Posts Tagged ‘college’

Now that I am more acclimated and adjusted into my new role in our Student Development Office I have just a couple of things that need some work. OK… more than a couple things. In my report to the President and Board of Trustees I listed (11) challenges that I currently face in my position and (20+) initiatives/actions that I am implementing. But on to some more important items. I have a number of things that I still need to hang on the walls in my office. I have a wire from Ikea called Deka that holds pictures of Sarah and Kyla and I’ll be adding some framed pictures of the Oakwood Hall Staff from the last three years as well as some pictures of SGA and other random student goings-on. I also need to call a certain Adrian McKinney to get one of his original pieces that would work very well in the office.

The biggest problem with my office (other than the purplish carpet and counter top, both from which I’ve been able to detract the visual focus) is the empty refrigerator. I am planning to stock it with Naked Juice, Odwalla, and cranberry juice. Bottled water and soda will not adulterate the natural freshness which will be the aura of the previously identified refrigerator. What else should I put in my refrigerator? MVNU students and staff, if you were to stop by in between classes or during a break or just to talk and I were to give you a free beverage what would you want?

It appears as though my last post was published on August 11 – almost a month ago. I suppose there is a reason why I have not written in nearly a month. On August 12 I was offered and accepted a new position at MVNU, where I have served as a Resident Director for the last 3 years. I am now in the position formerly known as the Associate Dean. Though the listed responsibilities are essentially and/or technically the same as in previous years, the name of the position has changed, symbolically reflecting the change that I will/am bring/bringing. I am serving as the Director of Student Involvement and Accountability in the Office of Student Development. My title is the next-to-longest name second only to Rick Teasdale (not to be confused with an actual person), the Assistant Associate Vice Regional Director to the Chancellor of Student Services. My new role at MVNU includes serving as an advisor to the Student Government Association, chairing of the University Judicial Council and Campus Life Council, providing leadership development and mentoring to students, and handling all discipline process and accountability standards for students. I’m also the University Liaison to the Parents’ Association.

In the midst of the transition into my new position I’ve been quite wrapped up with a number of things. Sarah, Kyla, and I moved out of the RD apartment attached to Oakwood Hall. Per my request, we were able to maintain MVNU’s campus as our place of residence. My next post will tell about our move down the hill from Oakwood Hall to the Rosewood Apartments. We primarily wanted to remain on campus in order to continue living life among the students that we love, opening our home to all those who accept the invitation to journey with us, together in the struggle to learn what it really means to live in the way of Jesus.

I realized during a time of silence on our SGA Retreat (a couple of weekends ago) that the consistent and abnormal practice of solitude, prayer, and reflection is essential in the midst of all the things both good and bad that fill our lives. So… I am not particularly proud of the fact that I’ve had only 2 days off in the last 29 days but I am excited to enter a new season of life that possesses a more natural and healthy rhythm of existence. A more consistent schedule of thinking and writing will reignite the posts that are going to be published on a much more regular basis now that the time demands of transition have subsided.

I also moved into a new office. It’s name is Sweden. Stop by. We’ll share some coffee and conversation.

Peace.

Click the following title to read the article by Shane Claiborne, "Why I Got Arrested on Good Friday. "

When I hung out a little with and observed Shane this summer at the Envision Conference at Princeton I found out that he likes to have fun. I remember distinctly when all sorts of intellectual-ish and rather serious-personalitied ecclesial leaders were lounging around a campus green space eating lunch together. I was sitting with a graduate assistant from Yale listening to him share about his Iranian reconciliation ministry and process a session on religious pluralism with Samir Selmanovic . I looked over his shoulder and there stood Shane dancing around with bowling pins and juggling with a friend. It was beautiful! I envision him laughing all the way to the police station all-the-while remaining internally crushed and authentically in touch with the suffering of Jesus.

After receiving a number of comments (some online and some in conversation or e-mail) about the "Why MVNU Students Go To Journey" posts, I think there is great value in responding to some of those comments.

Response to Journey Comments #2. The 20 minute drive from MVNU in Mount Vernon, OH to Howard, OH .

The concept of locality and proximity has centralized within my processing of ecclesiology. Proximity is a loaded concept for the church. I didn’t feel like I fully articulated all that cycled through my head while briefly expalaining "#2. The 20 minute drive…" Particularly, I think I was too cordial with a positive spin.

While a core desire for connectivity exists, are attendees of a larger, corporate, and institutionalized gathering really connecting? External from the gathering I would suggest that connection does happen here and there but that connection is primarily within pre-existing relationships that are not generationally diverse. Some may value the wisdom and kindness of chronologically older people but many simply do not tolerate the perspectives of a different demographic.

