Student Blog
Watch this page for a weekly message from our students in PSF.
Watch this page for a weekly message from our students in PSF.
17 February 2010
Yesterday marked the beginning of the Lenten season. I want to share with you the scripture that was read in church last night about this time of reflection.
Joel 2:12-18
"Yet even now", says the Lord, "return to Me with all your heart, with fasting, with weeping, and with mourning; and rend your hearts and not your garments". Return to the Lord, your God, for He is gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love, and repents of evil. Who knows whether He will not turn and repent, and leave a blessing behind Him, a cereal offering and a drink offering for the Lord, your God?
Blow the trumpet in Zion; sanctify a fast; call a solemn assembly; gather the people. Sanctify the congregation; assemble the elders; gather the children, even nursing infants. Let the bridegroom leave his room, and the bride her chamber.
Between the vestibule and the altar let the priests, the ministers of the Lord weep and say, "Spare thy people, O Lord, and make not thy heritage a reproach, a byword among the nations. Why should they say among the peoples, 'Where is their God?"
Then the Lord became jealous for His land, and had pity on His people. The Lord answered and said to His people, "Behold, I am sending to you grain, wine, and oil, and you will be satisfied; and I will no more make you a reproach among the nations.
II Corinthians 5:20 - 6:2
So we are ambassadors for Christ, God making His appeal through us. We beseech you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God. For our sake He made Him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in Him we might become the righteousness of God.
Working together with Him, then, we entreat you not to accept the grace of God in vain. For He says, "At the acceptable time I have listened to you, and helped you on the day of salvation." Behold, now is the acceptable time; behold, now is the day of salvation
Matthew 6:1-6;16-18
Beware of practicing your piety before men in order to be seen by them; for then you will have no reward from your Father who is in heaven.
Thus, when you give alms, sound no trumpet before you, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, that they may be praised by men. Truly, I say to you, they have their reward. But when you give alms, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, so that your alms may be in secret; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you.
And when you pray, you must not be like the hypocrites; for they love to stand and pray in the synagogues and at the street corners, that they may be seen by men. Truly, I say to you, they have their reward. But when you pray, go into your room and shut the door and pray to your Father who is in secret; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you.
And when you fast, do not look dismal, like the hypocrites, for they disfigure their faces that their fasting may be seen by men. Truly, I say to you, they have their reward. But when you fast, anoint your head and wash your face, that your fasting may not be seen by men but by your Father who is in secret; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you.
However you decide to experience the season of Lent, I hope you take time to reflect on the glory of God.
Blessings-
Joanna
Yesterday marked the beginning of the Lenten season. I want to share with you the scripture that was read in church last night about this time of reflection.
Joel 2:12-18
"Yet even now", says the Lord, "return to Me with all your heart, with fasting, with weeping, and with mourning; and rend your hearts and not your garments". Return to the Lord, your God, for He is gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love, and repents of evil. Who knows whether He will not turn and repent, and leave a blessing behind Him, a cereal offering and a drink offering for the Lord, your God?
Blow the trumpet in Zion; sanctify a fast; call a solemn assembly; gather the people. Sanctify the congregation; assemble the elders; gather the children, even nursing infants. Let the bridegroom leave his room, and the bride her chamber.
Between the vestibule and the altar let the priests, the ministers of the Lord weep and say, "Spare thy people, O Lord, and make not thy heritage a reproach, a byword among the nations. Why should they say among the peoples, 'Where is their God?"
Then the Lord became jealous for His land, and had pity on His people. The Lord answered and said to His people, "Behold, I am sending to you grain, wine, and oil, and you will be satisfied; and I will no more make you a reproach among the nations.
II Corinthians 5:20 - 6:2
So we are ambassadors for Christ, God making His appeal through us. We beseech you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God. For our sake He made Him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in Him we might become the righteousness of God.
Working together with Him, then, we entreat you not to accept the grace of God in vain. For He says, "At the acceptable time I have listened to you, and helped you on the day of salvation." Behold, now is the acceptable time; behold, now is the day of salvation
Matthew 6:1-6;16-18
Beware of practicing your piety before men in order to be seen by them; for then you will have no reward from your Father who is in heaven.
Thus, when you give alms, sound no trumpet before you, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, that they may be praised by men. Truly, I say to you, they have their reward. But when you give alms, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, so that your alms may be in secret; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you.
