The S Word

"They (writers of Christian classics) would want us to understand the absurdity of sin...'We refuse ourselves to God, who only wants to save us. We give ourselves up to the world, which only wants to tyrannize over us and destroy us'...What do these testimonies mean? Away with self-serving testimonies that sound as if we do God a favor by repenting of our sin! God does us a favor by making us hate the sin that destroys us, by giving us the will to fight it, and by offering His grace to forgive it.

Quotes like these also remind us that if sin is a rat, we should start treating it like a rat. If you didn't want rats to break into your house, you wouldn't leave out food for them, and you would plug up any holes through which they might enter. If you were unable to keep them out on your own, you'd ask for advice or get some help. If you truly hated rats, you'd go to great lengths to get rid of them.

But how often do we accommodate sin, feed its desires, and treat it in the aftermath as a casual or minor mistake?"

excerpt by Gary Thomas, Thirsting for God

Seriously people, if you haven't bought this book yet, you must!

Greek Conference: Charlotte

Who are these beautiful women?! 

Although "our" Greek Conference takes place in the fall (in New York), those of you who weren't able to attend GCLI are more than welcome to attend Greek Conference in Charlotte, February 10-12. Details here. Interested? Email this guy.

Re: Tebow

Ah, Timmy. Tim Tebow. Today's hero; Tomorrow's disaster?

While it's perfectly OK to respect someone's faith and to desire to emulate them, I do cringe when I see the way the world is placing #15 up on a pedestal. Christians rally around him and lift him up while skeptics want to see him fall, and fall hard. I don't watch football but I know when Tebow scores. My Facebook wall blows up. The blogosphere alights. The Tweeters are atwitter. (You'd have to live a hole to not know when Tim Tebow has scored a touchdown.) You may have even seen my reaction to the game last night on Facebook:

"Everyone is saying "Tebow!" but I think the point Tim is trying to get across is: "God!" 

How frustrating that must be for him. He is trying to point the world to God, and instead, the world points to him.  So, if you really love Tim Tebow and you are really psyched about what is going on when he's on the field, do him a favor and:

• Give God the credit. (It's pretty obvious He's the one doing the work.)
• Be like him. Fer real. If he's not afraid to pray on national TV, you need not feel afraid to pray over your dinner. 
• Pray for him. Like I said, many people want him to fall. Pray that he would grow in his faith and that God will uphold him and keep him strong. Pray that people would actually know God through him.  

Re: Rush

It's the most wonderful time of the year...Rush! As you enter into a week+ of skits, small talk and bid celebrations, here are some things to think about:

• Remember what it was like when you rushed? Could you be Greek and a Christian? Would anyone understand your faith? And remember how awesome it was when you met someone during rush that told you that you can be Greek and Christian? (ie. Jesse and Erik) Be that person. Don't be afraid to talk about how Greek IV has enhanced your Greek life experience. Don't be afraid to talk about how God has deepened your friendships within your Greek chapter. 
• Rush is caddy. It is superficial. It is shallow. But you don't have to be. Try to speak well of everyone. Look for the good in others. Don't be a jerk. Treat others the way you would want to be treated. God has placed you in your house at this time for a purpose. Don't be disenchanted. Don't disengage. Be an agent of change. 
• Rush is long and tedious. People can get on your nerves. You can be tempted to live myopically for two weeks. Enter into rush prayerfully. Spend time praying alone and with your brothers and sisters. "And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him." Colossians 3:17
• Finally, remember why we do what we do in Greek IV. If we don't keep our eye out for interested freshmen and sophomores, we can assume that Greek IV will fizzle out after our junior class graduates. This rush, promote Greek life and promote Greek IV. 

Thirsting for God: Yet Another Book Rec!

I just began reading a book for class that I already know I will want to recommend! Thirsting for God: Spiritual Refreshment for the Sacred Journey, is written by best-selling author Gary Thomas.  Here are some excerpts from the first few chapters:

"True Christian spirituality is not a search to discover ourselves or to be enlightened or even to add a new dimension to our lives. No. Christian spirituality is a relationship with God. This search is initiated by God, empowered by God and made possible by God. He is our desire. Not power, not experience, not the supernatural...but God, revealed to us in Jesus Christ.

Therefore, Christian spirituality has more to do with what we receive than what we achieve. Our potential and activity depend entirely on Gods work in our lives. If we set out to be achievers rather than receivers, we have not begun to follow God. Achievers call attention to themselves, whereas receivers lead others to appreciate the Giver. If we insist on being achievers, seeking God so that others might admire our faith, our commitment, or our dedication, we become Gods competitors, trying to steal some of His glory." (pg. 16)

"One of the chief aims of Christian spirituality, second only to knowing God, is to enter other people's lives, pains, doubts, joys- to be other-centered...God must do a work in us before He can work through us...True fulfillment comes as we receive God's love and respond to it by loving others. This is the essence of Christian spirituality." (pg. 17-18) 

The book has short chapters (3-5 pages each), so it can be read in a devotional format, where you might read  a chapter each day and allow Thomas' thoughts and challenges to lead you into prayer.  Enjoy!

Christ Became a Humble Child

"He was a baby and a child, so that you may be a perfect human.

He was wrapped in swaddling clothes, so that you may be freed from the snares of death.

He was in a manger, so that you maybe in the altar.

He was on earth that you may be in the stars.

He had no other place in the inn, so that you may have many mansions in the heavens.

He, being rich, became poor for your sakes, that through his poverty you might be rich.  Therefore, his poverty is our inheritance, and the Lord's weakness is our virtue. He chose to lack for himself, that he may abound for all. The sobs of that appalling infancy cleanse me, those tears wash away my sins. Therefore, Lord Jesus, I owe more to your sufferings because I was redeemed than I do to works for which I was created...

You see that he is in swaddling clothes.

You do not see that he is in heaven.

You hear the cries of the infant, but you do not hear the lowing of an ox recognizing its Master, for the ox knows his Owner and the donkey his Master's crib."

Ambrose, Exposition of the Gospel of Luke 2.41-42

Morning Musings on the Eve of Christmas Eve

"For you know the generous act of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, so that by his poverty you might become rich."
2 Corinthians 8:9


"Let us then rejoice in this grace, so that our glorying may bear witness to our good conscience by which we glory, not in ourselves but in the Lord. That is why Scripture says, 'He is my glory, the one who lifts up my head.' For what greater grace could God have made to dawn on us than to make his only Son become the Son of man, so that human beings might in their turn become children and heirs of God? Ask if this is merited; ask for its reason, for its justification, and whether you will find any other answer but sheer grace." Augustine. 


"Mild He lays His glory by,
Born that man no more may die.
Born to raise the sons of earth,
Born to give them second birth."
Charles Wesley, Hark the Herald Angels Sing