Fuel and the Flame

I've begun re-reading The Fuel and the Flame by Steve Shadrach. Aimed at campus missionaries, pastors and student leaders in such ministries, Shadrach inspires us to believe in the strategic impact that sharing the Gospel on the college campus provides while reminding us how crucial it is to build our spiritual foundation before doing so. He gives plenty of principles, stories and encouragements on how to do so while keeping us rooted in Scripture.

The Rock purchased dozens of these books about a month or so ago and the Core Leaders of our Community Group have begun reading it. They've already been discussing the book on our Facebook Group page! It's so cool to see these guys and girls excited about serving together as leaders in the Fall.

A couple things have stood out to me already. First is a quote on the first page:

"One of the greatest things we can do for any student is to help give him or her an outward focus, instead of the inward one that most bring with them to college."

The vision for something greater than ourselves is one of the most essential things we, as humans, need to latch on to in order to live to our potential and to be happy. In a society that is so self-absorbed, we desperately need to understand the significance of the Gospel and to be reminded that our life is about Christ and the spreading of this Gospel. Life is not about our next Facebook update, tweet or Instagram post. It's not about how much money we make or who we're going to marry. It's not about how we look on the outside but about the positioning of our hearts in such a way that we live like we believe the Good News of Jesus Christ is actually something worth living for.

Usually what throws us off course are morally neutral (or even admirable) things that we let take the place of God. They become the ultimate: goal setting, checking off tasks, moving on to the next thing, distractions, living for the weekend, time with friends/ family, etc, etc. Instead, God wants to use these things to bring Him glory and to make His name known. When we are in harmony with that, these things can actually bring the fulfillment they are meant to (except those distractions, of course).

I'm excited again to remember how crucial it is that we're on the campus - the place that is feeding our next generation of leaders and world-changers, emotionally, academically and spiritually. Thank you for joining me in bringing the Gospel to these students, for sacrificing finances and for laboring with me in prayer because you believe in something greater than yourselves.

Memorizing Verses

"Keep this Book of the Law always on your lips; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. Then you will be prosperous and successful."

JOSHUA 1:8

Pastor John Drage picked out his "Top 99 Verses" about ten or so years ago and has presented students at our summer Leadership Training Program the challenge of memorizing them every summer ever since. He has always offered to throw a pizza party or buy them a 12-pack of their favorite soda. Back in 2007, when I was a GCM intern at LT I memorized the 99 verses. We didn't have a big party or anything but instead John asked me what it did for me to memorize 99 verses of Scripture.

For me, it started as a challenge, to see if I could stick to such a big goal for an entire summer. What an accomplishment, I thought, it would be to be able to rattle off that many verses. God had bigger plans as I found the verses would come to mind in conversation with people or as I faced major challenges. He took me on a path of knowing himself more as he revealed to me that his Word is so connected in how the overall story arch weaves in God's loving interaction with us.

Because of how powerful that summer was, I've challenged our core group to get cracking on the

same thing. I typed up John's verses a couple years ago to be printed out for just such an opportunity. Hopefully we will get them memorized by the end of the school year. We all have 15 to memorize over break and I'm praying that we can follow through. Imagine if four young men have the Word of God swimming through their minds as they continue to grow in their faith during this time.

If you'd like to join us or begin your own memorization plan, I've linked the verses for you. Click the picture at the top to download a pdf files. Print the file front and back and they will line up for you to cut out. To see a complete list, click the picture to the right.

I guarantee that if God's people memorize his Word and act to let it guide their lives, we will change the world.