" after God. To avoid the connotations of the word "lust," let's say "seek," or "desire," or "pursue," or, as the Psalmist, "long for," "yearn for," "pants for," and "thirsts for" God.

Keep your awe of God by choosing to keep your awe of God. Take time to marvel at His glory. Take time to express gratitude for His mighty works. Take time to value His character. Take time to love Him. Choose to love Him.  Seek to love Him more. Make that your daily endeavor.  And, as you do so, take no notice as your "lust" for "evil things" begins to disappear. 

Pursue the Awe.  Pursue God.

Top 10 Ways to Have a Great Break!

We are all excited about Christmas break, and many of us have started setting some goals. We want to get all of our reading done for the Spring Semester. We want to witness to all of our friends, etc. Unfortunately, many of us get home and do nothing.  Laziness ensues. Sometimes students even fall into old sinful habits. Here are some tips and ideas to help you have a successful break:

1.  Sleep! But not too much. You just completed a semester of school on an average of 4-5 hours of sleep per night. By all means, catch up on your sleep! This does not mean, however, that you should become nocturnal and stay up until 3am each night and sleep in past noon each day. Get yourself 8-10 hours of sleep each night. No more, no less. Nothing valuable happens after midnight. Go to bed by 11 and get up around 8. It’s a great schedule. If you need more sleep, go to bed earlier. J

2.  Build a tree-house. You don’t have to build a tree-house, but I do recommend some kind of productive hobby.  Video games are not a productive hobby. Find something active, constructive, instructive, productive, or another “-ive”. Build something with wood. Sew some clothing. Cook food for someone.  Learn to play an instrument. Hike. You want something fun and productive that isn’t homework and isn’t a video game.

3.  Beware of Know-It-All syndrome. You just finished a semester of Bible College. Way to go!  Remember, this does not make you an expert on all-things-Bible. As you return to your homes and churches, be teachable. You may know more “facts” about the Bible than your parents or other church members. But, believe me, they know much more about life.  Much more. Return with a teachable spirit. Listen to your parents. Consider their instruction. If you are having trouble with this, read some Proverbs. 

4.  Talk and share with your family. If you are anything like me, than your general response to your family’s questions about life is, “good.” It’s the easy response when you are tired, and not sure you want to share everything. Instead, open up. Talk with them. Show them pictures and tell them stories of classes and friends and mistakes and joys. Share as much as you can. They care about you and you need to keep them involved in your life. Open up. 

 

5.  Get involved at your church. 4 weeks can be an awkward amount of time. Too long to be just a visit, but too short to make commitments. As you return to your home churches, jump right in. Within the first week you are back, talk to your pastor about how you can get involved. Sing in the Cantata, teach Sunday School, share a testimony, lead music, play the piano, do a Bible study, write notes, etc. Don’t just be there, be all there.

6.  Set achievable goals. It’s great that you want to get all of your homework done for next semester, but that’s not really an achievable goal. Set goals in small amounts so you can chop away at them. Rather than setting a goal to chop down a redwood tree, set a goal to swing the axe at it 4 times each day, and then see how far you get. If your goal is too big, you might be too intimidated to ever get started. If you set achievable goals, you might actually achieve some of them!

7.  Plan to spend time in the Word. When you head home, you get out of your “routine.” You’ll want to sleep in and then do your devotions when you get up. The problem is, when you get up at 11, there’s stuff going on and it’s hard to focus. So, you put it off. Before you know it, the day is spend and you haven’t been in the Word. “I’ll get to it tomorrow,” you’ll tell yourself. But you won’t. Plan now to spend time in the Word then. Figure out a good time and stick to it. Tell someone else who can hold you accountable. You need to be in the Word. Make it happen.

8.  Reflect on the previous semester.  It all happened so fast! Take some time over break to think back over the semester you just finished. Rehearse some of the good memories. Think about regrets you have. Think about the things you really liked? What would you like to do differently next semester? What things would you like to do more next semester?

9.  Develop your knee callouses. The semester gets so busy that it’s hard to spend time in prayer. If you don’t get in the habit of praying when you do have time, you certainly won’t pray when you’re busy. Work on a prayer list. Start a prayer journal. Ask your pastor if you can meet with him for prayer once a week. Pray, pray, pray.

10.  Focus.  In all of these things you do, focus. Focus on the right thing. Your purpose is to bring God glory. This is true even during breaks J. Start each day focused on God’s glory. Ask yourself, “How can I best honor Him today?” “How can I glorify Him as I __________?” In all you do, magnify your God, and it will be a truly great break. 

