Eliminating Hurry

Recently I read a very challenging article titled “Ruthlessly Eliminate Hurry.”  It talks about how “one of the great illusions of our day is that hurry will buy us more time.”  I am a victim of this illusion…  There are so many times where I might just rush through my day from appointment to appointment without ever stopping to just take a breath.  So I start asking myself… Am I really being more productive by just rushing from one thing to the next?  Could it be more beneficial for me to implement rest into my day no matter how many things I have to get done?

In the article it said that, “Robert Banks, author of All the Business of Life, notes that while our society is rich in things, we are extremely poor in time.  In fact, never before in human history has a society been so things-rich and so time-poor.”  We try to get more done but end up spreading ourselves so thin leaving no time to spare.  We have turned into our own Jack Bauer where we are trying to save the world in 24 hours, commercial breaks included.  And who has ever even seen that guy eat?  But a lot of the time we can be so busy we don’t even have time to eat, all we can do is grab a coffee to go.

In Mark 6:31, Mark says “for many were coming and going, and they had no leisure even to eat,” so even the disciples struggled with having too much hurry in their life.  But sometimes we just need someone to remind us to stop and relax if you read just before that verse, Mark states, “Come away by yourselves to a desolate place and rest a while.”

For most of us we can continue our lives having a lot on our plate, running from class to class, and rushing through our lives.  But I want to challenge you to start now, because trying to eliminate hurry in our life isn’t a new hot topic; people have always been trying to get it out of their lives.  Spend some time: praying, listening to music, reading a Psalm, or just day dreaming!  Take some time this weekend to step outside of your busy life and rest for a while, you deserve it.  I know I will, dibs on Madonna Mountain.

By: Adam Nixon, First year intern

Olympic Inspiration

As the 2010 Olympics drew to a close this last week, I found myself growing increasingly sad. I was going to miss the Olympic spirit of athletes coming together to participate in something that truly transcends languages and cultures. I was going to miss hearing the stories of people from all over the world who saw lifelong dreams come true on slopes, and ice, and half pipes. But most of all…I was really going to miss all those great commercials. Yes, it’s true. Besides being inspired to take the family to McDonalds so we could eat like true Olympians…I found a few of the commercials to be absolutely inspiring. And I found that the Lord was actually using them to speak to my heart about His love. I’ll explain…

We’ve recently welcomed a new little person to our home. Freidrich Uriah Zeller was born on January 29th, which coincided nicely with this years Olympic games. Between endless middle-of-the-night feedings, and staying up way too late to watch the best part of the Olympics every night…our family arrived at the end of at the end of February- utterly exhausted.

Beyond that…newborns aren’t easy. They spit. They poop. They cry. And when they can, they prefer to do all three of these while the rest of the civilized world is sleeping. And when our precious little newborn isn’t keeping us up…it seems like our two-year-old, Emma, is happy to rise to the occasion. Reid and I love our kids more than anything in the world…but to be honest, there have been varied emotions running through our minds and hearts over the last few weeks as we have adjusted to becoming a family of four. Fear. Anger. Exhaustion. Worry. Disappointment. Overwhelmed….(if that’s a word)… just to name a few. It was in the midst of feeling all of these emotions, and after a very long day with both of my kids, when I first saw the Wal-mart and P & G commercials.

They start out simple. They draw you into the stories of Olympic athletes back when they were little kids. But then they take it one step further by inviting you to see these little kids…through the eyes of their moms. And at the end of the Wal-mart commercial the Wal-mart shopping, Hockey-mom sums it all up with the words, “I’m saving for all the lessons she’ll learn…and the amazing person she’ll become.” As I heard those words it gave me chills.

On the worst days and the most sleepless nights, it has been so easy to forget that behind both of my precious kids…their is someone amazing that they will each someday become. I love Emma and Fred so much, and in one sense, I think they are quite amazing right now: Amazing, tiny, sweet, image-bearers of God. But when I was reminded to stop and think of who they will someday be, it truly convicted my heart. It is so easy in the difficult and messy moments of parenting to forget that my little ones are in the process of “the amazing people they will become.”

