When automatic sinks don't turn on...

Waiting for an interstate exit with a bathroom, waiting for the water to turn on in one of those automatic motion sensing faucets that isn't working right...waiting can be irritating...

Waiting is good. 

I'm just going to leave that sit there while you roll eyes, wrestle with it, and demand more explanation than I can give.  But God says waiting is good.  Probably socially and mentally too, but spiritually there's something about waiting, and waiting on God, that is good.  

Healthy waiting has expectancy - expecting God to show you or lead you while actively pursuing Him. Big growth comes from that kind of waiting. 

I'd like to caution us. Healthy waiting does not mean a suspension of activity and vibrant communion with Jesus and people. 

That's when we move and wait to find a church community or healthy Christians to be around but it never actually happens.

It's when churches say "We haven't had any senior high youth in the past few years".  And then wait until the little ones grow up...those little ones who will probably drift into the abyss of dysfunctional families, busy after school schedules, and little meaningful church connection....which means no youth group in the future either.

Waiting is when we don't like where we are right now and 'wait for God' - do nothing while we wait for circumstances to force, excite, or encourage us to actively pursue Him again.

That is a suspension of activity kind of waiting. Waiting can be an excuse not to actively pursue Him. I'm fairly certain God is calling all except the most medically challenged to something at this very moment. We wait - expectantly praying and pursuing Him for something, but continue to serve, pray, read, be with other Christians, and support ministry and the work God is doing around us.

Let's pray we will be ready to step out of that when it happens to us

If you're currently waiting - actively pursue Him in the church, community, work, home situations where He has put you - while expectantly pursing and asking Him about what you're waiting for.

Moving closer to community...

CSF is moving college gathering time from Sunday nights to Wednesdays at 8pm. 

"I haven't been home much this semester, maybe 5 weekends." -freshmen at the Rec Center. A church we're connected to has a WVU student who goes home every weekend.  Another church put me in touch with a freshmen that goes home every weekend. A news article was quoting stats that said West Virginia residents rank in the top 5 for things like "Most often talk to family."  "Most likely to talk to a neighbor."  "Most likely to help a neighbor in a given year." That's something to be proud of folks!  But wait, so students are more connected to home which pulls them away from weekends at college making it harder for them to connect to faith when they're already busy with majors, groups, student organizations, sports, and more.  In the past year or two that's affected CSF more than in the past.  

There's local constraints to weekends as well, family come to visit, PRT and buses don't run, and WVU's new schedule reduces availability. Holiday weekends are tough and Thanksgiving and Spring Breaks mean almost 3 weeks of not gathering. That's not conducive to community building.  And students have noticed and talked about it the past two years.

But more importantly - CSF leaders are talking about "How do we create an environment conducive to WVU students connecting with each other and faith?" A common gathering time is one small ingredient to a much more important question we look forward to doing the best we can with!  And leaders are creating a safe, welcoming, home style space with revised service elements as well to further our mission.  We're looking forward to it!

So we are moving gathering time to Wednesdays but more importantly we're moving closer to community and investing and equipping our team to lead, serve, and move closer to Christ as well!

Kind of like watching South Park...

Two signs in Morgantown during Move-In weekend 2016:

We aren't called to be moral managers, that doesn't lead to loving God and loving others  (it works the other way around).  Buuuuuut, this is like experiencing a Soutpark episode, "Ah - an illustration of free speech in this country, but...what...did...they....just say?!?"

Not very edgy, not pushing boundaries, but sustainable (except free food..sort of), scalable, and for all people for all time.

Should I pack that Hannah Montana blanket...hmmm...

"Should I pack that Hannah Montana blanket in my suitcase?"
"Sponge Bob socks...hmmm, funny, or  make fun of me?"
"Wonder what they'll think of my Nickelback and Lady Gaga poster?" 
Freshmen are finishing up packing for move-in day tomorrow!

WVU is about to change - new faces, new students, new classes, new initiatives, new leaders, careers, friendships, and futures are under construction. 

Kaitlyn, Cortney, Alan, Sarah, Micah, Brooklyn, Noah, Jeanna, Cameron (x2), Andrew...and more - all freshmen we have already met, been to WVU basketball game with, camp fire with, camps with.... They are a formidable team with much opportunity and potential when they open that door, feel that August heat cut through the car's A/C and slide their Chaco's onto the WVU campus tomorrow. These kids are sharp.

CSF's annual Are You Moved? is tomorrow, where we move in freshmen.  Just like we did TEN years ago when we moved in Renee Pugh.  Renee was a freshmen, CSF leader, singer, new idea initiator, mission trip lover, intern, and now a member of the CSF Board of Directors, and doing great work on her social work team and in her church with her husband Brandon Pugh in North Carolina. Who knows what will happen!?

CSF is under construction too - we have three distinct leadership groups starting this year to better enable students to serve Jesus and get a degree.  More on those groups later.  

Even as an engineer I would say without a doubt, though I needed the piece of paper, my most beneficial time was in campus ministry.  That's where I learned to deal with my junk, a lot about friendship, a lot about greed and being self centered, how to care, and how to lead and work with teams for things that matter.

WVU and CSF are under construction and it's super exciting to see what these young students are going to build together as they serve Jesus and get a degree!

Thanks Team CSF!