April 27th, 2010 by Dan Nichols
In his book Crazy Love, Pastor Francis Chan claims, “When we love God because we feel we should love Him, instead of genuinely loving out of our true selves, we have forgotten who God really is.” He goes on to say, “In our world, where hundreds of things distract us from God, we have to intentionally and consistently remind ourselves of Him.”
I find myself falling short of this charge from Pastor Chan – over and over again. Loving God is not something we chase after only out of obligation. We love God because He first loved us – yes, but that is not the only reason we love God. We should love God with mind, soul, body, spirit, heart, will, emotion, intellect… you name it. All of it – dedicated to loving God. Completely.
Tags: Christian Living, Following Christ, God, Loving
Posted in About, Spiritual Growth | No Comments »
April 26th, 2010 by Catie Prinzing
BBC participates in two “Appreciation Days” throughout the year: Community Appreciation and Campus Appreciation. Thursday, I had the privilege of being thankful for my campus. Half the student body got to serve on a day-long mission trip to one of the big cities in our area (Scranton, Wilkes-Barre, and NYC). But the other half got to stay on campus and do some landscaping. Landscaping here means weeding and mulching – and I never had so much fun doing it.
I was in charge of Mulch Export (loading the wheelbarrows) for the majority of the day. It was cool to use pitchforks, but my hands were hurting, my arms were sore, and my face was kind of dirty. However, as I looked around at the students from every class and dormitory, I saw a body of friends working together out of thankfulness for something God gave to them. Several were singing, most were talking and laughing, but we were all working for a good purpose. It’s true that BBC has a beautiful campus, you should visit if you haven’t yet had the chance. Feel free to check out this link to schedule a campus visit: www.bbc.edu/visit.
Sometimes I forget to acknowledge how lucky I am to actually live here. The administration gives me a day off from classes just so I can say “thanks” to the campus where I live and learn and grow. So thanks, BBC. I hope you like the mulch.
Tags: Appreciation, Big Cities, Campus, Classes, Community, Dormitory, Fun, Growth, Landscaping, Laughing, Missions, Mulching, Pitchforks, Singing, Talking, Thankfulness, Weeding, Wheelbarrows
Posted in Campus Life, Community | No Comments »
April 21st, 2010 by Catie Prinzing
Summer is fast approaching. What are the possibilities besides endless? I hope to visit a beach, take a hiking trip, and hit up Blockbuster every weekend with my friends (right before we raid the Taco Bell). It’s easy for me to want to take a break over the summer; to let my mind rest from the stress of daily classes and such. Aren’t we all this way? We feel as though we deserve a little time to ourselves. Usually this also translates into relaxed expectations for my devotional life. Without the structure of a daily routine, Bible reading and prayer gets pushed aside and fit in “whenever.” Is this the kind of approach I should be taking? Not really.
This summer it’s my goal to use the abundant free time (apart from the stereotypical yet necessary “summer job”) and the beautiful weather to walk closer with God. I have the benefit of learning vast amounts about Him and His Word at BBC, and what better time is there to process that information and apply it? Since BBC is preparing me for ministry, why not employ my new-found skills by getting involved in a summer kids’ program or young girls’ Bible study? After taking my theology classes, I can go to my pastors and Sunday school teachers with question I have about what I have been learning. Summer is God’s gift to college students, but that doesn’t mean our spiritual lives have to take the back seat, that’s reserved for a guitar and a long-board anyway…
Tags: Beach, Bible, Bible Study, Blockbuster, Breaks, Classes, Devotions, Free Time, Guitar, Hiking, Kids, Longboard, Ministry, Possiblities, Routine, Summer, Summer Job, Taco Bell, Theology
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April 20th, 2010 by Catie Prinzing
I have done some crazy things with my friends here. Food runs after curfew are a blast and so is man-sized Jenga in the wrestling loft. There’s so much for me to tell about my experience. Mine. But I forget that not everyone just wants to hear about me.
Recently, we’ve had a couple of chapels that have pointedly exposed my fallacy. We have what’s called Praise Chapel where students are encouraged to share what the Lord has been doing in their lives. And Student Leadership Chapel this morning was similar and equally encouraging. People stood up an talked about sharing their faith with strangers and proof of God’s providence in ways that got me excited! I fail to realize that God loves them and takes care of them just like He does for me.
I have been working on looking for God’s hand in my life, and I have definitely been able to see Him move in huge ways lately. But when I can sit in chapel and hear how He can do the same in others’ lives as well, I’m blown away.
So, it’s not just about my situation anymore. How has God been at work in you?
Tags: Chapel, Crazy, Exciting, Food, Friends, God, Jenga, Me, Philippians, Providence, Selfish, Strangers, Witnessing
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April 14th, 2010 by Catie Prinzing
7:53 AM, and hitting the snooze had not been a dream. Dr. Lackey’s New Testament class waits for no man, so I try to appear presentable in seven minutes or less – it will be a new record for me. Since showers are definitely postponable: brush teeth, make ponytail, grab books, and fly down the dorm steps. The clock peals its eighth toll as I slip into my seat in the back of the packed classroom. Exam day. And I am less than prepared. Could a day begin more poorly?
Early classes, among a myriad of other responsibilities, can be grueling to the schedule of the modern college student, and sometimes I feel like I just can’t handle it all. It’s true that college life (and life in general) has its share of hardships, but God has a way of balancing them with other blessings.
I started looking for these blessings, and I was astounded by what I discovered. Like that anonymous $1,000 donation to my school bill, that friend that has been a huge encouragement, or that class that is teaching me something about God I cannot ignore. See, I can handle my routine, no matter how severe, because I have strength from the Lord. Obviously He is working, and I’m just not paying attention.
I could focus on how hard life can be for me, but then I remember: I have peace with God, and that is what matters most. Psalm 29:11.
Tags: Blessings, Donation, Exams, Friend, Hardships, Morning, Peace, Ponytail, Strength, trials
Posted in Campus Life, Classes, Spiritual Growth | No Comments »
April 14th, 2010 by Karissa Craft
Making crafts is an easy thing, but even in foreign countries?
Yes, crafts are easy, even in a foreign country. I have had the privilege of being on four missions trips throughout my high school years. One thing I noticed was the fact that making a craft was the easiest way to connect to children and adults in Haiti and Mexico. Crafts opened doors that could not have been opened through the language barrier we experienced.
One of the most effective ways to share the salvation message was through making salvation braclets. Salvation braclets consist of colored beads and can be made to fit infants, children, teenagers, and adults. Along with their adjustability to different sizes, they also explained the message we longed to get across. Each color has a specific meaning: purple- grace, black- sin, blue- water baptism, red- blood of Christ, clear- forgiveness, green- eternal life, and gold- Heaven’s streets. As we instructed them on the order of the colors, we also shared the Gospel message to them.
We also use those braclets here in the states. When people ask me where I got my braclet, I tell them I made it. Then I go right into the meanings of the colors and why I wear it.
Don’t think this can only be done in foreign countries, because your backyard needs to be reached too!
Tags: Adults, Arts, Beads, Children, Christ, Crafts, Experiences, Foreign Countries, Gospel, Haiti, Language Barrier, Mexico, Missions Trips, Salvation, Salvation Braclets
Posted in Campus Life, Missions, Spiritual Growth | No Comments »