Sleeping for Him - part one

College has a strange effect on our sleep patterns.  No one can seem to get enough sleep.  Everyone wants more sleep.  We sleep when we shouldn't (in class, while reading, at work, while driving??) and we can't sleep when we should (homework, conversations, and video games at bedtime).  It's just part of college life, right?  It's normal to operate on less than six hours of sleep.  So, you just load your system with some caffeine and "do stupid things faster and with more energy" (as one popular slogan phrases it).  ;)

Are we helpless in the fight to get enough sleep?  Will we ever defeat droopy eyelids and nodding heads?

Let's try to find some balance.

1. Sleep is necessary. This is simple and obvious. It is part of the way we operate as humans. Most sources agree (though Scripture is silent) that we need 7-9 hours each night.

2. We can survive on less sleep. There are times in life that sleep will be sacrificed for more important things and other times when we will feel tired but not be able to sleep. This was true in Jesus' life. We are told on various occasions that He was tired and on at least one occasion that He decided not to sleep in order to pray (just before His death - obviously extreme circumstances). Jesus also took advantage of opportunities to sleep - even on a boat. 

3. God provides strength. 2 Corinthians 12:9 is clear that in our weakness, God's strength is made complete. The principle here is not that we should seek sleep-deprived states, but eater depend on Him at all times and trust that He will provide strength in the rare times that we are lacking sleep. 

4. We are to avoid laziness. Any number of verses from Proverbs could be quoted here. The principle is not that sleep is bad, but rather that our attitude is important. If we are sleeping out of necessity, to take care of our bodies and therefore be fit to serve the Lord to the max, then it's not laziness. If, however we sleep because we don't feel like getting up, or want to avoid work, or whatever else, we are lazy.

5. We are to take care of our bodies.  1 Corinthians 6 reminds us that our bodies are the Lord's because we are bought with a price. This means I need to do everything I can to keep this body fit for His service. I nee to eat right, exercise, rest, and sleep. 

6. A lack of sleep has costly effects. The human body doesn't function properly without sleep. It hinders us physically, mentally, and emotionally. Physically it weakens our immune system. You know how easy it is to get sick when sleep-deprived. It also slows recovery. It keeps our body from restoring itself. It adds stress. Not to mention it causes us to fall asleep at the worst times - like in class! What a waste of time and money! Mentally, it slows down brain function. It is harder to process things and to think correctly (something we are to take very seriously according to Scripture like Philippians 4:8). Emotionally, it makes us prone to moodiness and irritability. Our sin is never caused by a lack of sleep, but I know I have a much harder time walking in the Spirit when I'm tired. 

Here's the bottom line. If my life is really God's, then I want to do everything I can to make it fit for service - which means I need to work hard to get enough sleep. When I don't, I need to make every effort to trust that God will provide the strength I need (or the means to get some sleep) and seek to depend on Him. 

In part two, we'll look at some practical ways to get sleep, even though you are a college student.

Sleeping for Him - part two - practical tips

It's one to to acknowledge that sleep is important.  I think we would all admit that we want to sleep.  Yet, it doesn't happen.  Here are some practical ways to make it happen.

1. Prioritize.  The two hours in the afternoon that you used to play video games or take a nap didn't seem like a big deal at the time, but later that night when you didn't start your homework until midnight and it takes you until 2am, you are starting to regret those wasted hours earlier.  Prioritize your time.  You may still have time for that game, but do the homework first.  Set goals.  I'll get this homework assignment done in the next hour, then I'll reward myself with a 15 minute break. Then I'll get back at it.  

2. Avoid naps.  I know this sounds crazy, but it's true.  There are emergency situations where naps are helpful, but for the most part, they just end up making it harder to sleep at night - or at least they keep you from feeling like it's time for bed.  It is a destructive pattern, too.  You sleep for an hour in the afternoon.  Then, you don't go to bed until 1am.  Then, you are exhausted the next day, so you take a 2 hour nap.  Then  you don't go to bed until 2 am...and so on.  If you absolutely need to be refreshed by a nap - make it no longer than 20 minutes.  A 20 minute nap can be extremely refreshing without keeping you up later at night.

3. Do your homework.  Don't leave it for after curfew.  Do it in the afternoon or early evening.  This way, when curfew comes, you can spend a little time hanging out with friends and still get to bed at a decent time.  

