Already March?!?!?!

I know this year was a leap year and that February was a day longer than normal, but still... IT'S ALREADY MARCH?!?!!? That's so hard to believe!!! This past week has been a very busy one. Emily's getting over bronchitis, and I'm getting over a stomach bug, so the two of us are probably a great picture to look at right now, haha. Despite feeling bad, we were still able to be at CSF this past Wednesday night, and what a night it was!!! We had about 40 show up and participate! I talked about a subject that is probably on the top of the awkward list for every college student: Relationships. Because this topic is so vast, I boiled it down for friendships and more-than-friendships. From there my goal was to help students look through Scripture and understand what God has to say about relationships and how to look at and identify healthy and unhealthy relationships. I talked about how it's probably a good idea to take this seriously, because it's important to God. Since God's a trinitarian God, who's each person exists in close relationship with another, and we as human beings are created in God's image, we were created for community! We were created to have relationship with one another. It was a tough night because of the some of what was talked about hit really close at home for many of the students. I even ventured into the realm where many people begin to get defensive and angry, the realm of homosexuality.

I reached this topic when I arrived at Scriptures that help us identify unhealthy relationships. I explained that above all, it is a sin, so I don't know why so many Christians today are supporting it as an acceptable lifestyle. I then began to explain also that I don't know why so many Christians elevate this sinful practice above other practices such as cheating, lying, and other forms of sexual immorality (including but not limited to adultery). In Paul's New Testament letters, he lists homosexuality alongside of these other sins, and talks about them all as what they are, sin. I talked about how many Christians take what's said in this verse, and elevate homosexuality to a level of higher significance, when in reality, they are looking at other people's sin, in an effort to alleviate from and transfer attention from their own sin. I addition to all of this, I took time to redefine, and reclaim, the true definition of adultery. I explained that when you look through Scripture, when you give something that belongs to your spouse to someone else, that's adultery. I even explained to them that since I have a strict definition of adultery, I truly believe that sex outside of marriage, before or after, is adultery, because you taken something that belonged to your spouse (which you don't have one) and given it to someone else. If you don't have a spouse, the gift shouldn't be given! It's as simple as that.

Overall, it was an intense message that I had been preparing for weeks. Each of the past two weeks, God had prevented me from preaching this one, and led me to write brand new ones a day before or the morning of our CSF Wednesday night service. From hearing responses from some of the students who attend, I understand now why I wasn't supposed to deliver this sermon on one of the previous two weeks. God sure does work in mysterious ways and knows what he's doing. There's been quite a few students who came up to me over the next two days, or texted me that night saying that they were wrestling with some friendships or potential more-than-friendships and God spoke to them on Wednesday night and gave them the advice and direction that they needed. It's times like these that I'm overwhelmed with excitement with the ministry that God is using Emily and I to work in. However even though there has been so much on the part of students responding to God's calling and teaching, there has been A LOT of stress on myself over the past week. I would appreciate any prayer that you all could give in regards to Emily and I continuing to press on, serving God, serving these students, and growing in a deeper knowledge of Christ that attracts and draws seekers and unbelievers to the cross. Thanks everyone! I love you all! Sorry this was posted late, as I was writing it on Friday, I had three students come and talk to me, but that's why I'm here! =) Hopefully I'll post more up here before we leave this Saturday for the mission's trip to Cleveland! Until next time!! =)

Pat