And when you pray, you must not be like the hypocrites; for they love to stand and pray in the synagogues and at the street corners, that they may be seen by men. Truly, I say to you, they have their reward. But when you pray, go into your room and shut the door and pray to your Father who is in secret; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you.
And when you fast, do not look dismal, like the hypocrites, for they disfigure their faces that their fasting may be seen by men. Truly, I say to you, they have their reward. But when you fast, anoint your head and wash your face, that your fasting may not be seen by men but by your Father who is in secret; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you.
However you decide to experience the season of Lent, I hope you take time to reflect on the glory of God.
Blessings-
Joanna
11 February 2010
This week I have been reflecting a lot about what PSF means to me and how much of an impact it has made on my life. Last weekend I was asked to read my story for a Presbytery meeting about how campus ministry has affected my life. I started off by saying that it was impossible to put into words how much PSF has meant to me. I cannot imagine my time at Vanderbilt without PSF being a part of it. I love the community in PSF and the feeling of it being a home away from home while I’m at college. PSF has become my place of comfort and my Vanderbilt family. I am so blessed to have found such a wonderful organization and to have met all of you. It is a wonderful feeling to know that my fellow PSFers truly care about me and in turn, I hope they know how much I care about them.
I am also very proud of the mission and fellowship committees. We have so many great events coming up where PSFers can get together to hang out. This weekend, PSF is going roller skating which should be a lot of fun. Contact Nina Myers or Heather Scott if you want to learn more or check out the event on facebook. Next weekend we are hosting Room in the Inn which is an amazing program. If you wish to help out with this event you can contact Julie Hughes. With these activities and so many more, I want to encourage you to take part so that you can get to know your fellow PSF friends even better.
PSF has helped me grow in my faith. I enjoy being able to come to a place where I can talk about my beliefs with so many others. It is a place where we are allowed to question what we believe and we are helped through our doubts and tough times. It is also a place where we can strengthen our beliefs and share joys with each other. No matter where you stand with your faith, PSF is there for you and more importantly God is there for you.
God Bless- Joanna
This week I have been reflecting a lot about what PSF means to me and how much of an impact it has made on my life. Last weekend I was asked to read my story for a Presbytery meeting about how campus ministry has affected my life. I started off by saying that it was impossible to put into words how much PSF has meant to me. I cannot imagine my time at Vanderbilt without PSF being a part of it. I love the community in PSF and the feeling of it being a home away from home while I’m at college. PSF has become my place of comfort and my Vanderbilt family. I am so blessed to have found such a wonderful organization and to have met all of you. It is a wonderful feeling to know that my fellow PSFers truly care about me and in turn, I hope they know how much I care about them.
I am also very proud of the mission and fellowship committees. We have so many great events coming up where PSFers can get together to hang out. This weekend, PSF is going roller skating which should be a lot of fun. Contact Nina Myers or Heather Scott if you want to learn more or check out the event on facebook. Next weekend we are hosting Room in the Inn which is an amazing program. If you wish to help out with this event you can contact Julie Hughes. With these activities and so many more, I want to encourage you to take part so that you can get to know your fellow PSF friends even better.
PSF has helped me grow in my faith. I enjoy being able to come to a place where I can talk about my beliefs with so many others. It is a place where we are allowed to question what we believe and we are helped through our doubts and tough times. It is also a place where we can strengthen our beliefs and share joys with each other. No matter where you stand with your faith, PSF is there for you and more importantly God is there for you.
