Merry Christmas!

Merry Christ mas everyone! I hope that it is filled with the love of Christ and honoring Him!

One idea I had in this department was to give Jesus a present like I would anybody else. (The Christian radio station suggested it). They suggested that we write out what we would give Jesus on a piece of paper and wrap it in a box. It is an interesting idea. You can't take it too far theologically but for what it is- it is sweet! :)

I hope you have a good time!

Omaha teacher fired for talking about God in his classroom

Hey guys,
I thought that this article was really great. It kind of makes me want to yak though. What do you think?

Story Printer

Home again

I just got home a couple of days ago (my original home that is- so number 1 of 3). I realized that it has been a long time since I blogged and I wanted to update those who used to be faithful readers.

The semester ended pretty well. I had some time to do some reflecting finals week and I realized that God has done a LOT in me and through me this semester. It really is a blessing and a priviledge to serve K-State Navs and ultimately Jesus on EDGE. I am encouraged to report that I spend time weekly with 2 new believers (1 next semester), 3 or so believers from my FC study or different upperclassman in the ministry, and 2 non-believers. I lead a FC Bible study and an IBD. AND I remember wondering if God would really give me things to fill my 40-60 hrs a week with. Well he certainly has and I certainly don't deserve it. I am pretty amazed. Beyond mere numbers though I am really excited about what God is doing in these people's lives. I have learned a lot about my place in ministry and being persistent to love non-believers. I am so thankful for the heart God has given me to serve Him and die to myself (although I definitely still fight it at times).

I wanted to share with you the biggest thing I have learned: it is in relation to non-believers. It is hard to spend time with non-believers. It takes looking past your own wants and even needs. It takes giving all of those things to Jesus. Non-believers are often rough and not the most loving or greatest friends that you will ever have. So I really think it takes intentionality to hang out with non-believers. At least for my personality type it does not come naturally. I like to hang out with people who make me feel good so I naturally spend my time with them. Well, non-believers are not always that way. SO, for me it takes intentionally dialouging with non-believers and pursuing spending time with them and having those awkward conversations. Also when it comes to hanging out with the lost, Ben D (my EDGE teammate) made a good observation. He said that the only thing that keeps any random person from being someone I would call a friend, is that we don't know each other. I know that sounds really elementary but think about it. Most people will be your friend if you just know them on any level (their name, recognize them, etc.). So, a lot of times to make friends with non-believers it means taking the initiative to know people I don't know. Hmmm... so simple yet so profound and SO hard to continually do.

Well,that is what I have been learning about ministry. Personally I have also been learning a lot but I am still processing exactly how to articulate that. Feel free to ask me if you see me. Also the lines between ministry and personal are very blurry perhaps indistinguishable and maybe they should be. Hmm... things to think about.

I am excited for break. I stayed in Manhattan until Friday night to go to my host brothers rehearsal dinner. It was such a privlidge to be a part of that night and for one of the first times in Manhattan I felt like I truly belonged there. Also, Friday night I went up to Lincoln and hung with tons of friends at Tracy's graduation party. It was really fun to see everyone; I didn't realize how much I missed all of them. It was weird to feel like the friend from out of town though. A lot has changed and at times I didn't know who the people they were discussing were or what the circumstances that came up were about. Crazy. It is also nuts that Tracy and Rachael are graduating. I want to throw a fit and tell people to stop moving away but that probably isn't very mature (or God-honoring) especially since I started the trend. Doesn't change the desire at times though. :)

I went to Amy Patras's wedding on Saturday afternoon. Again that was a good time to catch up with friends. I saw Jill and Rob's new house (in between the rehearsal and the reception) and got to talk to John and Kathy. It was sweet and soul refreshing on both accounts. Their shared experiences really encouraged me. Also the wedding was amazing. Amy and Jared said and demonstrated that their lives and marriage and wedding are not about them over and over again. I left giving glory to God and just excited for them. After the wedding, I hung with Sonya (It was very good to see her. Talking to her made me really sad that we didn't get to do it more though. As did most of my time in Lincoln) and then went back home.

