College Days are here again.

I live in a college town.

Wait. Let me clarify.  I live just outside a town that houses two universities...and is 15 minutes away from a private college.  Oh, and 15 minutes (in the other direction) away from a community college.

So yeah, as I was saying....

I live in a college town.  And this is the time of year where the mass influx of students completely changes the look, feel, and spirit of our town.

Picture taken the summer before MY Senior year in college. I'm second from the left.

For when The Students...from one of the FOUR local colleges... return to town:

• You can no longer drive, with ease, down the road. You now have to ride the break, contending with college students who have a death wish think they possess the right of way.   All day. Every day. On a four-lane busy road, I might add.

• You can no longer walk into a restaurant on a Friday night and be seated within 20 minutes. Now you hear "It's looking like an hour and a half at this point" from the hostess.  Promptly being faced with the decision to wait it out or go to another restaurant...to wait it out.
  
  So yeah, dinners out come ready-made with PRE-eating indigestion, as you try to convince yourself that standing *that* close to a total stranger in the restaurant lobby for an hour isn't all that bad.
  
  

No, this picture wasn't staged. Wha'? We were always picking each other up. for absolutely no reason at all. Didn't you? I suppose that was the reason we were part of FCA (Fellowship of Christian Athletes)... we had exceptional upper body strength. ;)

• You can no longer walk down the street with your full confidence in tack. Because you are now greeted with thin, tan, half-clothed girls that have been obviously working on their physique the en.ti.re. summer. in preparation for the inevitable meeting of The One. ;)
  

• And for the Love of God and all things holy, don't even think about stepping foot inside Super Walmart because you will not get out alive within the designated 1-hour time frame.

But

I have to confess.  I love it...I love almost everything about having them back in town.  I mean, the whole death-wish, half-clothed part doesn't sit well with me. But eh. I'm particular like that.

There's just something about this age group that stirs my very soul.

Something about that short time frame in life that silently calls out to the woman God created me to be...and every fiber in my being WANTS to do a one-on-one with every. girl. there.

And trust me, that's a lot of girls. (Maybe this is why God has given me a posse of daughters?...since I no longer have extra time for college ministry)

I'm drawn to their energy. their potential. their zest for life. their desire to figure it out. and their rather naive take on male/female relationships that begs for a little outside perspective.

And I have this insatiable urge to invest in them. Listen to them. Encourage them. Slap them upside the head and yell "Clothe thyself!"


College reunion last summer. I'm 6months pregnant with Alana. Always pregnant...:) And notice this time, I'm still holding up some part of somebody's body. ;)

It's such a precious season in life. Such a sweet memory for me. SUCH the pocket of opportunity for them. And I'm drawn to it. to them.

And I happen to be thu-rilled that they're ALLLL back in town.

Now to get them to ditch the death-wish and buy clothes that actually cover thy boot-ay.

Defining the meaning of Sold-Out. For my kids' sake.

"She's one of those radical Christians. She's so spiritually minded that she's no earthy good, you know?"

Excuse me? Are you stinkin' kidding me!? She's a radical, spiritually minded Christian? ...you mean as opposed to some other kind?

As in the kind of Christians that just hold fast to the title, but not the person of Jesus? the politically correct, and therefore socially safe, kind that have no faith. hold no power. and see no breakthrough?

Are those the other type of "Christians" that you speak of? Just wanting to be clear here. You know, so I can intelligently follow along with your pathetic line of reasoning.

I'm sorry but comments like these enrage me.

Actually, I take that back. I'm not sorry. I think we, as a nation, are where we are today because of too many "sorry" Christians.

Christians who apologize for not being tolerant enough. who apologize for not embracing everyone's ridiculous notions of right and wrong... or the lack thereof.

Christians who apologize for keeping other Believers accountable to the Truth. Christians who, ultimately, allow themselves to be silenced from speaking the Name of Jesus, resigned to allow the "Majority" make the new and improved rules of conduct.

I'm not sorry. But I am mad.

Because it's mindsets like these (that are even in the Church) that can make the "radical" Believer feel like they need to just hop off the mothership and get a grip on reality.

"Earth to Christian. Do you read me?"


Uh...? Totally correct me if I'm wrong, but it seems to me that the only thing that's going to be of "Earthly good" is if we get our minds set on the things of the Spirit. So we can pull down Heaven into this realm.

Does "...Your Kingdom come...on earth as it is in heaven..." ring a bell?

One thing that I decided this week is that I refuse to raise "American Christians". Children who grow up thinking lukewarm is the norm.

I want my children to know that there is life outside of our little corner of the planet. That there are Christians around the world risking humiliation, torture, and death. just so they can praise Jesus and embrace the title of Christian.

instead of casually throwing it around like it's some club where you piously pay your weekly dues by sitting on a pew.

Richard Wurmbrand, in his book, "Tortured for Christ" says:

"It must be understood that there are no nominal, halfhearted, lukewarm Christians in Russia or China. The price Christians pay is far too great. The next point to remember is that persecution has always produced a better Christian- a witnessing Christian, a soul-winning Christian. communist persecution has backfired and produced serious, dedicated Christians such as are rarely seen in free lands. These people cannot understand how anyone can be a Christian and not want to win every soul they meet."