The Chavez noted in a comment that carpooling is "a way to build more connection than gathering around the coffee urns and picking through the nasty, cream-filled half long-johns can ever provide. It would provide opportunity to digest and dialogue about the morning’s [teaching]." This is a step in the right direction both for environmental/creation care and for learning. If we are to proceed further from this concept would we be able to confess that our lack of sustainable connectivity stems from a fear of deeper connection with others? Resultantly, "it is possible to attend a service and appease one’s conscience by claiming that ‘I went to church.’"

Driving a far distance to "attend church" seems mostly to be a means of staying unconnected and uninvolved. It doesn’t require any effort except for depressing a pedal and refilling an empty fuel tank. Empty. Empty … irony?

And just for the fun of it…

Would Jesus drive a BMW… or a green Honda Element (not an "either/or" question)?

After receiving a number of comments (some online and some in conversation or e-mail) about the "Why MVNU Students Go To Journey" posts, I think there is great value in responding to some of those comments. Here we go…

Response to Journey Comments #1. The perception that going to a Sunday morning gathering is still necessary.

"Most church services remind me of the ‘self-help’ aisle at Barnes & Noble. i can get more spiritual depth and understanding from turning my compost pile and planting seeds in the ground." – Tom Joad.

I must recognize that Tom Joad is more of a naturalist (labeling/categorizing noted) than many. I would consider this a good thing. Turning the earth does not resonate as a "spiritual" practice for most people. I would consider this unfortunate and sad. Nonetheless, depth of teaching is a real issue for Sunday morning gatherings. When I attend a Sunday morning gathering I frequently find myself writing my own thoughts in my Moleskin simply because whatever is or is not being taught is not at all engaging. I’m reminded of a question asked by my professor Rick Ryding, "Is there teaching if there is no learning?" Too often, Sunday morning lectures are boring, shallow, mundane, uncreative, and guilt laden.

It is also important to note for other commentators that the original post is not saying anything negative about the portion of a week that is called "Sunday morning." Rather, it is critiquing that which is usually deemed (in Christian circles) as necessary during that time slot. I don’t care if followers of Jesus decide to meet on Sunday mornings or Thursday afternoons. In reality, the church is present together more often than not. The importance placed on that which usually happens on Sunday mornings is the problem. There may be very significant and "spiritual" things happening on a Tuesday morning but those things may go unrecognized as worship or as church. It is necessary for us to move our thinking away from a large, corporate, institutionalized gathering in order to recognize things like compost and seeds as things which engage humanity in worship of God.

With which is Jesus more concerned, our gatherings or acts of worship?

Many MVNU students have been attending the Sunday morning gathering of Christians who call themselves "Journey Church." Here is the sixth (6th) of six (6) reasons why MVN(azarene)U students have been so highly attracted to the non-Nazarene gathering place that is Journey.

That’s right. This is it. It’s been over a week. The moment you all… or at least some of you… have been waiting for (or not): The #1 reason why MVNU students go to the gathering place that calls itself Journey. But first… here is a quick rundown of numbers 1-5.

1. The perception that going to a Sunday morning gathering is still necessary.
2. The 20 minute drive from MVNU in Mount Vernon, OH to Howard, OH.
3. The music.
4. The teacher who is present in the lives of students.
5. The idea that everyone is doing it.

And finally presenting number…

6. The sexual lure.

Yes, the sexual lure.

Enter the Journey gathering and the lights go down. In the dimly lit room an ever-so-happy dating couple nuzzle and begin to sway together to Salvation is Here . OK… not really… but really. I have seen this beautiful picture of hormonal overload and still remain quite humored and/or disgusted with a more-than-slight inclination toward the latter.

Before I totally lose you (too late) I’ll get into the real idea:

Fascination. Romanticism. Intimacy. Connectedness.

God created humans (and most other mammals) as sexual creatures. Unfortunately, the church has done a rather insufficient to poor job at framing our sexuality in a healthy and fomative manner. The popular media has unveiled many "church leaders" from eccumenically diverse backgrounds who have illustrated the tragic nature of distorted sexuality. Few Christian parents have properly imaged a devoted and giving marriage relationship (the previous two sentences must be developed more in separate, dedicated posts). The church has inadequately taught the full beauty of sexuality and has ungraciously reacted against what it calls sinful sexual behavior. There has emerged a fascination with sexuality from students who have been impacted by the church’s improper communication about sexuality. Experimentation and cultural adaption consequently ensue. Timmy B and I are both quite comfortable journeying with students and others through the fascination and questions about sexuality.

