For what we have now heard...

Just wanted to thank Cheryl for posting on today's issue of the Daily Sun.
This issue obviously has a lot of thoughts, objections, and controversy that surround its content, implications, and portrayal of many things that we as the Body of Christ profess.

Before we speak for/against/towards something, before we talk about this in great lengths, before we engage in deep and heavy conversations about this...
Let us pray.
God will give us wisdom in how to think, speak, and act according to His will. John 1 describes Jesus as the Word of God, who came from the Father full of grace and truth.

Undoubtedly the people we encounter will have opinions, views, and perspectives. Undoubtedly there will be issues and challenges in the way that we understand God's Word and ongoing events on our campus.

Undoubtedly, God listens when we pray.

Matthew 6
⁹ Pray then like this:
"Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name..."

If you haven't already heard...

I was lazing around after my mushrooms prelim today, reading the Sun while stuffing my face with my staple Trillium beef noodles - then, to my surprise, I came across a startling article on the front page which thrust one of our Christian fellowships on campus unto the center stage.

Not only was the fellowship slandered for discrimination against homosexuality (they didn't let one of their currently openly gay members stay in the leadership), but I think it's irrevocable that all Christian fellowships would be caught up in this uproar in the next few days (or weeks) or so, as a very serious conflict within the Christian community here in Cornell has unfortunately erupted.

In fact, calls have been made by the university to re-look the discriminatory policy of the independent student organisation.

“We are very concerned with what happened and we want to make sure this is a campus that does not discriminate in this way,” Dean of Students Kent Hubbell ’67 said."
“It is unfortunate that both a registered student organization and an SAFC-funded organization has mistreated its members and leaders in such an egregious manner. A resolution regarding the group’s current funding and funding eligibility in the future will be discussed at [Thursday’s] Student Assembly meeting,” Ryan Lavin ’09, S.A. president, said yesterday.

“I think that a lot of times Christian organizations do get a bad name for taking a stance against homosexuality because it looks like we are condemning a person but I want to make it clear that we have nothing against Chris or another person for choosing to be a homosexual,” D’Ambrosio said.

Christian beliefs are at odds with the world and I think that this is a very explicit and unfortunate example that has emerged. I think that none of us here would think what that fellowship is doing is wrong, but I can definitely understand why non-Christians who have yet to know the Gospel would feel outraged at this seeming prejudice and unfair treatment. It is hard to reconcile the world with our beliefs and I can foresee this event maligning the Christian community as being one that is harsh, severe and prudish. It irrefutably would cause a divisive effect between us and the rest of the campus community who have pledged their allegiance to the LGBT community. In essence, I think it is only right that we pray fervently for this situation to reach its cessation peacefully, while maintaining the Unity of the Christian community and for God's glory to be shown throughout the process.

P.S. This situation's prevalence has spread beyond the daily readership of the Sun. Upon logging unto my email, I found that I received a barrage of emails from various listserves forwarding a very persuasive email from the homosexual Christian [I dislike using that term, it makes him seem like an object. Let me clarify I'm only using it for his anonymity and so that this blog would not surface on searches for his name.] who argued that:

"This is more than a slap in the face to one individual, this is a slap in
the face to the entire LGBT community--especially those of faith. [The fellowship]
is basically saying that my sexuality--along with the sexualities of every
other LGBT community member--is not legitimate in the eyes of God."

The emails called for their members to join this homosexual Christian in a candlelight demonstration tomorrow (4/24). It is sad and disturbing that a Christian would want to cause such an uproar and make the conflicts within the community such a secular one, instead of settling it within the community. It is understandable that he is seeking righteousness and a possible reinstatement of his position into the leadership (perhaps, that's what I'm guessing) - but let's pray for God to reveal to him the long-term repercussions of his actions on the community and also that securing a leadership position in a Christian fellowship does not mean you secure yourself a place in His Kingdom.

(Gosh, what a controversial first post for me for this blog! heh :\)

Reaching Out

Hey CBS family. 

Something that was mentioned within some of the brothers was just being really sucked into the CBS freshmen guy bubble. We all felt that the guys were being pretty cliquey and not really involving a lot of other people, CBS-ers and new people. So please pray that we would be more active and reach out more to everyone else, inside CBS and out. I know for me that I still don't really know some people who come to CBS almost every week. We really need your prayers. 

Thanks, fam. 

-Uncle Mike. 

Passion Week

Hey CBS 2012!
As you guys already know, this week between Palm Sunday and Easter Sunday is Passion Week, a period of time where we all remember the example of Jesus Christ in bringing God's salvation to completion.

Here is a six-part list of Passion Week broken up (somewhat arbitrarily; one per day?):
From Triumphant Entry to Passover
- Matt 21:1 - 26:14
- Mark 11:1 - 14:11
- Luke 19:28 - 22:7
- John 12:12-50

Passover
- Matt 26:17-35
- Mark 14:12-25
- Luke 22:7-38
- John 13:1 - 17:26

Gethsemane
- Matt 26:36-46
- Mark 14:26-41
- Luke 22:39-46
- John -----

Arrest/Mock trial
- Matt 26:47 - 27:26
- Mark 14:43 - 15:20
- Luke 22:47 - 23:25
- John 18:1 - 19:16

Crucifixion
- Matt 27:27-56
- Mark 15:21-47
- Luke 23: 26-56
- John 19:16-41

Resurrection and beyond!
- Matt 27:57 - 28:20
- Mark 16:1-20
- Luke 24:1-53
- John 20:1 - 21:25

Why do there have to be so many accounts of the same thing!?
Something that's pretty cool about God's word is that it shows us different experiences about God's truth. Each author has a unique perspective because of how God made them:

Matthew: written by Jew, for Jews; shows Jesus as the suffering servant Messiah King (notice how in Matthew Jesus says almost nothing! a display of true humility, as he is King but gives up those rights to save us)

Mark: written by a Jew; shortest Gospel written and sent out quickly to everyone. Shows how following Jesus is at the cost of discipleship and the secret of salvation revealed!

Luke: written by a Gentile for Gentiles; shows Jesus as the one who touches the lives of the most unworthy people; notice how he says "Father forgive them, for they know now what they do" as a symbol of his heart for the lost

John: arguably most abstract gospel; shows Jesus as the Living Word, sent from God as the ultimate Truth as a person just like us. He has family, too, and takes care of them as he breathes his last on the cross.


Something to think about as we see how each of us came to Jesus in a unique experience...but how it all tells the same thing --God is great and he saves!

Prayer Meeting

Hi everybody!

I was really blessed by today's (well I guess it's yesterday's now!) prayer meeting. I was really encouraged by what everybody shared. It was comforting to know what a lot of my fellow brothers and sister are having the same struggles that I am. I don't think it's coincidence that most of us are experiencing the same problems.

It's good to know that in our walk with God that we are not alone so that we can support one another. But, I'm always reminded that we still have an even better Brother to support us, Jesus Christ, who died for our sins so that we can enter into God's kingdom. But, He is also our risen Lord, our Savior, and, going along with the topic, our prayer meeting, He is also our High Priest, who intercedes for us as Hebrews 7 tells us.

I think I have one more prayer request: That these truths that I know in my mind to be true about God become increasingly real in my heart.

Now hopefully I won't fall asleep at church tomorrow...

First post!

Hi everybody! Just testing to see how everything works. I hope this becomes a success.