God Bless- Joanna
4 February 2010
This week in PSF I am super excited to start our Interfaith Dialogue class. I am so excited because interfaith acceptance and tolerance has become an important part of my life. In January, PSF attended the Montreat College Conference where we heard about the value of interfaith dialogue from Eboo Patel, an American Muslim originally from India who has begun the Interfaith Youth Corps. His inspirations include Dr. Martin Luther King and Ghandi, both highly influential interfaith leaders. After the conference, I began reading Dr. Patel's book "Acts of Faith." It shares his fascinating story of his own spiritual journey as well as outlaying the importance of faith influences for the our generation [I highly recommend the book]. Today at First Presbyterian Church, the minister's interpretation of the scripture lesson emphasized that our God is a god for all peoples, not just Jews or Christians or Muslims. He is a God for all. I am so pleased to find interpretations of interfaith all around me recently, and I would encourage anyone interested to attend PSF's interfaith dialogue class starting this Wednesday, February 3rd from 4-5 pm. :)
Hannah DeZeeuw
This week in PSF I am super excited to start our Interfaith Dialogue class. I am so excited because interfaith acceptance and tolerance has become an important part of my life. In January, PSF attended the Montreat College Conference where we heard about the value of interfaith dialogue from Eboo Patel, an American Muslim originally from India who has begun the Interfaith Youth Corps. His inspirations include Dr. Martin Luther King and Ghandi, both highly influential interfaith leaders. After the conference, I began reading Dr. Patel's book "Acts of Faith." It shares his fascinating story of his own spiritual journey as well as outlaying the importance of faith influences for the our generation [I highly recommend the book]. Today at First Presbyterian Church, the minister's interpretation of the scripture lesson emphasized that our God is a god for all peoples, not just Jews or Christians or Muslims. He is a God for all. I am so pleased to find interpretations of interfaith all around me recently, and I would encourage anyone interested to attend PSF's interfaith dialogue class starting this Wednesday, February 3rd from 4-5 pm. :)
Hannah DeZeeuw
21 January 2010
Sorry it has been awhile since the last post. This semester, we are going to try something a little different. Each week a different person that is involved with PSF is going to write a blog entry talking about their faith and PSF. Hopefully this will help us get to know other PSF friends and hear some of their thoughts. If you are interested in writing a blog entry, please let me know. I will provide you with a question that can help you start your blog.
This week, I have been thinking a lot about Haiti and the struggles that it is facing everyday. We see stories and images all over the news and through all types of media. These images show the devastation that many Haitians are facing. We are all somehow touched by this disaster. We cannot escape this terrible event. I was reading a devotional the other day titled Together from Simple Compassion: Devotions to Make a Difference in Your Neighborhood and Your World by Keri Wyatt Kent. Kent writes the following quote from her pastor, "'We come together to accomplish what none of us could do alone'. In other words, the whole body of Christ is greater than the sum of its parts. When we look at global issues, we wonder if just one person can make a difference. God's people, when they come together, can do what no one can do alone. That's the adventure we're called to be a part of, and I for one do not want to miss it."
Know that although you may be one person, you are part of God's family and when we all come together, we can make a difference. When we come together as brothers and sisters of Christ, we can spread the love of God farther than anyone thought possible. Together, we can do anything. I want to challenge all of you to try to make a difference. Do something to spread the love of God this week, because there are many people in your community, in your nation and in your world who could use it.
God Bless-
Joanna
Sorry it has been awhile since the last post. This semester, we are going to try something a little different. Each week a different person that is involved with PSF is going to write a blog entry talking about their faith and PSF. Hopefully this will help us get to know other PSF friends and hear some of their thoughts. If you are interested in writing a blog entry, please let me know. I will provide you with a question that can help you start your blog.
This week, I have been thinking a lot about Haiti and the struggles that it is facing everyday. We see stories and images all over the news and through all types of media. These images show the devastation that many Haitians are facing. We are all somehow touched by this disaster. We cannot escape this terrible event. I was reading a devotional the other day titled Together from Simple Compassion: Devotions to Make a Difference in Your Neighborhood and Your World by Keri Wyatt Kent. Kent writes the following quote from her pastor, "'We come together to accomplish what none of us could do alone'. In other words, the whole body of Christ is greater than the sum of its parts. When we look at global issues, we wonder if just one person can make a difference. God's people, when they come together, can do what no one can do alone. That's the adventure we're called to be a part of, and I for one do not want to miss it."
Know that although you may be one person, you are part of God's family and when we all come together, we can make a difference. When we come together as brothers and sisters of Christ, we can spread the love of God farther than anyone thought possible. Together, we can do anything. I want to challenge all of you to try to make a difference. Do something to spread the love of God this week, because there are many people in your community, in your nation and in your world who could use it.
God Bless-
Joanna
25 November 2009
During this week off from Vanderbilt, I hope everyone takes the chance to relax, catch up on sleep and enjoy being with family and/or friends. It will be a crazy few weeks when we return to Vanderbilt so hopefully all of you will be able to spend this week preparing for the busyness that will happen.
As you sit around the table Thursday, remember that you are blessed. It doesn't matter what else is going on in your life, know that God is with you and sharing his blessing and love. We have so much to be thankful for and it is important to remember this during the holiday season. Genesis 1: 1-31 and Psalm 65 reminds us why we should be grateful towards God.
Genesis 1: 1-31
In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. Now the earth was formless and empty, darkness was over the surface of the deep, and the Spirit of God was hovering over the waters. And God said, "Let there be light," and there was light. God saw that the light was good, and He separated the light from the darkness.God called the light "day," and the darkness he called "night." And there was evening, and there was morning—the first day.