There is a certain romanticism that accompanies the Journey gathering. One parallel that I may draw is with the idea of adoption. International adoption may sound more heroic when compared with domestic adoption. There is a type of romanticism that comes with rescuing a child from another country compared to a child who is abused by his/her parents who are your neighbors. Though I don’t buy into that idea of romanticsm (all forms of justice are equally justice) there is a certain romanticism with the Journey gathering. It is not Nazarene. It is not a huge organization. It most reflects the grassroots movements of church that may be trendy but are not associated with a larger institution. The current generation of 20-somethings are attraced to anti-institutional movements. We are romanticized by them.

A sexual relationship with one’s spouse is the most intimate and connected that two people may become so long as that practice of sex is within the context of a whole and loving marriage. Humans long for that intimacy and connection. The journey gathering is packaged with an intimate feel and the relationships external from the gathering itself are quite intimate. At the core of western human existence is the desire to fight against the individualism that defines our culture and seek to be connected with each other. Journey is just one more place to seek such connection within an intimate feel that fosters romanticism for minds fascinated with sex.

If you are finding yourself at all confused you may include your thoughts in a comment. I also may include a post that would further explain this idea. It would be an excert from a teaching and a piece of writing that I did about the Holy Kiss used in the liturgy.

Posts in response to comments during this series are ahead.

Many MVNU students have been attending the Sunday morning gathering of Christians who call themselves "Journey Church." Here is the fifth (5th) of six (6) reasons why MVN(azarene)U students have been so highly attracted to the non-Nazarene gathering place that is Journey.

From post #4 of 6…
[There is also…]

5. The idea that everyone is doing it.

I’m not precisely sure what defines a trend except the idea that "everyone is doing it." After a discussion with my friends Nate Okuley and Lee Yowell in Nate’s car on the way to Hunan Garden for some dialogue and General Tso’s Chicken (insert another prepositional phrase here), I am offering a list of cultural and branding trends that exist within MVNU:

North Face : These branded jackets may be seen on many students walking around campus. I do wonder if North Face jackets worn in warmer spring and summer weather are symbols of one’s need for identity to be justified by a trend/brand.

Chipotle : I had never tried the oversized burrito from the McDonald’s Corporatio n owned mexican grill until I worked at MVNU. I will admit, I likes me some Chipotle even though I loathe McDonald’s and even have a hard time saying the last name of a certain clown named Ronald without having moderate to severe reflux in my esophageal tr act. Flour tortilla, rice, cilantro, chicken, onions, peppers, black beans, corn salsa, fresh tomato salsa, and cheese. Trendy and tasty for a mere 950 calories, 28.5 grams of fat, and 43% of my daily intake of iron. I heart you Chipotle (but I hate your mother).

Mac : The musical group/band/singer Feist would be relatively unknown if Mac had not used the now popu lar "1, 2, 3, 4" on a quite catchy advertisement for the th en new ipod nano (Am I supposed to capitalize the word "nano" or the "p" in "ipod?" What is the trend?). I confess that I do own a very nice, new generation, large capacity ipod Classic which I enjoy very much ("Classic" is capitalized just in case I got it wrong the first time. I want to be justified by my trendiness.). I also have MacBook envy. I have battled lust for the new aluminum cased media and online connectivity machine largely do to the slow proc essing and occasional random shut down of my now archaic HP Pavilion. I am also wanting to use iLife 09 for video and picture editing of my daughter, Kyla. I simply can’t quite justify spending $1299+ on a laptop when we’re trying to save and raise money to adopt internationally . It’s not easy fleeing green. "Tell me that you love me more. Buy me, Mac."

Journey Church : "If everyone’s going there and says it’s sweet then I’m going to go check it out." Is this a good enough reason? No previous connection with the gathered community? No theological research?

This of course leads me to the number one (#1) reason why MVNU students go to Journey…

TO BE CONTINUED.

^ This post is dedicated to Lee Yowell.

Many MVNU students have been attending the Sunday morning gathering of Christians who call themselves "Journey Church." Here is the fourth (4th) of six (6) reasons why MVN(azarene)U students have been so highly attracted to the non-Nazarene gathering place that is Journey.