I want my girls to understand this from the get-go. to intercede for our Christian Siblings who are risking everything to lift up the name of Jesus.

I don't want them to take for granted that we have a hundred Bibles at our finger tips. and a church on every corner. and worship music on the radio.

I want them to understand that we are in a battle. whether we see it in this realm/land (yet) or not, it's there. They need to know this. so they can be equipped. so they can be BOTH spiritually minded and of earthly good.

You know, like Jesus was.

*****
If you are interested...you can get a kid-friendly newsletter version of Voice of the Martyrs. For free.

I just signed up today so I don't know what all it includes. But I do know that the Voice of the Martyrs newsletters (adult versions) we've received come with maps outlining the nations where Christians are considered illegal. or endangered.

Those maps will hang above our map of the world. on the wall of our dining room. so my girls are reminded to pray for them daily. as am I.

http://www.persecution.com/

http://www.kidsofcourage.com/

In honor of the Pure in Heart

Last night I had a bunch of high school girls here for a S*ex, Lies, and Chocolate night. Fun times. ;)

I was a public speaker for a while...about s*ex and purity. Just chalk that up as another random fact about me. Random, but poignant. Because it's one of my passions. I love teaching. And I love encouraging people to go after all that God has. In my mind, that cannot be separated from a life of purity. On the inside. As well as what is displayed on the outside.

And by luck of the draw, Katherine (our youth and college ministries pastor) asked me to be a part of this lively little time. Woo-hoo!

So last night Katherine, Wendy, and I laid it ALL on the line for the girls. And I do mean ALL. No, we weren't graphic, but we were gut-level honest. No. Holds. Barred. And in my opinion, that goes a long way.

For how can you resist someone being truly real with you? I've found that people flock to it like a fly on...manure. :) I even had one teen pull me aside at church to comment about how much our uninhibited commentary impacted her...and how God used it to send her a wake-up call.

Uh-huh. Any time, my friend. As long as you adhere to the "What happens in LivingRoom, stays in LivingRoom" rule. hee hee (nothing spoken in that room was allowed to be said outside of that room!)

But anyway, ONE of the things that struck me about the whole night was the integrity of this 20-something woman who is fearlessly leading our young people. Let me explain...

You know how easy it is, when talking to a younger person (or anyone for that matter), to take on the role of confidant, friend, and all-around shoulder to cry on?

"Yeah I know you're hurting. That so stinks that your parent didn't understand you. What a hard life you have. The nerve of your parents being so harsh."

YET the kid is sharing how they are dabbling with things they shouldn't be, hanging with people that are on the road to prison, and spewing words of poison whenever referring to anyone in authority over their life. Not really something I'd call "okay".

But honestly, in my opinion, I think it's all too easy to take the low road in those situations. To focus on the fact that they are hurting, miserable, and crying buckets in front of you. Instead of the sin issues at the heart of it all.

Yes. Those tears and hurts are real and valid emotions. But...what about the fact that they have knowingly chosen that road?!! What about the adult taking a stand on the Word, instead of inwardly reverting to the by-gone years of middle school where wanting to fit in and be popular reigns supreme? You know...sort of not condone it...or condemn it. Just be their friend.

Aw. How quaint. But hello!! Through this obvious lack of correction, it's like giving the okay to "continue on as you were."

Seriously. Do you know what I'm saying?!

I've found that many times after a "s*ex talk" is officially over, I'll be cornered by girls who want to talk more. Honestly? It's sometimes shocking to hear the things they say. It's like they're just wanting me to affirm their bad choices. You know, get the girl who just spoke about God and his redemptive power to give the thumbs up on my current life situation.

Uh. No.

But I have found myself fighting the urge to just sit there, smile, and say "Yeah, I understand" over and over. Thankfully, after picking my mouth off the floor, I locate my backbone, and put it to use. But still...the temptation was there.

Anyway...Katherine and I got to talk briefly before she left. And all I can say is I came away encouraged by the inner strength of this young woman.

Here is a woman who is not just proclaiming the things of the Spirit but also living an inner and outer life to back it up. Ah, quite the breath of fresh air!!

Here is a woman who is not just teaching these students with words, but also by her actions. Who doesn't just preach purity, but also DRESSES purely (Don't even get me started on the fact that Christian women don't seem to mind these days if their bre*asts are hanging out on a near regular basis...due to "style". Seriously. don't. get. me. started.)!

Here's a woman who not only asks these guys to honor God in their every day life, but chooses, herself, to walk that narrow road. Even when it's not easy. convenient. popular. Or in style.

And though I don't know her really well...at least not as well as I hope to in the coming future...I knew, standing there in my dining room at 11PM, that God was knitting my heart to hers. on a deep level.

That He was introducing me to someone who is the real deal. on all levels of pursuing and representing the Lord. And something inside of me got Excited.

I just pray that by the time my girls are in youth group, there will be someone of her caliber to lead them. In love. And in untainted truth.