100 Days + 100 Days

In C.S. Lewis’s book, Mere Christianity, he tells the story of a little boy asking his father for a sixpence, a small amount of English coin. The father asks his son what the money is to be used for and the son replies to buy a gift for the father. So the amused father gives the child the sixpence and in turn receives gladly his son’s gift. Realizing that he is really not any richer for the transaction, he is still pleased with the gift because it is given with the love of the son for his father.

There is nothing that we have that we did not first receive from our heavenly Father (bet you didn’t see where this was going, huh.) So how do we attempt to “bless” our heavenly Father if we cannot enrich Him somehow? Accepting  our love and obedience, which we choose to give to Him, is the only thing we really have to offer that could ever “enrich” God.

At Collegiate Ministry, we are beginning a special emphasis through the summer and into the Fall of the year. First we are participating in “100 Days of Prayer”. From June 15 until September 22 is exactly one hundred days. This is the time between this spring’s graduation and the first event of our Fall 08 Welcome Week schedule. Secondly, we are asking God to be blessed by us for the next one hundred days, September 23 through December 31st. We will not be asking God to just give us stuff like new ping pong balls but to grant to us that which we need to give good things back to him.

Our goal this coming year is to Break (bread), Make (friends), and Build (the Kingdom). This is taken from Acts 2: 46-47. This will probably show up somehow on a t-shirt or something. What we as a ministry want to really be about is doing things that draw people to God; to see God with a fresh perspective and how He is the giver of all good gifts.

If you would like to be a part of the 100 +100, all you need to do is go to the button on our home page that says “theLoop” and click it. You will be invited to join our email connection. Each day you will receive a fresh prayer request beginning on June 15th through the summer. Join us in prayer from where ever you are. We already have students and friends across Cincinnati, Ohio, the US, and traveling the world that will be praying the same prayers along with you.

Be the blessing.

Ken D.

Cold Noses, Warm Hearts

So 2008 has begun with very frigid temps. We came rolling in from Oklahoma City on New Year’s Eve with the windy rain on our bumper. Then before you knew it, there were only a few lonely degrees in my thermometer and we had a couple of days of two low temperatures, nothing I would consider a high for the day. Man, was my nose cold, along with the spot on the back of my head that used to be more insulated.

Didn’t there used to be some saying about cold noses and warm hearts? Did this just apply to puppies? Whatever, my heart is warmed by the idea that students are gearing up for the Winter Quarter and soon this quiet campus will be repopulated with folks all bundled up in their winter wear, dodging the cold wind-tunnels of the campus Mainstreet.

So let’s get to the real heart of the matter. Here is a brief list of “heart healthy” reminders for the new year:

     A joyful heart is good medicine. (Proverbs 17:22)
     A joyful heart makes a cheerful face. (Proverbs 15:13)     
     Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God. (Matthew 5:8)
     Let us not lose heart in doing good. (Galations 6:9)

Here are four steps to give you some sure footing as we slide into the new year. Remembering that God does not see us as we see each other, but He looks directly into the heart (1Samuel 16:7), let’s not just make simple resolutions. Have a healthy heart that ignites joy, smiles, purity, and good works.

Stay warm,
Ken D.

Welcome to the next step…

So summer is upon us and Fall is right around the corner. Depending on what you are doing right now, that could be good or bad news.

But I hope it is good news. ‘Cause the Fall means lots of new faces and activities here at Collegiate Ministry. We have tons of stuff planned for Welcome Week. This gives returning students a chance to reconnect after a summer away. You know tell stories about what you did, who you met, and where you went.

But incoming students will find a chance to get to know some new friends and connect with great opportunities to not sit around and be lonely. Honestly, coming to college can be a bit overwhelming but hang on, you are in for the best part of your life so far.

At Collegiate Ministry we want to give you a chance to grow in your relationship to God as well as grow in your relationships with new friends. Now is the time you can ask all the questions about faith and spirituality and join with others on that pilgrimage that helps you build your unique view of faith and connection with God.