From post #2 of 6…
[Les is not the only person who leads the church in worship. Students gravitate toward…]

4. The teacher who is present in the lives of students.

Tim Barensc heer is a graduate of MVNU (03) and Fuller Theological Seminary (M.Th.). He left southern California and returned to the middle of a not-as-luxurious central, rural Ohio to serve with the Journey community. Tim has focussed much of his ministry toward college students. He and his wife Brittany frequently have students into their home for conversations about faith and life [if the two are distinct and separable (I would suggest that they are not)]. They join students in the cafeteria as well in coffee shops and at other campus events.

I find it interesting that I have heard comments that Tim and "Journey Church" are "stealing students from the Nazarene churches" and/or "recruiting" student to attend. I can very confidently attest to the fact that there is no such "recruiting" occurring. Tim simply cares. He is present for the sake of being present. I cannot think of many people who do not appreciate another’s genuine love toward them – love that extends beyond teaching a biblical idea – love that desires to engage life enough to suffer through the pain and brokenness of others.

There is also…

TO BE CONTINUED.

Many MVNU students have been attending the Sunday morning gathering of Christians who call themselves "Journey Church." Here is the third (3rd) of six (6) reasons why MVN(azarene)U students have been so highly attracted to the non-Nazarene gathering place that is Journey.

From post #2 of 6…
[v. TASTE. The cost of time and travel is worth it due to…]

3. The music.

Music is more than sound particles waving through the air which then travel through the human ear to one’s brain and perceived as beats and tones. Music reflects the rhythms of life. It creates emotional connectivity to certain life events and seasons. Music moves. It flows. It creates mood and environment.

Journey’s musical worship leader, Les Claxon, performs music in a manner that connects with the generation of college students. His style is fresh and may be simultaneously or distinctly highly energetic and emotionally turning. At the core of his leadership is a person who authentically exposes his heart as he expresses his own love for God as he sings with the quality of a recording artist while playing the acoustic guitar supported by other guitars and the percussive beats of a cajon or drum set. Les’ musical worship style is one with authenticity that is desired by a relatively young congregation.

• What are the positive and negative attributes of emotionally charged music?
• Why do some define worship as the 20-minute period of music prior to a lecture at a Sunday morning gathering?
• Why does authenticity hold such high value?
• Is it worth ceasing musical worship in order for the church to understand the fullness of worship?

Les is not the only person who leads the church in worship. Students gravitate toward…

TO BE CONTINUED.

Many MVNU students have been attending the Sunday morning gathering of Christians who call themselves "Journey Church." Here is the second (2nd) of six (6) reasons why MVN(azarene)U students have been so highly attracted to the non-Nazarene gathering place that is Journey.

From post #1 of 6…
[Since students have been successfully convinced that attending a Sunday morning gathering is either the fullness of or necessary for one’s life reflecting the way of Jesus, students wake up on Sunday mornings for…]

2. The 20 minute drive from MVNU in Mount Vernon, OH to Howard, OH.

Sound peculiar? Especially when the price for a barrel of oil causes gasoline prices to be turbulent and when the cost for higher education continues to climb (for both state and private universities) one might be inclined to think that college students would not be wanting to spend money on traveling to a worship service. Here are some possible explanations:

i. THE EXPERIENCE. On the surface it may be puzzling why MVNU students may travel 1-2 hours and pay $50 for to attend a concert when there are free concerts and other social/educational/formative activities offered on campus. But the travel and cost are not for the event itself but rather for the shared experience . [For a $5 concert (all money from admission and sales donated to a Brasilian orphanage) only 3 minutes from campus , please attend the Extended Melody Project Benefit Concert (details here )].

ii. CONNECTING. It may be comforting, therapeutic, and/or meaningful to connect with people that are external from one’s immediate community (that is, of course, assuming that when attending one is actually connecting with people external from his/her immdiate community). I would argue that this is a good reason in theory but is not actually practiced.

iii. GENERATIONAL VALUE. When one is normally surrounded by only those who are primarily 18-23 years old there may be some desire to actually see and interact with a baby, a kid, or an elderly person. Of course, some may specifically not attend a multi-generational gathering because they find the tradition of older humans to be antiquated and meaningless.

iv. CONSUMPTION. If one goes to a worship gathering that is 20 minutes away and rather disconnected from one’s proximal community then it is easy to simply show up and leave. It doesn’t require anything. It is possible to attend a service and appease one’s conscience by claiming that "I went to church" without any connection to an immediate community. Distance allows for "doing church just for the sake of doing church." One may show up to a service and consume certain elements of the service without any other commitment.

v. TASTE. The cost of time and travel is worth it due to…

TO BE CONTINUED.