Each spring since I’ve been at Florida State the Navigators have gone on a prayer retreat to spend time seeking God. Each one of these has been different. I don’t mean that the activity has been different. In fact, of all the things we do year after year, this is the one event that follows the same structure each and every time we go. We arrive on Friday night and start praying. We spend all day Saturday praying. Then we spend Sunday morning in prayer. When I say each one is different what I mean is that God says and does something unique each time. This time was no exception.
Tag Archive for 'prayer'
It’s been nearly a month since the fall semester ended and I’m still having a hard time believing just how fast those four months went by. Here we are in January, the day before the start of the spring 2008 semester, and I know it’ll be the end of April before I know it. But before I get too far ahead of myself I want to take time to reflect back on the previous semester. It was my first ever as a campus minister. Here’s a little bit of what I learned and some things I hope will be different this time around.
I’ve been raising financial support for my upcoming ministry with the Navigators for about six weeks now. This is, without a doubt, one of the most difficult things I’ve ever done. When I was at fund raising training in early June I really didn’t think it was going to be this hard. In fact, when it comes to making the calls and the presentations I really don’t find fund raising to be much of a challenge. Most people have been eager to hear about what I’m doing. But there are far more subtle things that have been fighting for my spirit.
To my family and friends,
It’s a pleasure to have the opportunity to write to you all again. It doesn’t seem like a year has passed since I wrote to you about graduating from FSU. Now, one year later, allow me to recap the past year and share a little about what I plan to do in the near future.
Since last August I have been working at the Florida Department of Elder Affairs doing data entry. It’s by no means glamorous but it is another example of God’s provision in my life. But it’s now time to make a change. Starting this August I will be cutting back to a part-time job at Elder Affairs and will begin a part-time job with the Navigators, a collegiate ministry at Florida State University. This is the same ministry that I was involved with as a student for four years and as a volunteer leader this past year. Some of you may remember that back in the spring of ‘06 I wrestled with the idea of joining Navigators staff in a full-time capacity. This was once again an option but this time it became clear to me that, while it was the right time to make a change, leaving the workforce entirely was not the right move to make.
Nav Staff - I’ve been hesitant to talk about this in my blog simply because I know I’m going to think of someone I wanted to tell in person (or at least on the phone or in an email) before they found out here. So if I forgot to mention this to you and you’re completely offended I apologize and would love to sit down and discuss the whole thing over a hot cup of tea. Sound fair?
I’ve decided to make a change in my life. Starting in August I will be joining the FSU Navigators staff team as a part-time staff member. This has not been an easy decision to make and I’d like to take you through the journey.
Leading Off - It has been a very long time since I’ve posted anything and for that, to my five readers, I express my apologies. Each day I have either been very busy or so tired I don’t want to do much at all. But let me backtrack to just after Thanksgiving and get you all caught up.
Community - I’ve been feeling isolated since I moved out of Villa Special and into my permanent residence back in August. I live without any sort of community to rely on. Now, that might confuse some of you. You’re thinking, “Did he stop going to Nav Night? What about church? And he’s around people all day at work. He’s even got a roommate he likes now. What’s the big deal?” Let me differentiate between “community” and “socialization.” I would consider myself to still be a social person. Some places I’m forced to be social, work being one of those places. I don’t have much choice but to relate with my coworkers if I want to stay employed. And I do still go to Nav Night on Thursdays and to Wesley on Sundays. I’m still around other human beings. I still talk to people. My existence is acknowledged in this small part of the world I call my home.
Leading Off - I may have a job, but I’m still not working yet. I have not received a call from my boss regarding my start date. And I’ve still not found a third roommate. So I’m in limbo at the moment. It’s a lot less stressful than the limbo I was in up in Connecticut; at least I have a job and a place to stay. But still, it would be nice to make some forward progress.
The Laborers are Two - The one nice thing about not working is that I’ve been able to spend time with the two EDGErs who have raised the necessary funds to come to campus. As I type this in Strozier library I’m sitting next to Alyssa and across from Luke. Luke has a blog that you should check out: http://lukeskeen.blogspot.com. I’ve spent the last few days getting to know them, moving them into the Projectz, and praying with them for the campus. At last update, both John and Stephanie have raised about 40% of their funding. They need 75% in order to report. Please be praying for them and, if so led, give to their fund raising efforts.
State Of The Andrew Address 2006
To my family and friends,
I hope this letter finds you well. First, before I get to new business I feel I should get us all on the same page. This past April I graduated from Florida State University with a bachelor’s degree in religion. I knew this summer was going to be very different compared to those since I began college. In past years I had participated in training programs, mission trips, and study abroad programs, but I felt it prudent to devote this summer to finding a job. That has been my mission since the first of May.
Quote of the Day #1: “Right, it’d be about getting it on.” — Nicole Kelley, professor of Christianity in Antiquity, on what Song of Solomon would be about if there weren’t an allegorical interpretation
Quote of the Day #2: “You perform the same miracle over and over in our lives and still we doubt.” — James Barr, while praying at the prayer retreat, observing our inability to trust in God’s provision and sovereignty
The last couple of weeks have been full of big decisions and important lessons. I’m going to backtrack to March 31 when I went on the Nav prayer retreat. We were supposed to be joined by Vic Black but there was a scheduling snafu that kept him from coming. There were about 30 of us who decided to spend the weekend in prayer. This was only the second prayer retreat I’d ever been on and the first since my freshman year. Saturday morning we spent the first few hours thanking God for what He’d brought us out of (i.e. prior to being saved). In the afternoon we concentrated on resting in God, finding peace in His will. It was during this time that I had a revelation.
I’m going out of town this weekend on a prayer retreat. Before I leave I’ve got to post up my MLB predictions.
National League
East: Atlanta Braves
Central: St. Louis Cardinals
West: Los Angeles Dodgers
Wild Card: New York Mets
American League
East: New York Yankees
Central: Chicago White Sox
West: Oakland Athletics
Wild Card: Cleveland Indians