As I sat in that thought and felt the weight of the greatness of the people I have been entrusted to care for, I felt the Lord speaking to my heart, “Misty…THIS is how I see My kids too.” It’s true. In the midst of our messy and sinful hearts, and broken and unfinished lives…the Lord sees not only the lessons we will learn…He sees the amazing people we will each One Day become in Christ. Every day, in every messy moment of your life God sees YOU as you will be, not just as you are. I know this is true because He promises this in Philippians 1:4-6. Writing to the church in Phillipi Paul says,

“In all my prayers for all of you, I always pray with joy because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now, being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.”

What an amazing promise! God has begun something truly good in the lives of those who are His…and He has promised that He will carry to completion what He begun. How would your life look different if you really believed this? What would you believe about yourself that you don’t? What would you believe about God’s love for you and acceptance of you that you refuse to believe right now? And how would you treat the people in your life who are the hardest for you to love if you saw them like this?

As I held baby Fred in my arms tonight, and as I tucked little Emma into bed, I was reminded that the Lord has begun their precious lives and will carry to completion His good work. I am so grateful that they are mine, and that I get to see such a beautiful thing unfold before my eyes. Even more…I am so thankful that the Lord who made me and saved me has begun something good that He will finish…I am so grateful to be His.

For more Olympic inspiration, check out this one…..

- Misty Zeller, 7th year Senior Staff

Dear Diary…

When I hear the word “diary,” my mind flashes back to middle school. I envision floral patterned notebooks with heart shaped locks that girls would keep in their backpacks. Within the depths of those pages, we men can only speculate what was written. Whatever it was, you can bet that it was written with Jelly Roll pens and in bubble letters (if you don’t know what Jelly Roll pens are, ask someone born in the 80’s). If you ask me, I would be willing to bet that there was very little substance, diary entries mainly consisting of who was cute and multiple games of M*A*S*H*.

Why do I bring back the nostalgia of our earlier years? It is because I have a confession to make. I too keep a diary. It may not be covered in stickers of the backstreet boys or photo booth pictures of my friends and me, but it is nonetheless a diary. However, I choose to call it by a much manlier name – a journal (also, every entry is signed in blood…just kidding).

All kidding aside, over the last two years I have begun to practice the art of journaling, and I feel that it is something worth sharing with you. I will start by saying what it is not. It is not a log of events, each starting with “Day X, today I went to the store, went to school, saw Billy…” and I digress. It is not a notepad or receptacle for your to-do lists, laundry lists, hot-or-not lists, grocery lists, Christmas lists, again digression. Think of journaling as a way to connect yourself and God in print, like writing a letter. Instead of praying to God in my head, or thinking quietly about the differences between sanctification and salvation, I get out my leather-bound journal, a pen, and begin to write out my thoughts (in poetic prose of course). Over a few pages, I pour out my thoughts to myself, my thoughts to God, and my prayers.

I find that there are many benefits to journaling. I find myself maintaining focus in my times with the Lord. Before I get into the Word, I often will start by journaling. With prayer, you can sometimes get distracted or worse, fall asleep! However, when you are journaling, all you have to do is keep writing. I find that in these times, thoughts come out that I had never paid much attention to, doubts and fears that I rarely address come to light, and prayer requests are easier to keep track of. Some find that it can be beneficial to respond to a recurring question every week. Pastor Mark Driscoll says that when he journals, once a week he answers the question, “What are the evidences of God’s grace that I have recently seen?” He responds to this question as a reminder of the unmerited love that he receives from the Lord every day. I think I will take his advice and follow suit.

So if you have time today, sit down and write a letter to the Lord. I think you will find it relaxing and focusing to share your heart with the Lord in a very tangible way! This may sound more appealing to women than men, but I assure you men – it is very manly to journal. I eat raw meat for breakfast, do push-ups, and then journal every day (ok not every day…), and I feel very confident in my masculinity! Try journaling my friends – you may just fall in love with it!

-Andrew Burger, first year intern

Night at the Oscars Videos

If you wanted to get one more look at one of last nights movies, or weren’t able to make the event at all, they are now online on the SLO Crusade Youtube channel!

Last nights people’s choice award winner wasThe Curious Case of Benjamin Huntsinger

NIGHT OF THE OSCARS PICTURE CONTEST: In order to submit your pictures you need to post them on Slo Crusade’s Wall, not in the photo section.

