Earthworms on Parade

Here is proof that Spring does come to Ohio. It’s all a little late this year because of an extra long winter but now

the birds are singing, the Spring rains are here and earthworms are coming out everywhere (Global Worming).

The past week was a blur. It seems the minute we (finally!) made it back from Istanbul I was going 100 miles an hour through our Board meetings and commencement celebrations. We finally were able to take a breath around 6:00 PM on Sunday.

Commencement on Saturday was wonderful and Kay Coles James brought a funny and challenging address. You can check out some of the activities here:
www.cedarville.edu/newsrelease/2008/Graduates_Encouraged_to_Put_On_Their_Game_Face_/2132272284

 Kay shares much the same aggressive cultural engagement vision that we have. I have always been impressed with her ability to motivate large crowds and mentor small groups. She is truly a woman God is using to make a difference in the world. She was responsible for Federal Employees (1.8 million of them!) on 9/11. She said she was encouraged to shut everything down since they knew that planes were still in the air. She refused saying that she couldn't let the terrorists control by fear. She is quite a woman.

This week is catch-up week with a lot of year end issues to tie up. I am speaking at a youth lock-in on Friday night (sounds like fun – I miss my old youth director days) but other than that I am using the time to prep for a number of commencement addresses over the next few weeks.

Alex is taking an accelerated Spanish class. Six hours (seis horas) a day. In fact, each day is the equivalent of two weeks in class. After one day he is already swamped.

Good recent books to read:

            Christianity’s Dangerous Idea by Alister McGrath

            The Reason for God by Tim Keller

            Transforming Worldviews by Paul Hiebert

            Preaching to a Post-Everything World by Zack Eswine

            Reframing Theology and Film ed. By Robert K. Johnston

            What Jesus Demands from the World by John Piper

And an oldie but a goodie: Letters to a Diminished Church by Dorothy Sayers.

Thanks for your prayers and encouragement! Have a blessed week.

Istanbullient

Here’s how I spent my birthday: sitting in Istanbul, looking over the Marmara Sea, listening to the call of worship from dozens of mosques around the city.  A different world for sure.

Lynne and I were in Turkey to speak at a Christian School administrator’s conference for leaders from across Europe, the Middle East and Northern Africa. Again, I found myself in the position of speaking to people I should be listening to.  I am in awe of their commitment to teaching students in a Christian context. Many of their students (in some schools, most of their students) are not Christians. The stories they shared and the enthusiasm they exude made it a wonderful and humbling experience for us.

Here is Lynne in front of the historic Blue Mosque.

Here is one of the entrances to the Grand Bazaar.

We just returned. It took us 36 hours to get home. Flying from Istanbul to New York was fine. Once we got into the US, the travel deteriorated. We ended up having to stay in New York overnight but get up at 3:30 am to take a bus to the airport to get on an early flight to Atlanta so we could catch another flight to Cincinnati so we could . . . you get the point.

We knew we were in for an unusual travel day (and a half) by how it started. At the Istanbul airport, Lynne had some problems with security because she had a tube of toothpaste in her carry-on. The tube had a few more ounces than allowed by Turkish law.           

Lynne was taken into a back room by three security guards (female) and searched. No doubt they were looking for a toothbrush. Unable to find anything else, they let her go – but only after taking her passport, adding her name and number to an official form and having her sign it.

Now that Lynne is on the toothpaste terrorist list, I’m wondering if it will be a hassle to travel with her.

To make it all rather rummy, the fellow in front of me in the security line looked like he could be on the al-Qaeda recruiting poster (“We want you – but only for a little while”).  When the security officials searched his carry-on bag they pulled out no less than five large bottles of liquids. He rattled off what they were all for: body wash, hand lotion, plastic explosive, shampoo, hair conditioner.

They obviously were not paying attention and just smiled and waved him through. All this while my wife was being searched because of two extra ounces of Crest.

Now that we are jet-lagged and brain-dead, we are ready for our Trustee meetings and all of the celebrations that accompany graduation. These are bittersweet days because we know that we will not see many of these students again in this life. But, as C. S. Lewis reminds us, “Christians never say goodbye for the last time.”  

Thanks for your prayers and encouragement. Have a blessed week.

The Purpose-Driven Dixie Chick

This past weekend was super. Lynne and I enjoyed the annual “elliv” program Saturday night and then hosted several hundred graduating seniors at our home Sunday afternoon. In spite of the monsoonal forecast, it was a beautiful day for a reception.

It’s always encouraging to hear soon-to-be graduates talk about their time at Cedarville. The changes that occur in a person’s life during college are not only dramatic (because of their age) but foundational for the rest of their lives. Many find the college years an opportunity to delay maturity by sowing (and reaping) wild oats and other forms of licentious grain. This is, of course, celebrated in culture, movies, etc. Former Duke Professor Will Willimon’s book, The Abandoned Generation, describes the reality that many (most?) college students are abandoned by significant adults in college. Their lives are shaped by other students as well as RA’s and Teaching Assistants not much older than the students themselves. The traditional college age is filled with a great need for interaction, mentoring and challenging by older adults to provide a context for the natural questions, rebellion, and doubts that are part of growing up.

The consequence of this abandonment, says Willimon, is the use of alcohol as an anesthetic to deaden the emptiness. In fact, most state university presidents will tell you that drinking is the number one social problem on campus.