Since getting back home, I have been spending good time with my parents and hopefully I will get the chance to catch up with friends too. A lot of people have said that they want to see me but I have actual plans with few. I talked to one of my FC girls on the phone last night and plan on calling a few others over break. It is always neat to see that ministry isn't just something that happens at K-State because it needs to but something that I really believe in and enjoy.
I hope that no matter where I am and whatever I do that I live my life to make God look good (as He is).

Well that is the marathon post that you have all been waiting for. I will try to update ya'll again soon (maybe even before break is over).

First date in 3 years

AND it was with a bunch of freshman men and women and their Bible study leaders. Yep you guessed it, on Friday night I went on a Freshman Connection group date. I have to say it wins the award for the most interesting date I have ever been on. First, the men picked us up at the dorms and we ate dinner in the cafeteria courtesy of (you guessed it) our parents. Then we went to Manhattan Hill (and we did not go there to make out- although it is apparently the high school make out spot). The guys made signs that read "You are the light of the world, a city on a hill cannot be hidden." Then we talked about how we were on a hill looking at a city (a little opposite of the verse) but we got the imagery. The men did an excellent job then of leading us in a disscusion about where we were being lights for Christ (specifically through verbal evangelism) and then we all shared what God had used to encourage us this year. Then we broke up into groups and the guys prayed for the girls. BUT the interesting part is still to come... After this activity, we went back to the dorms and carved soap sculptures (yep good old Dial soap and a butterknife) with knives the men had "Borrowed" from the dorm cafeteria. I made a heart with a cross but others made things from penguins to Mr. Potato Head. It was a good time.

Saturday night was also awesome. My Bible study girls (the FC one) and I went to Topeka and stayed the night at Liz's house. Her mom made us dinner, snacks and breakfast. We had some good serious conversation, serious fun, and some good Bible study. It rocked. It was everything I hoped it would be and MORE. How cool. Praise God!

In other news, I talked to both Tracy, Sonya and Rachael on the phone this weekend. What a gift from God. That was SO SO SO SO awesome. It is hard to believe that Tracy and Rachael are both graduating in four weeks and moving FAR away. But, I was marveling at how much and God did in their lives in college. I long to be used to impact people in that way at K-state.

In personal news (well, more personal news that is) I am reading Chosen By God by R.C. Sproul. Watch out I may come out a Calvinist or maybe with just more understanding of the Bible. But I am excited to tackle the predestination can of worms. Wish me God!

comment on Cal's blog

Cal posted something on his blog the other day that I find to be incredibly true and incredibly interesting. He said: "There's also Jenny who somehow seems no longer a Nebraskan while she's wearing purple, but is certainly not somebody I would consider a "Wildcat" yet. But she's a friend, so the color doesn't matter."

That attitude captures the essence of the transition I have faced- not in wearing purple and cheering for the purplecats :) but in identifying with K-State Navs at Main Event and feeling the tension in general between not being quite a wildcat but not being quite a husker. Sometimes it feels like I don't belong anywhere but sometimes it feels like I belong everywhere. It is an interesting experience.

Anways, that is random but I wanted to post it. :)

Main Event

I got back from Main Event a couple of hours ago (yes you read that right- Kansas is a stinkin long way away from cedar falls) and I wanted to let you all know that it was amazing. It never ceases to amaze me how the Lord uses the Main Event conference in the lives of students. I talked to many students who made some serious decisions about following Jesus this weekend and it was REALLY exciting.

I want to share more but I am dog tired. Please be praying about where I will go on my EDGE summer missions experience. There are 6 options: Indonesia, Bulgaria, South Africa, Estonia, East Asia, and Central Asia.

Thanks! May God's grace fill you!

Good stuff

For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me and for the gospel will save it. Mark 8:35