The Word of God

“This is common. A famine for the Word of God. Even now, most Christians do not have their own Bible…When my father was taken to jail, his sewn-together Bible was confiscated and destroyed. Besides his, there was only one other Bible in the church. The owner tore out all 66 books and entrusted a few to each church member. Usually the pastor would have one or two of them bring the needed book, so as to not endanger the entire Bible. But once a year he would have all of them bring their Scriptures. My mother had been given the book of Romans.

One weekend she was very sick. Mother said, “I must go to church. If I do not go, part of God’s Word will be missing.” But she was so sick. Finally she handed me the book of Romans. She said, “Take it; guard it – nothing is more precious.” I felt in awe of being entrusted with something so important. Yet in school I was taught there was no God, that the old Christians were fools..Now the Bible is as precious to me as it was to them…

We make copies now, of the printed Bibles, so more can have them. As we copy, the words of Yesu are written on our hearts. Mother copied it carefully. She would borrow a Bible whenever she could. She’d work for hours by candlelight, praying the words aloud as she copied…Often she would rest her head on it. Sometimes she would giggle with delight. It was a labor of love. Months, even a year, went by when she had no Bible to copy. It took her eight years to finish her whole Bible. Six months before she died, Mother finished copying the final book.”

excerpt from “Safely Home,” by Randy Alcorn. Page 72, 128-129.

I’ve been reading this book to help me understand a place I get to go this summer, much like this place. More than learning about a culture though, I’m understanding a heart for God. And mostly, the treasure, real treasure, God’s word is, because in it you find God Himself.

Not everyone has the freedom we have in America to know God, but maybe they’re better for it. I think I’ll start copying my Bible, to have the words written on my heart, praying when I get my hands on it, I’d understand the privilege it is to have it and respond with this kind of sweet adoration…

Crystal Conroy – 1st year Slo Crusade Staff Member

A million meals for a million people in Haiti!

In just a few weeks, college students from across the nation will gather during their spring break to share their faith.

But they need your help putting their faith into action.

A million meals for a million people!
These students want to assemble more than 1 million meals for desperate victims of the Haiti earthquake who continue to endure unimaginable suffering. Attached to each meal is a clear gospel message in their language to help reach them for Christ.

Now here’s where you come in. Incredibly, each meal and an explanation of the gospel in Haitian Creole costs just 30 cents each! That means your generosity will have a huge impact . . .
• $27 will reach 90 quake victims
• $54 will reach 180 quake victims, and
• $102 will reach 340 quake victims

Your gift now will show Haiti quake survivors that God loves them, cares about their suffering and wants them to come to know Him personally.

So please help by sending a gift now. Thank you!

El Salvador Update

Brandon and the El Salvador STINT team are having some epic adventures and seeing God change lives. With hundreds of new freshman flooding the campus, they were encouraged when student leaders took over control and responsibility of reaching their fellow classmates. Read their most recent update by clicking here.

Night at the Oscars is coming Feb 26th!!!!

You are cordially invited to the grande Night at the Oscars gala! It will be a stupendous showcase of Cinema!

Buy your tickets at the weekly meeting for $4 or at the event for $6

Check out last years winner!

San Salvador Spring Break 2010

Important Update! We need to know if you are coming with us by this Friday, Feb 12th. We will have our first team meeting at 3pm at the Swanson Center on Friday. You will need to bring a Deposit check of $500 to hold your spot. Don’t worry, we we will hold this check until after the trip & only cash it if you need it to cover the remaining balance.

At this meeting you will have the opportunity to hear about what we will be doing in San Salvador, Learn how to fund your trip and will get a chance to ask any questions you might have that are holding you back from coming. This is a don’t want to miss meeting. If you are interested in the trip but cannot make it, call Jacob Douglas (530)601-6552 or Sara Kelly (661)204-0593.

We would love for you to come with us!

Join the Facebook Event CLICK HERE

New SLO Crusade Housing Board

We are really excited to announce that the SLO Crusade housing board is up and running to help you get connected.  We have completely redesigned the site to make it easier than ever to find a roommate or a place to live.  Once you go to the site just create an account and you will be able to create new posts and comment on listings. So if you, or someone you know is looking for a place to live check out the housing board.

The housing board can be found by clicking on the link at the top of this site, or at slocrusade.com/housing