USA Today asked 2000 people, “If you could ask God one question, what would it be?” I thought the answer would be along the lines of, “Is there life after death?, “Is there really only one right religion?” or “What happened to the Dixie Chicks?” but the answer was, “What is the purpose for my life?” Very postmodern in one sense but certainly one of the ultimate questions. This explains why so many books and programs that focus on “purpose” resonate with people.  (Think Rick Warren’s “Purpose-Drive Life” or Eckhart Tolle and Oprah’s, “A New Earth: Awakening to Your Life’s Purpose” – both the biggest best-sellers of the past few years).  

College students have this desire to know why they are here more than the average person. They are in a position to do something about it by what they study and the experiences they have in college.

It makes sense that a Christ-centered university has a leg up on this but we cannot take that for granted. It’s too easy to say, “My future is in the hands of God” (which is true). It is vital that students explore their abilities, gifts, and experiences knowing they have been uniquely shaped by God to guide them into a job choice and field of service. This makes us think more specifically about how we can expand this area of exploration at Cedarville. I am grateful that we have so many faculty and staff who “get it” in this area of ministry.

Lynne and I are headed to Istanbul on Tuesday. I’ll be speaking to educators from Europe and Northern Africa. Sure would appreciate your prayers.

Have a blessed week!

Prison Break

Just got back from Colorado. The Officer’s Christian Fellowship Board meeting was super as always. I am amazed at how much time is spent in prayer by these military leaders. Every time we come up to a vote, we pray. Every time we start a new topic, we pray. In fact, we prayed all Friday morning before the Board even got into discussion on issues.

Sometimes I wonder if it is because these wonderful people - while leaders in our country’s military - are not “professional” Christians. They really believe God hears their prayers. I am always humbled and motivated by my time with them.

On my flight over, I sat next to a Michigan University student who was on his way to Denver to see the Frozen Four (NCAA hockey championship). He was certain Michigan would win since they were ranked number one and had already beaten their first opponent, Notre Dame, twice this year.

Well, as college hockey fans know, ND beat UM and then went on to a rousing loss to Boston College. 

So, coming back today I sat next to an older gentleman wearing a Michigan sweatshirt. He was quite a UM fan having grown up in Ann Arbor. I asked if he had gone to the hockey championship series and he muttered something under his breath and then buried his face in a Harry Potter book (really!).  Michigan has a Quidditch team?

Getting back to the OCF Board, I am always humbled by the stories of bravery and sacrifice. Interestingly, one Army Colonel shared how the most frightened he’d ever been was when his wife was diagnosed with cancer and not expected to live.

I thought about the times of fear in my life. The experience that comes to my mind is the first time I went to prison (visiting!). Actually, it was a three-day ministry with some professional athletes. I thought it would be “cool” to go but when I got on the bus to take us to the prison, I panicked! I thought my heart would beat out of my chest. I almost went up to the driver and asked to be let off. I don’t know why I was so fearful; but I was almost paralyzed.

Needless to say, I did not get off the bus and while it took me a few hours to get over my fear, I found that I really liked prison! In fact, I went back 10 more times with that ministry as well as about 30 other times for other reasons. Prison was  areal break for me in overcoming my fearful tendencies.

For all the time I’ve spent in prison, I think I have a free crime.

I learned a good lesson: fear is often a barrier to great blessing. Too many times we retreat when we are afraid and never push ahead and discover victory and (literally!) a whole new world.

Though an army besiege me, my heart will not fear; though war break out against me, even then will I be confident (Psalm 27:3).

For you did not receive a spirit that makes you a slave again to fear, but you received the Spirit of sonship. And by him we cry, "Abba, Father" (Romans 8:15).
 

There is no fear in love (1 John 4:18).
 

So, I’ll break out my old “No Fear” t-shirt just to remind me.

 
Have a blessed week!

Chapter 11

Last Friday, the students of Cedarville University dedicated a chapel program to helping orphans in Africa. They want to build a house for a group through the WorldHelp ministry. They took up an offering among themselves and with what they had given before they were able to raise over $40,000.  Knowing what all the students do in the surrounding area, I am amazed at how they keep giving when they sense God moving them. I heard someone say, “Don’t give till it hurts; give till it’s gone.”

This week I go to Colorado for an Officer’s Christian Fellowship board meeting. This is the godliest group of people I get to spend time with. It will be a lot of work but it will also be a spiritual refreshment, too.

This past week, my nephew, David, was to get married to his sweetheart, Julie, in Florida. Lynne was going down and stay with her folks (I could not go; nowadays I have to make an appointment just to talk to myself). My daughter, April, and her new husband, Jared (he’ll be “new” until I die) were going to fly to Florida and meet Lynne there to enjoy the family and the nuptials.

It did not happen that way.

David was in a serious car accident and the wedding has been postponed until August 8.  He’ll be fine by then.

 April and Jared got a great deal on tickets to fly down on Wednesday and return on Monday (today). Unfortunately, their great deal was on Skybus(t).

 When they found out their return flight had evaporated into chapter elevenland, they were able to get a flight on Delta.

 April’s ticket had her last name as “Brown” but all of her ID’s have her new last name, “Watson.” The Transportation Security Administration did not like that. Plus, she had 4 oz. of mouth wash in her carry-on and they detained her with several other terrorist suspects. (Just kidding about the terrorist part). She had to get someone to fax her copies of her passport and marriage certificate to prove that she had moved significantly down the alphabet on purpose by committing matrimony.

 As a result, they missed their Delta flight.

 They found a flight on JetBlue. It does not fly to where their car is parked at the Columbus airport. So they will have someone meet them in Pittsburgh and go home from there. They will go to Columbus, OH someday to get their car.

 I must go now and see if JetBlue declared bankruptcy before they land in Pittsburgh.

 Have a blessed week!