And God said, "Let there be an expanse between the waters to separate water from water." So God made the expanse and separated the water under the expanse from the water above it. And it was so.God called the expanse "sky." And there was evening, and there was morning—the second day.
And God said, "Let the water under the sky be gathered to one place, and let dry ground appear." And it was so. 10 God called the dry ground "land," and the gathered waters he called "seas." And God saw that it was good. Then God said, "Let the land produce vegetation: seed-bearing plants and trees on the land that bear fruit with seed in it, according to their various kinds." And it was so. The land produced vegetation: plants bearing seed according to their kinds and trees bearing fruit with seed in it according to their kinds. And God saw that it was good. And there was evening, and there was morning—the third day.
And God said, "Let there be lights in the expanse of the sky to separate the day from the night, and let them serve as signs to mark seasons and days and years, and let them be lights in the expanse of the sky to give light on the earth." And it was so. God made two great lights—the greater light to govern the day and the lesser light to govern the night. He also made the stars. God set them in the expanse of the sky to give light on the earth, to govern the day and the night, and to separate light from darkness. And God saw that it was good. And there was evening, and there was morning—the fourth day.
And God said, "Let the water teem with living creatures, and let birds fly above the earth across the expanse of the sky." So God created the great creatures of the sea and every living and moving thing with which the water teems, according to their kinds, and every winged bird according to its kind. And God saw that it was good. God blessed them and said, "Be fruitful and increase in number and fill the water in the seas, and let the birds increase on the earth." And there was evening, and there was morning—the fifth day.
And God said, "Let the land produce living creatures according to their kinds: livestock, creatures that move along the ground, and wild animals, each according to its kind." And it was so. God made the wild animals according to their kinds, the livestock according to their kinds, and all the creatures that move along the ground according to their kinds. And God saw that it was good. Then God said, "Let us make man in our image, in our likeness, and let them rule over the fish of the sea and the birds of the air, over the livestock, over all the earth, [b] and over all the creatures that move along the ground." So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them. God blessed them and said to them, "Be fruitful and increase in number; fill the earth and subdue it. Rule over the fish of the sea and the birds of the air and over every living creature that moves on the ground." Then God said, "I give you every seed-bearing plant on the face of the whole earth and every tree that has fruit with seed in it. They will be yours for food. And to all the beasts of the earth and all the birds of the air and all the creatures that move on the ground—everything that has the breath of life in it—I give every green plant for food." And it was so. God saw all that he had made, and it was very good. And there was evening, and there was morning—the sixth day.
Psalm 65
Praise is due to you, O God, in Zion; and to you shall vows be performed,
O you who answer prayer! To you all flesh shall come.
When deeds of iniquity overwhelm us, you forgive our transgressions.
Happy are those whom you choose and bring near to live in your courts. We shall be satisfied with the goodness of your house, your holy temple.
By awesome deeds you answer us with deliverance, O God of our salvation; you are the hope of all the ends of the earth and of the farthest seas.
By your strength you established the mountains; you are girded with might.
You silence the roaring of the seas, the roaring of their waves, the tumult of the peoples.
Those who live at earth’s farthest bounds are awed by your signs; you make the gateways of the morning and the evening shout for joy.
You visit the earth and water it, you greatly enrich it; the river of God is full of water; you provide the people with grain, for so you have prepared it.
You water its furrows abundantly, settling its ridges, softening it with showers, and blessing its growth.
You crown the year with your bounty; your wagon tracks overflow with richness.
The pastures of the wilderness overflow, the hills gird themselves with joy,
the meadows clothe themselves with flocks, the valleys deck themselves with grain, they shout and sing together for joy.
These bible passages tell us that God created the world and everything in it. God made the mountains and the seas. He provides us with nourishment and life. I know that many of you have read these passages before (especially Genesis 1), but I challenge you to look at them again and reflect upon them.
With Thanksgiving and Christmas right around the corner, it is sometimes easy to get caught up in the busyness of this time of year. The true meaning of this time of year is sometimes overlooked. This holiday season, I challenge you to take the time to count your blessings and remember to thank the One that made our life possible.
Have a wonderful Thanksgiving!
God Bless- Joanna
During this week off from Vanderbilt, I hope everyone takes the chance to relax, catch up on sleep and enjoy being with family and/or friends. It will be a crazy few weeks when we return to Vanderbilt so hopefully all of you will be able to spend this week preparing for the busyness that will happen.
