Ideas for July

It's July. 

For most of us this marks the halfway point of our summer... and if you've not been too serious about utilizing your summer 'downtime' to prepare for the upcoming year thus far... all is not lost.  

But, it does probably mean that upon your return from the 4th of July holiday weekend it will be time to get down to some serious business.

Here are a few thoughts on how to make good use of the month of July:: please share your additional ideas, thoughts and comments in the comments section below!

left to interpret

Do you ever find yourself scratching your head because of what's going on around you?

The last couple of weeks have been filled with head-scratching experience after experience... and I find myself wondering what it all means.

As a ministry leader I find myself desiring to fully believe in those around me... and what they tell me... but when actions seem to contradict what has been said, or is being said, it necessitates interpretation.

There are three interpretive options that I see:

1. I could choose to interpret things on my own. This seems like the easiest option... but potentially the most damaging. It's amazing the kinds of lenses that we can begin to see things through when the circumstances around us are creating disruption to our lives.
2. I could ask others what they think is going on. While this might help us to see beyond our own nose... and possibly from a different perspective... it has the potential to yield inaccurate information, as well as create an environment of talking behind the backs of others.
3. I could go right to the source (or sources). This is by far the best option... but obviously the most uncomfortable because of its confrontational nature. Approaching your brother or sister-in-Christ is a Biblical model for dealing with conflict. Consider Jesus' words in Matthew 15:18, If your brother sins against you, go and show him his fault, just between the two of you. If he listens to you, you have won your brother over.

Interpretation is a part of life...

So, what do you do when your life or circumstances are in need of interpretation?

How do you approach people or issues in your life that you need to confront?

I'd love to know what you think!

Grace and peace!!

extending a hand across campus

with just a week left before students begin to return to campus, it's time to start crossing off some of those "to-do's" from our list...

for all of us involved in campus ministry, whether we serve on the campus or from off-site, one of the most important things we can do to further the reach of our ministry is to establish important partnerships with key individuals on the campus/es we serve.

university life is interesting...

during the summer months, when campus is quiet and minds are a bit more clear, we have grand thoughts of new endeavors and partnerships... but too often too little effort or energy as we are recovering from the year of ministry that was...

and as the new academic year looms ever-closer... what once was just a dream of what "could be" has the chance to be easily pushed off the table because of what seems more urgent in our final days of preparations...

but i ask:

is there anything more important, more valuable, then new and growing relationships with people on and around campus?

as people who minister to college students we need to be in their world... and known by those in that world that will long outlast our students - namely, the faculty and staff.

to have a well-respected faculty and/or staff speak highly of you/your ministry, to advocate for you in the presence of other fac/staff/students, to point students your direction, etc., is one of things that can strengthen and grow your ministry the most from one year to the next!

conversely, it doesn't take too many faculty, staff or students for that matter, talking badly about you or your ministry to bring it crumbling to the ground!

finding ways to partner with different campus figures for different ministry initiatives can serve to add legitimacy (in the eyes of some on campus) to what you're doing, as well as new levels of breadth and depth to what you are offering.

recognizing the season of life (the university years) that the people we serve (college students) are in needs to shape how we do ministry... how we approach them!

we need to be advocates of education, higher education, the learning process, the role of faculty and staff in the educational and formational process of students...

and we hope, and pray, that they become that for us!

i believe that God desires for us to see one another (campus ministers and the institution) as partners - and not adversaries - in the formation of students during the critical college years...

what do you think?

what challenges do you face in this area?

let's keep the dialogue going...