4. Set limits.  When it comes to hanging out with friends, set limits.  It's easy to go to a friends room and literally just be there (doing nothing) for 3 hours. Set a limit.  If you visit at 11 pm, make your time worthwhile and plan from the start to head out at 11:30 pm so you can get to bed.  

5.  Keep a normal schedule.  Do what it takes to stay awake when you should be awake (during the day) and to sleep when you should sleep (at night).  Stand while you read so you don't get sleepy and then "accidentally" take a three hour nap.  Do your homework with a friend so you can keep each other awake and focused.  Don't do anything on your bed during the afternoon - you'll fall asleep.  Stand during class so that you are alert and focused (you could stand in the back - been there, done that).  This will help you get the right amount of sleep at night.  Your body will be ready for bed at a normal time. 

Give it a shot.  Try to get more sleep.  Don't do it for yourself - do it for God - because you know that getting the right amount of sleep is what you need to be most fit for serving Him for His glory. 

What other practical tips do you have for getting enough sleep?

Top Ten Signs You're a Student at Faith

10. You've gotten up, showered, and put on a shirt and tie (or skirt) - all before 7am - only to find out it's a Saturday.

9. You've experienced that awkward moment when you are holding the door and then decide the next person is too far away for you to wait for them, so you let the door close.
8. Whether or not you need an item, if it's free, you take it.
7. You know how many lights are in the chapel area of the gym.
6. You've experienced that awkward moment when you ask someone a question just as they start praying for their food. You've also answered the question you were asked as you started praying for your food.
5. Caffeine no longer has an effect on your body. In fact, it may actually make you sleepier.
4. The second or third thought to go through your head when you notice that it's snowing is: "Maybe tomorrow will be a snow day!"
3. You've woken up, looked at the clock, and wondered whether it is 6:30 pm and you are waking up from a nap, or it's 6:30 am and it's time to get ready for class.
2. You've sprinted back to your dorm room, in dress clothes, because you have 30 minutes for a nap.
1. You've laid in bed, dog-tired, eyes wide open, unable to fall asleep because you are so excited about the nap you are trying to take.

Music Students Can Enjoy

There are too many songs to list here, so I've tried to put together a playlist on spotify of approved songs.  This playlist does not include all approved songs, but there are quite a few

If you go to spotify.com you can download spotify for free.  You don't even need to sign up for an account, you can use your facebook log on information.

Once in spotify, search for the following playlists:

Songs for Faith (FBBC) - this playlist includes mostly Christians selections (hymns, choruses, etc).  Many of the selections are vocal arrangements, but there are a few instrumental, too.

Soundtracks for Faith - this focuses mostly on the soundtrack genre.  No lyrics in this section.  Soundtracks got me through seminary :)

Christmas @ FBBC - This playlist is a small collection of Christmas songs.

I hope this helps.  If you have suggestions for songs to add, please let me know first so I can double check it before adding it to the list.  Thanks!

Movies Students Can Watch

As you seek to demonstrate your love for God by submitting to the various authorities in your life, I thought it might be helpful for you to have a list of movies that, by my estimation, you are free to watch. I have not researched every movie ever made, so I'm sure there are many more movies that you would be free to watch. For more information see the Student Handbook, page 35.  Enjoy!  If you are ever unsure about a specific movie, check out pluggedin.com or imdb.com to read a review of it.

Brave
Cars 2
Chicken Run
The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe
The Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian
Despicable Me
The Emperor's New Groove
Eragon

Epic
Facing the Giants
Finding Nemo
Fireproof
Flubber
Flushed Away
Happy Feet
Hoodwinked
How to Train Your Dragon
Ice Age
Ice Age: Dawn of the Dinosaurs
Ice Age: Continental Drift
Kung Fu Panda
Kung Fu Panda 2
The Lorax
The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Rings
The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers
The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King
Madagascar
Madagascar: Escape 2 Africa
Meet the Robinsons
Megamind
Monsters, Inc.

Monsters University
Mr. Bean's Holiday
Nacho Libre
The Nativity Story
Night at the Museum
October Baby
The Princess Diaries 2
Ramona and Beezus
Ratatouille
Rise of the Guardians
Roman Holiday
Robots
Star Wars: Episode 1 - The Phantom Menace
Star Wars: Episode 2 - Attack of the Clones
Star Wars: Episode 3 - Revenge of the Sith
Tangled
Toy Story
Toy Story 2
Toy Story 3
Up
Wall-E
Wreck-It Ralph