As you sit around the table Thursday, remember that you are blessed. It doesn't matter what else is going on in your life, know that God is with you and sharing his blessing and love. We have so much to be thankful for and it is important to remember this during the holiday season. Genesis 1: 1-31 and Psalm 65 reminds us why we should be grateful towards God.
Genesis 1: 1-31
In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. Now the earth was formless and empty, darkness was over the surface of the deep, and the Spirit of God was hovering over the waters. And God said, "Let there be light," and there was light. God saw that the light was good, and He separated the light from the darkness.God called the light "day," and the darkness he called "night." And there was evening, and there was morning—the first day.
And God said, "Let there be an expanse between the waters to separate water from water." So God made the expanse and separated the water under the expanse from the water above it. And it was so.God called the expanse "sky." And there was evening, and there was morning—the second day.
And God said, "Let the water under the sky be gathered to one place, and let dry ground appear." And it was so. 10 God called the dry ground "land," and the gathered waters he called "seas." And God saw that it was good. Then God said, "Let the land produce vegetation: seed-bearing plants and trees on the land that bear fruit with seed in it, according to their various kinds." And it was so. The land produced vegetation: plants bearing seed according to their kinds and trees bearing fruit with seed in it according to their kinds. And God saw that it was good. And there was evening, and there was morning—the third day.
And God said, "Let there be lights in the expanse of the sky to separate the day from the night, and let them serve as signs to mark seasons and days and years, and let them be lights in the expanse of the sky to give light on the earth." And it was so. God made two great lights—the greater light to govern the day and the lesser light to govern the night. He also made the stars. God set them in the expanse of the sky to give light on the earth, to govern the day and the night, and to separate light from darkness. And God saw that it was good. And there was evening, and there was morning—the fourth day.
And God said, "Let the water teem with living creatures, and let birds fly above the earth across the expanse of the sky." So God created the great creatures of the sea and every living and moving thing with which the water teems, according to their kinds, and every winged bird according to its kind. And God saw that it was good. God blessed them and said, "Be fruitful and increase in number and fill the water in the seas, and let the birds increase on the earth." And there was evening, and there was morning—the fifth day.
And God said, "Let the land produce living creatures according to their kinds: livestock, creatures that move along the ground, and wild animals, each according to its kind." And it was so. God made the wild animals according to their kinds, the livestock according to their kinds, and all the creatures that move along the ground according to their kinds. And God saw that it was good. Then God said, "Let us make man in our image, in our likeness, and let them rule over the fish of the sea and the birds of the air, over the livestock, over all the earth, [b] and over all the creatures that move along the ground." So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them. God blessed them and said to them, "Be fruitful and increase in number; fill the earth and subdue it. Rule over the fish of the sea and the birds of the air and over every living creature that moves on the ground." Then God said, "I give you every seed-bearing plant on the face of the whole earth and every tree that has fruit with seed in it. They will be yours for food. And to all the beasts of the earth and all the birds of the air and all the creatures that move on the ground—everything that has the breath of life in it—I give every green plant for food." And it was so. God saw all that he had made, and it was very good. And there was evening, and there was morning—the sixth day.
Psalm 65
Praise is due to you, O God, in Zion; and to you shall vows be performed,
O you who answer prayer! To you all flesh shall come.
When deeds of iniquity overwhelm us, you forgive our transgressions.
Happy are those whom you choose and bring near to live in your courts. We shall be satisfied with the goodness of your house, your holy temple.
By awesome deeds you answer us with deliverance, O God of our salvation; you are the hope of all the ends of the earth and of the farthest seas.
By your strength you established the mountains; you are girded with might.
You silence the roaring of the seas, the roaring of their waves, the tumult of the peoples.
Those who live at earth’s farthest bounds are awed by your signs; you make the gateways of the morning and the evening shout for joy.
You visit the earth and water it, you greatly enrich it; the river of God is full of water; you provide the people with grain, for so you have prepared it.
You water its furrows abundantly, settling its ridges, softening it with showers, and blessing its growth.
You crown the year with your bounty; your wagon tracks overflow with richness.
The pastures of the wilderness overflow, the hills gird themselves with joy,
the meadows clothe themselves with flocks, the valleys deck themselves with grain, they shout and sing together for joy.
These bible passages tell us that God created the world and everything in it. God made the mountains and the seas. He provides us with nourishment and life. I know that many of you have read these passages before (especially Genesis 1), but I challenge you to look at them again and reflect upon them.
