Nothing to Offer

Kristy and I just returned home from RUF training in Atlanta, Georgia, where we were taught RUF's philosophy of ministry. It's main principles are scripture, justification, and sanctification.

Right after the session on sanctification (or becoming more like Christ) ended, I looked over to the intern sitting next to me. He looked back at me with a sort of stunned glare on his face, slowly turned his head side-to-side, and said, "that wrecked me." The entire room had an air of conviction about it. As we shuffled out of the conference room, I had the strong sensation that we interns had just been spiritually stabbed in our chests, and our self-sufficiency was bleeding all over the place.

We as Christians often see our effort as bridging the daunting gap between our sinful state and God's holiness. We work hard through life striving to get closer and closer to holiness. We sometimes regress; one step forward, two steps back. This legalistic view results in a spiritual roller coaster ride of pride and insecurity.

In actuality, our view of Jesus grows as our view of God's holiness and our own sinfulness grows. Jesus says in Luke 7 that, "he who is forgiven little, loves little." I want to be forgiven much and love much! Christians grow in grace when they see MORE of their sin, when they see how wide and deep the chasm between God and ourselves was before Jesus saved us. We lay aside our striving and look to Jesus for growth. This is how as Christians we can be humble AND confident, not prideful and insecure. 

Consider these verses from Paul. Keep in mind that they are listed in chronological order of when he wrote them:

1 Cor 15:9 - "For I am the least of the apostles, unworthy to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God."
Rom 7:24 - "Wretched man that I am! Who will deliver me from this body of death?"
1 Tim 1:15 - "...Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am the foremost."

We can see that Paul's view of his sin is actually growing! As he grows in faith he feels more of the atrocity of his sin. This is what "wrecked" us in that training session. We all realized that growth comes from the cross of Christ just as much or more than salvation does. As we cease striving, we gain more of him.

It seems like this whole week has been a glorious "unlearning" of precious methods and secret strategies of living the Christian life and doing ministry, and returning to simple faith in Jesus. I rejoice (and selfishly morn) to tell you that the main thing I've learned this week is that I have absolutely nothing to offer the students at Maryland. One campus minister read us the prophecy about Jesus in Isaiah 50:4 which says:

The Lord God has given me
    the tongue of those who are taught,
that I may know how to sustain with a word
     him who is weary.
Morning by morning he awakens;
    he awakens my ear
    to hear as those who are taught.

Even Jesus didn't look to himself to be self-sufficient. Even Jesus looks to His father for "a word" to encourage the weary.

If Jesus didn't rely on himself, I certainly can't.

I've realized that the best thing I can do this fall is follow after Christ and ask students to come with me. I'm merely a beggar going to tell other beggars where to find bread.

Please pray that this coming fall, Kristy and I wouldn't look to students, our campus minister, ministry success, or any worldly thing for our worth and sufficiency.
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A Budget Update

Kristy and I are currently at about 62% of our budget! That means together we've raised a little over one intern budget. We are so thankful to God for providing and to those of you who have been so generous in giving to us.

We have to raise 85% to be able to move to campus, and school is only a few weeks away! Our goal is to get to campus by August 15th. We humbly ask that you might consider supporting us as we begin this ministry, and help us get to campus!

Learn more about Giving

The Heart of Friendship

I wanted to share a link today to the RUF website's blog where Marc Corbett (Campus Minister at RUF Lynchburg & Liberty University) posted a great article about the basis of friendship.

One of the greatest gifts my own RUF community at Belmont gave me was some amazing, gospel-centered friendships. I think this is also one of the things that many college students long for when going off to school and often times don't find. For how much we talk about community, often times college campuses are places devoid of true friendship because of an overly competitive and selfish social environment.

Here is a great quote from Marc's post to get you started:
"Love is most evident among the practice of repentance and forgiveness.
None of this comes naturally and the “45 and unders” steer clear of things that are unnatural because that means inauthentic.  But, Jesus calls us to love in a different way than the way that is “natural.”  “For if you love those who love you, what reward do you have? Do not even the tax collectors do the same?”– Matt. 5:46.  
Could it be true that the real reason we don’t have friends is because of our legalism over what a true friend looks like?  Our ideal keeps us from the real.  We look for friends to make us less lonely, give us assurance, etc.  But our expectations kill friendship before it can begin.  No one can live up to our new law."

Great stuff right? 


I just love the insight that my generation avoids the "unnatural" because it means inauthentic. While unnatural might mean that, all to many times it is just the way we avoid the difficult business of being conformed to Christ. I once had an English teacher who said, "Your generation works till it hurts, and it hurts real fast." We rely so much on how we feel, and when things feel hard we think it is a sign that we aren't doing the right thing. Yet my campus minister always reminded me that this is the lure of sin. Righteousness often feels like death at the time, but brings new life. While sin feels easy and good at the time, but only leads to death.


I have seen this in my own friendships. Often times repentance and forgiveness feel like death. Yet the relationships in which this must be a regular part of our life together, are the relationships that have flourished and taught me the most about Christ.

What a great insight into the mind of college students as well as great advice for all of our friendships!

To read all of Marc's article you can click here