Book Blurb: "Running Scared: Fear, Worry, and the God of Rest" by Ed Welch

If there is one feeling or emotion that has characterized my life in the last year, it would be fear. Fear of failing the dreaded finance class I took, fear of being lonely, fear of not making it to Oklahoma...you name it, I probably worried about it. Ed Welch does such a good job of explaining the feelings that I felt were unexplainable. And while his words are comforting for a little bit, he points you to the words that are eternally comforting- scripture.

Ed Welch writes that our fears expresses our allegiances, which are normally to our own desires and need for control and not to God's kingdom. We are afraid that God is going to take away or give us something that we don't want, so we do everything in our power to prevent it. And yet the truth is that the Bible tells us to "fear not." That regardless of what lies ahead in our future, God is in control. The command that is given the most in the Bible is "fear not." A verse that has been pivotal in my life over the last twelve months has been 1 Peter 5:6-7, "Humble yourselves, therefore, under God's mighty hand, that he may life you up in due time. Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you."

In "Running Scared" Ed Welch points out how often God says "I will be with you" and yet we don't listen. If He can say that to Moses while wandering the desert, how much more should He be able to say that to us, and we be able to believe Him??? In fact, Moses believed God's promise so deeply that his last words to his people were "Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the Lord your God goes with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you." (Deut. 31:6)

Needless to say, I cannot possibly communicate all of the wonderful wisdom that Mr. Welch has in his book in a couple of paragraphs, but only give you a glimpse of how he attempts to communicate the peace that is available in the Gospel. This book made me completely rethink the insecurities/worries/anxieties I have about the plan God has for me. If you have them too, read this book- it will rock your socks!

RUFin It!

Why RUF? Growth in Grace, Fellowship and Service, Evangelism and Missions, and Biblical Worldview. These are the purposes of RUF. While RUF is not the church, and does not seek to pull
students away from the church (in fact RUF encourages students to join a local church) it does seek to minister to students on the campus where they are learning and interacting with other students.

The mission statement of RUF is "reaching students for Christ, and equipping students to serve." RUF desires to reach students on campus in order to extend God's love to them and then equip them for a life of service to the church. "Service" to the church does not only include becoming a pastor. As students enter the workplace and move away from college, they will hopefully find a church and desire to serve the church body with their gifts. This might include music, designing bulletins, setting ups chairs, greeting etc. We are to serve the church as Christ served us.


The University of Florida
I spent four years at UF studying history and business administration. It was a wonderful time of learning and growth while attending school and being a part of RUF. I learned of God's sustaining love for us. How wonderful His love is!!! Steve Lammers is the campus minister at UF, and I will greatly miss him and his family. The demographic of UF is different from the campus I will be going to, but I am looking forward to the challenge.




The University of Oklahoma
I had a chance to meet about 35 of the OU students at the week-long national RUF Conference in Panama City during the last week of May. It was wonderful to get a chance to meet these students and hear how God is working in their lives. In the fall the campus minister, Doug Serven, will be teaching a relationships series, which is sure to bring up good conversation. God works through and restores relationships and it will be wonderful to get to talk about these things with students.

God knew what He was doing when He sent me to OU, and I am excited to see what He has for me there. Please pray Psalm 23 for me as I enter a period of change and challenge in my life.

Psalm 23:
The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not be in want.
He makes me lie down in green pastures, he leads me beside quiet waters, he restores my soul.
He guides me in paths of righteousness for his name's sake.
Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me.
You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies.
You anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows.
Surely goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.

And So the Adventure Begins...

I spent the last week in Atlanta in training for my job as a campus intern at the University of Oklahoma with Reformed University Fellowship. We discussed support raising, philosophy of ministry, and the challenges we will face. During time in prayer one day, the new interns prayed for both holiness and growth in grace as we take on this new position. Growth in grace is one of RUF's purposes. We prayed that we would come to love grace the way the Bible loves grace, a grace that produces beauty and Godly righteousness. We also prayed that we would pursue holiness for the kingdom of God, and not for ourselves or "for the internship," something we will all be tempted to do at some point.

As I am approaching August in which I will hopefully move to Norman, Oklahoma, I have 5 trillion things on my mind. My planner is a place of many on-going lists. It is currently very easy for me to get caught up in all the things I have to do, many of which are very important. And yet last week I was reminded that this life is bigger than my lists, my internship, and even myself. This life is about Jesus Christ, and I pray that His kingdom will go forward in the ways in which He has ordained.

I have now spent a week in Panama City with the OU students and a week in training in Atlanta. Both of these weeks have been wonderful and encouraging in this hectic time. Praise the Lord for His everlasting mercy!!!