With Thanksgiving and Christmas right around the corner, it is sometimes easy to get caught up in the busyness of this time of year. The true meaning of this time of year is sometimes overlooked. This holiday season, I challenge you to take the time to count your blessings and remember to thank the One that made our life possible.
Have a wonderful Thanksgiving!
God Bless- Joanna
11 November 2009
This week I decided to write about the struggles we face in deciding our identities, paths, and callings. This is something that is especially pertinent for most college students, this is the time in our lives where we are supposed to decide what exactly it is we are going to be doing after college. However for those who have hit their Junior and Senior years, I think they would agree with my assessment that at this point the questions from adults, friends and strangers don't revolve around "So, what's your major?" but rather we find ourselves increasingly asked "so what are you doing after college/with your life?". This recent transition has been mildly disturbing to say the least, for the first time in my life I feel as if decisions start to matter more and more, and that the choices we make and the things we do start to define who we are to an ever greater extent than I would have thought possible. This has been a subject of large debate in my life as of late, but the resolution that I am starting to come to is that 'who' we are and 'what' we do are never constant things, our identities change over the course of our lifetimes and many of us will not end up doing the same things we started out with. Additionally, I feel that here at Vanderbilt it is far too easy to get caught up in the hustle and bustle of life and that a "keeping up with the Joneses" philosophy pervades campus to a great extent. While I am not saying avoid this, indeed many great things can come of applying yourself to extracurricular activities, it is important to not let this rush define who you become, it is possible to become a victim of your own success and very important to retain your core identity. Indeed, one of the best strategies for avoiding these conflicts is to maintain a strong inner faith, having faith can guide anyone through the toughest times. Countless examples exist throughout history of those who remained committed to their beliefs in the face of great adversity and emerged as stronger better people for it. So as such, I would encourage all of you to take the necessary steps to keep that spark of faith alive and well, for it will serve as your greatest tool and ally over the rest of your life.
-Alexander Sweet
This week I decided to write about the struggles we face in deciding our identities, paths, and callings. This is something that is especially pertinent for most college students, this is the time in our lives where we are supposed to decide what exactly it is we are going to be doing after college. However for those who have hit their Junior and Senior years, I think they would agree with my assessment that at this point the questions from adults, friends and strangers don't revolve around "So, what's your major?" but rather we find ourselves increasingly asked "so what are you doing after college/with your life?". This recent transition has been mildly disturbing to say the least, for the first time in my life I feel as if decisions start to matter more and more, and that the choices we make and the things we do start to define who we are to an ever greater extent than I would have thought possible. This has been a subject of large debate in my life as of late, but the resolution that I am starting to come to is that 'who' we are and 'what' we do are never constant things, our identities change over the course of our lifetimes and many of us will not end up doing the same things we started out with. Additionally, I feel that here at Vanderbilt it is far too easy to get caught up in the hustle and bustle of life and that a "keeping up with the Joneses" philosophy pervades campus to a great extent. While I am not saying avoid this, indeed many great things can come of applying yourself to extracurricular activities, it is important to not let this rush define who you become, it is possible to become a victim of your own success and very important to retain your core identity. Indeed, one of the best strategies for avoiding these conflicts is to maintain a strong inner faith, having faith can guide anyone through the toughest times. Countless examples exist throughout history of those who remained committed to their beliefs in the face of great adversity and emerged as stronger better people for it. So as such, I would encourage all of you to take the necessary steps to keep that spark of faith alive and well, for it will serve as your greatest tool and ally over the rest of your life.
-Alexander Sweet
4 November 2009
Recently I have been thinking about the idea of callings and how to discern my calling. Being a senior, I have been thinking about what comes next in my life? Where do I go from Vanderbilt? This field of thought led me to attend Bethany’s (our awesome YAV!) Discernment study. During the discussion, we attempted to define what a calling and discernment really mean.
A calling can be defined as “a strong inner impulse toward a particular course of action especially when accompanied by conviction of divine influence”. It is a feeling you get inside that is pulling you in a certain direction. Your calling is always evolving. Discernment can be described as the ability to grasp and comprehend what is obscure. Discernment is more of a journey one takes to determine what he/she should do.
Jeremiah 1:4-9a emphasizes how God called Jeremiah to help him.