Come by theHouse anytime and see who is around or just hang out and relax. Our CrossWalk Worship is weekly and another great time to connect with us. Wander around the website and see how you might get involved.

If interested, just send me an email to Ken@CollegiateMinistry.com. I can answer any of your questions and maybe connect you to a student that is already a part of our gang here.

Hope to see you soon.

Hearing Voices?

So we had a great retreat over Spring Break and soaked up a lot of Florida sun as well as Bible study from the Experiencing God material. Here’s just a continuing thought for you.

In the original study when Henry Blackaby talks about listening to God speak, he gives four characteristics from Old Testament examples. He states:

1. When God spoke, it was unique to the individual.
2. When God spoke, the listener was sure it was God speaking.
3. When God spoke, the listener was sure what God was saying.
4. When God spoke, that was the encounter with God.

When God speaks, I am sure He expects us to listen and respond in obedience. He may begin speaking to you in very simple ways, inviting you into small encounters. As you respond obediently, God will continue to speak to you and invite you into more and larger opportunities with Him. Jesus affirms this in the parable of the talents about being faithful with the small before being given the larger responsibilities.

So walk through your days listening. We usually think God will do something dramatic, big-time, burning bush and handwriting on the wall if He chooses to talk to us. More likely He will not be in the tornado, the earthquake, or the fire, but in the still small breezy voice you hear in the center of your being. So listen. Follow. And listen some more.

Be the blessing.

New Year’s Revolutions

Wow! Just like that and 06 is history and 07 is upon us.

So we did all the celebrating of the baby Jesus for the Christmas time. Joseph and Mary had to answer the same question that all new parents have to answer. “How is this baby going to change my life?” Obviously, Jesus was not your run of the mill newborn. “Immanuel, God with us.” “Unto you is born a Savior.” He was ultimately greater that just another baby born to a young couple. So the question of how Jesus would change their lives was also ultimately greater.

Same for us, too. How is this Jesus going to change our lives? How is knowing Him and seeking to follow Him going to alter our steps and decisions? These are revolutionary thoughts. These are thoughts that not only change a life but literally rock the world.

Sit and think through how your 2007 will be different because of Jesus in your life. Allow Him to ask you the tough questions, the big questions, the scary and exciting questions. Your world ought to look different by the time you work through some of these. Don’t be shy or hesitant. Jump in. You will have company on the adventure. 

Crosswalk 10/05/2006

OK, for the past couple of weeks we have looked at John 14:1-6. Jesus tells us he is going to prepare a place for us to come and be with Him and that we know where this place is. When his own disciple questioned Him how to get there, Jesus gave him three simple statements.

Two weeks ago we looked at what Jesus meant by “I am the Way.”

Last week we examined the statement “I am the Truth.”

John begins his account of the life of Jesus by stating that Jesus was with God from the beginning and that Jesus was God from the beginning. Establishing the Deity of Jesus was of utmost importance to John. He was about to tell the accounts of the most remarkable person in history. Literally all our history is marked by the life of Jesus. We mark our very time either before or after the event of his earthly life death and resurrection.

In John 8:31-32, Jesus states that by keeping His words we will be in the truth and through His truth we would be set free. By this Jesus was putting forth yet another bold statement of His own authority. “He taught as one who had authority, and not as their teachers of the law.” It was not like any other of the rabbis of the day. He made statements and did things that set Him on the same plane as God the Father. “I and the Father are one.” “I have the power to forgive sins.” His words and actions were sensational and captivating, they were troubling and maybe too amazing. With every word He said, with every action He took, it was as if Jesus was inviting us to examine, test, and decide for ourselves if He was the Truth.

So that is what we will continue to do. We will continue to examine this amazing life.

I am the Way. He gives us a pattern to mold our own lives after.

I am the Truth. He has the authority of God in His words and actions.

This week at CrossWalk Worship (10/5) we will look at the third statement of Jesus, “I am the Life.”

Come join us.

Ken D.