Increasing, faith, and sunglasses

J the B:  “He must increase; but I must decrease.”   John 3:30 KJV

“Increase” is also translated “grow”, keep that in mind.

 Imagine if every Christian actually lived this one verse? I’ve grown up in a world that’s focused on me increasing. I spent years giving up work to go to school, so that I could increase. Do I sacrifice work to increase Jesus? I spent tens of thousands of dollars in school loans (or should I say we, my wife and I, are *still* spending…), so I could increase. Do I sacrifice like that for Jesus? I bought a pair of $150 sunglasses in high school…so that I could increase…something that somehow made sense back then. LOL. Would I give $150 to increase Jesus? I spent gobs of time training and practicing racquetball, so that I could increase. Would I do that for Jesus? I’ve given up a night of sleep to work on school work or make money, to increase something in my life. Do I do that to increase Jesus? I give up hours a week on _______? And we do that because?  I am emotionally engaged and invested frequently with ________ ?

 John the Baptist makes statements that take us right to the purposes of God. “He must increase; but I must decrease.”  I’m struggling to regain and reclaim that language. It goes contrary to everything I’ve been non-verbally taught and surrounded by for decades. Let’s claim it.

 When Jesus says that with “faith as small as a mustard seed” (Luke 17:6) we can cause mulberry trees to toss themselves in the ocean, he doesn’t expect us to root up Mulberry trees like David Copperfield, but that sounds really fun. I plan to play an awesome game in heaven with mulberry trees and the Green Monster with a huge sea on the other side. You can be on my team. He expects us to trust him and obey in the every day things of life because He’s the savior of the world and we have His word. He doesn’t even worry necessarily about wasting time or spending $150 that I wish I had back on Killer Loop sunglasses. I tried to find a picture of them but I’m too old for even “vintage Killer Loops” to muster up the sexy orange accoutrements I wanted folks to see me wear. But man what a sermon this could be if I could find a pair! So let me know if you find any 90’sish orange Killer Loops in yard sales this summer.

Jesus may eventually have something to say about sunglasses, but not until we get who He is, sunglasses come later. The mulberry trees he wants me to move are those deeply implanted things, things ingrained, rooted in the soil of who I am that compel me to invest financially and emotionally in increasing myself and not Jesus. The mustard seed analogy isn’t meant to make our faith out to be even smaller than a mustard see – it shows how accessible God’s power is. Tiny faith starts with letting who Jesus is rock my world. Judging others and division aren’t an option, praying for people isn’t a substitute for leading, coaching, visiting, writing, and loving people means urgently engaging, investing, being there, encouraging, getting in the lives of people that don’t know Jesus, and spending my time, money, and self to make Jesus greater. Imagine if every person that went to church Sunday did that. Man that blows my mind. God would honor that TOMORROW CHRISTIAN. If each of us invested in eternally significant things like pointing one person to Jesus, what would happen? Things greater than mulberry trees would happen, things greater than amusement parks would happen, things greater than winning would happen, things greater than vacations would happen, things greater than the seasons would happen, things greater than a working PRT would happen, things greater than the Super Bowl would happen…although that one with TN was really good. All it takes is our obedience towards making Him increase because He is the hope of the world.

[Written by Gary Gross] 

Spring Break 2011

It’s that time again; Spring Break is just around the corner! WOO HOO!!! This year we will be taking around 20 CSFers to Paintsville, Kentucky from March 21-26th.  Yes, it is somewhere different this year but we are excited to be trying something new.  We will be helping with home repairs, remodeling, wheelchair ramps, community buildings and churches, as well as helping with an after school program in the area.  We are also doing a supplies drive that we will take down to KY to help with the Appalachia Field Needs.  If you are asking yourself, “What can I do to help this year?”  Number one is to pray.  Pray for Kentucky, pray for the families and communities we are going to be working with, pray for God to work through the CSFers on this trip as we travel.  Number two is to support us financially.  This year it will cost $350 each and for 20 to go it will cost $7000 total.  Each year is an encouragement that God is in control because we always raise enough money to take everyone, including those who sometimes can’t afford it.  Third is to help us is to donate to our supplies drive for the Appalachia Field.  

The website is can be found here, and if you are unsure what we already have then check our Facebook event entitled, “CSF SPRING BREAK 2011!!!!”  We will keep the list up to date as supplies come in.  And lastly, pray.  There is no such thing as too much prayer.  Paul says in Colossians 4:2, “Devote yourselves to prayer with an alert mind and a thankful heart.”

Here we come Kentucky!!!

• If you would like to make a financial donation please write the check out to Christian Student Fellowship.  If you would like to have it go to a specific CSFer please put a note with your check with the CSFers name on it and NOT on the “Memo” line of the check.

[Written by Katy Riley for the March newsletter]

One-on-One Bible Studies

In February, we designed a pamphlet to launch one-on-one bible studies that go along with our walk through Luke on Sundays. The pamphlet includes the scripture for the week and questions that promote discussion. This is such a wonderful opportunity for CSFers to spend time reading scripture together and sharing their thoughts on the passage. The idea of one-on-one bible studies reminds me of the book Brandon (my husband) and I are reading for a devotional which talks about Godwinks. A Godwink (according to the author) is what some people would call a coincidence, an answered prayer, or simply an experience so astonishing that it could only have come from God. I feel like the whole concept of being engaged with one another in scripture through one-on-ones is a Godwink to remind us of how important it is to our faith. I’m excited to see what God has in store for us through our one-on-one bible studies.     

[Written by Renee Pugh for the March newsletter]

CSF and Girls Group

Hey everyone! My name is Megan and I am very proud to say I am a new member of the CSF family! I am a freshman in my second semester here at WVU and started attending CSF during the first few weeks of school in August. My close, dear friend Carrie James sent me emails and texts about coming to CSF over the summer and even before I had graduated from high school, I told her I would try it out. My first Sunday was memorable, that’s for sure. I cannot thank Carrie enough for sending me those emails and texts because she helped me find a home away from home. I don’t think I have ever met any nicer people than the people I have met at CSF. I am now proud to call them my brothers and sisters in Christ. I have never felt closer to God than what I do right now and I think that has everything to do with CSF.  The only word that I can come up with to describe the activities here would be simply amazing.  Bible studies and life groups have been my favorite; life group especially. This semester we are split up in girls group and guys group.  In girls group we are studying Mother Teresa’s No Greater Love and the first few weeks have been great.  We have covered prayer, giving and my personal favorite love.  Mother Teresa talks about Isaiah 49 in the chapter about love. Isaiah 49:15-16 “Can a mother forget the baby at her breast and have no compassion on the child she has borne? Though she may forget, I will never forget you, for I have carved you into the palm of my hand”.  This takes my breath away and it is even more special when I get to talk to my girls about the love that God has for each of us.  He binds us all together and makes everything right.  He carved us into the palm of His hand for all time just like the way that CSF has been carved into my heart. 

[Written by Megan Midcap for the March newsletter]