“Now the word of the lord came to me saying, ‘Before I formed you in the womb I knew you; I appointed you a prophet to the nations.’ Then I said, ‘Ah, Lord God! Truly I do not know how to speak, for I am only a boy.’ But the Lord said to me, ‘Do not say “I am only a boy”; for you shall go to all whom I send you, and you shall speak whatever I command you. Do not be afraid of them, for I am with you to deliver you, says the Lord.’ Then the Lord put forth His hand and touched my mouth…”
In this verse God calls Jeremiah to a life of ministry. I find it comforting that God is putting out His hand for Jeremiah. God is reaching out to us as well. While our own callings are not this direct, God is calling us to do something with our lives. He is reaching out his hand to us. I challenge you to think about your own discernment journey. What is God calling you to do?
Peace of Christ,
Joanna
Recently I have been thinking about the idea of callings and how to discern my calling. Being a senior, I have been thinking about what comes next in my life? Where do I go from Vanderbilt? This field of thought led me to attend Bethany’s (our awesome YAV!) Discernment study. During the discussion, we attempted to define what a calling and discernment really mean.
A calling can be defined as “a strong inner impulse toward a particular course of action especially when accompanied by conviction of divine influence”. It is a feeling you get inside that is pulling you in a certain direction. Your calling is always evolving. Discernment can be described as the ability to grasp and comprehend what is obscure. Discernment is more of a journey one takes to determine what he/she should do.
Jeremiah 1:4-9a emphasizes how God called Jeremiah to help him.
“Now the word of the lord came to me saying, ‘Before I formed you in the womb I knew you; I appointed you a prophet to the nations.’ Then I said, ‘Ah, Lord God! Truly I do not know how to speak, for I am only a boy.’ But the Lord said to me, ‘Do not say “I am only a boy”; for you shall go to all whom I send you, and you shall speak whatever I command you. Do not be afraid of them, for I am with you to deliver you, says the Lord.’ Then the Lord put forth His hand and touched my mouth…”
In this verse God calls Jeremiah to a life of ministry. I find it comforting that God is putting out His hand for Jeremiah. God is reaching out to us as well. While our own callings are not this direct, God is calling us to do something with our lives. He is reaching out his hand to us. I challenge you to think about your own discernment journey. What is God calling you to do?
Peace of Christ,
Joanna
21 October 2009
So for this weeks PSF blog, I thought it would be good to touch upon the importance of mission, especially regarding our spring break trip to Guatemala. I had the privilege to be able to attend the Guatemala trip my freshman year of college. Looking back now, I would definitely say that was one of the most defining experiences for me in college thus far. I was able to bond with everyone on the trip and made some great lasting friendships as a result. Indeed, I am still in touch with people from that trip two years later. In addition to the excellent team building opportunities the trip resented, I also derived a great sense of personal satisfaction from this was well. I made an emotional connection to the project we were working on, and it is very saddening that I will be unable to go this year. But in terms of the work I did, the connections I made and the people I helped, the experience was absolutely invaluable.
I just want to encourage any and all that are sitting on the fence about this trip to give great consideration to attending, there is no better or more fulfilling way to spend your spring break than by attending this trip. The amount of time that PSF puts into planning and executing this trip is enormous, and when I went I never had a single concern about safety while there and neither should you. One thing that I thought was especially gratifying about the PSF trip was the fact that while some programs that sponsor mission trips do go to similar places to do similar things, rarely do they stay engaged with communities they are assisting other than the trips. Indeed, many programs simply visit a site for a week and never return. We maintain the relationship with the communities that we assist, and that I feel is one of the most satisfying aspects of our mission trip. So if you have any questions whatsoever, feel free to talk to me or email me or Jennifer.
Take care and Peace of Christ. - Alex
So for this weeks PSF blog, I thought it would be good to touch upon the importance of mission, especially regarding our spring break trip to Guatemala. I had the privilege to be able to attend the Guatemala trip my freshman year of college. Looking back now, I would definitely say that was one of the most defining experiences for me in college thus far. I was able to bond with everyone on the trip and made some great lasting friendships as a result. Indeed, I am still in touch with people from that trip two years later. In addition to the excellent team building opportunities the trip resented, I also derived a great sense of personal satisfaction from this was well. I made an emotional connection to the project we were working on, and it is very saddening that I will be unable to go this year. But in terms of the work I did, the connections I made and the people I helped, the experience was absolutely invaluable.
