Mission and Missions

Today I took some time to go through a preparation email that I got from Urbana last week. It went through the distiction between mission and missions. For the Christian, mission is God's purpose: calling and drawing people to Himself. Missions is what we do in that overall goal; the little things that we do on a regular basis, and the big things that we do every once in a while. It's smiling and helping someone who is lost find their way, and it's serving dinner to the poor in a soup kitchen. It's working at a church camp, and it's going overseas to spread the gospel. All the time, every day, we are involved in missions.

There was also a link to an interview with Rick Warren of Saddleback Church in California. He wrote The Purpose Driven Life and has spoken at numerous churches and conferences. In this interview, Rick outlined five transitions that need to be made for us to be effective in our missions for His mission:

1. Self-centeredness --> God-centeredness
2. Local orientation --> global orientaion
3. Temporal values --> eternal values
4. Security --> service
5. Comfort --> sacrifice

Each of these things touch on different aspects of what it means to be a Christian. We are called to cast off our former identity to embrace one informed by who we are in Christ. This requires us to think like Christ did about the people in the world and how all of them are worthy of love, not just the lovable ones. It requires us to keep in mind that the things of this life will pass away, but He never will. It requires us to serve others with the same heart. All of that requires a sacrifice of our time, energy, love, comfort, resources, abilities, and so much more.

See the interview itself for more expansion upon those thoughts. :)

"Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is. His good, pleasing, and perfect will." ~ Romans 12:2

Vital Attendee Information #1

Today I got the first in a series of reminder emails from the friendly people at Urbana intended to make sure that I have all of my affairs in order and that I know what I need to know in the weeks leading up to the conference. Of course, since I am slightly obsessive, I already knew much of it from reading through the web site a few times. Well, quite a few times, really. I already know my travel and hotel information, and I've thought about seminars and what kinds of things I want to participate in at the conference.

The email served as a reminder to a planning-oriented person like myself that no matter how much I read through the information they provide and think through what I want to do when I'm there, it's still going to be stretching experience. Especially since we're going to turn around and drive to Atlanta from St. Louis in the middle of the night to attend another conference back to back.

But stretching is good for you, at least I think so. :) It reminds you and gives you the courage to have the faith to take the next step, without being able to see where the path is taking you. I know that God wants me at these conferences, if for no other reason than to remind me that He is sovereign and He is going to take care of me. He already arranged for two scholarships to come to me through InterVarsity (one giving me a discount on my registration rate and the other from the Shenandoah InterVarsity group) and gave me a mental list of prayer supporters, some of whom will be financial supporters, so that I have this opportunity.

Stepping out in the dark isn't easy. Growing and stretching hurts. But the end result? Well, I can't see it right now, but I know that it's going to be beautiful and for Him.

I don't know where I'm going right now. I finished the dorm counselor interview process today and now I just have to wait for a week or three (ha) and pray that God's will would be done. I really want to be a DC and have a freshman hall. You know when you have this little voice in the back of your mind telling you that you're supposed to be doing something? Well, I believe that's the Holy Spirit, and I believe that when the time comes to fruition, He tells you when you're supposed to do it. I've been thinking and praying about being a DC since freshman year, and I feel like it's where He's leading me for next year, but of course I won't know for sure until I find out if I am accepted or not. I like applications - they're clear cut.

I don't know where I'm going after college. I don't know whether it'll be grad school or to a job. I hope to go to grad school in Virginia, but there's no telling yet, really. The theme for Urbana is "You Have a Calling" though, so maybe I'll know. :) But maybe I won't.

One thing I do know is that I have to remain open, even if I have all the specifics nailed down. Something can always change, it's just what makes life interesting and wonderful.

For now, though, I'm thinking that my homework is calling. Essay time...

Seven More Weeks

Only seven more weeks until I leave for Urbana and then Passion! I feel like that is a good first entry for my Urbana/Passion blog. I'm still trying to figure all the formatting out, so bear with me. Once I figure out how everything works, this will look a lot cooler!

Blog title comes from Passion's theme verse, Isaiah 26:8 --
"Yes, Lord, walking in the way of your truth, we wait for you. For your name and your renown are the desire of our souls."