I just want to encourage any and all that are sitting on the fence about this trip to give great consideration to attending, there is no better or more fulfilling way to spend your spring break than by attending this trip. The amount of time that PSF puts into planning and executing this trip is enormous, and when I went I never had a single concern about safety while there and neither should you. One thing that I thought was especially gratifying about the PSF trip was the fact that while some programs that sponsor mission trips do go to similar places to do similar things, rarely do they stay engaged with communities they are assisting other than the trips. Indeed, many programs simply visit a site for a week and never return. We maintain the relationship with the communities that we assist, and that I feel is one of the most satisfying aspects of our mission trip. So if you have any questions whatsoever, feel free to talk to me or email me or Jennifer.
Take care and Peace of Christ. - Alex
14 October 2009
There is a story in the bible that tells of Jesus and his disciples in a village. They have been surrounded by a crowd of people that have high expectations of Jesus. The village asks him to stay with them and do more healing and teaching. Jesus’ disciples find him by himself, praying and talking with God. Jesus informs his disciples that they will continue on to Jerusalem, without staying in the village. The exact bible verse has escaped me, but I know this story is from the Gospel of Mark.
This bible story has been on my mind for the past week. I first read it during bible study last Thursday. The theme for bible study that day was busyness and how people are always moving. People are constantly going and going and never take time for themselves. Like many of you, I cannot believe that we are approaching the middle of the semester already. Time here at Vanderbilt seems to go so quickly.
When time seems to fly by, what are you missing?
This verse was reassuring to me because it shows that Jesus is busy too. He leaves this village because he already has another, greater plan. He has to leave to continue on his path towards his goals. He has one goal that he is ultimately working towards. As stated in the bible study, “Jesus says no because he’s already said yes”.
What is your one thing you are working towards?
Another part of the story I liked was that his disciples found Jesus by himself. He was taking time to talk to God and isolate himself from the busyness of the world around him. It is a reminder that we need to take time out of our busy schedules to talk to God and to reflect.
How often do you remove yourself from the busyness to talk to God?
This story shows that even Jesus was busy. He did not have time for every thing. He knew he had to work towards the one thing, but he also knew that in the craziness of his life, that he had to take time for himself- to be with God. Going along with Alan’s sermon last night at PSF, we sometimes have to just be the branch. Do not worry about being the gardener or the vine, just be the branch.
God Bless- Joanna
There is a story in the bible that tells of Jesus and his disciples in a village. They have been surrounded by a crowd of people that have high expectations of Jesus. The village asks him to stay with them and do more healing and teaching. Jesus’ disciples find him by himself, praying and talking with God. Jesus informs his disciples that they will continue on to Jerusalem, without staying in the village. The exact bible verse has escaped me, but I know this story is from the Gospel of Mark.
This bible story has been on my mind for the past week. I first read it during bible study last Thursday. The theme for bible study that day was busyness and how people are always moving. People are constantly going and going and never take time for themselves. Like many of you, I cannot believe that we are approaching the middle of the semester already. Time here at Vanderbilt seems to go so quickly.
When time seems to fly by, what are you missing?
This verse was reassuring to me because it shows that Jesus is busy too. He leaves this village because he already has another, greater plan. He has to leave to continue on his path towards his goals. He has one goal that he is ultimately working towards. As stated in the bible study, “Jesus says no because he’s already said yes”.
What is your one thing you are working towards?
Another part of the story I liked was that his disciples found Jesus by himself. He was taking time to talk to God and isolate himself from the busyness of the world around him. It is a reminder that we need to take time out of our busy schedules to talk to God and to reflect.
How often do you remove yourself from the busyness to talk to God?
This story shows that even Jesus was busy. He did not have time for every thing. He knew he had to work towards the one thing, but he also knew that in the craziness of his life, that he had to take time for himself- to be with God. Going along with Alan’s sermon last night at PSF, we sometimes have to just be the branch. Do not worry about being the gardener or the vine, just be the branch.
God Bless- Joanna
7 October 2009
Unlike Alex, who did an excellent job describing his experience sharing his story (on Sept. 30th), I have not yet had the opportunity to take part in “the stories we tell” as a person sharing their story. Soon, I will have the chance. And, I know that the story that I tell will include much of the same uncertainty and maturation regarding faith that others before me have shown. It is my hope that I can demonstrate the same confidence and determination that they exuded during their presentations.
However, beyond a simple underlying feeling regarding the transition of my faith, I know I will have difficulty describing my journey. I cannot say what was the day or even the month, season, or year when I first believed in God. A further timeline pertaining to my acceptance of the Trinity, certain Prophets, and biblical verses is equally jumbled and far from complete.
Nonetheless, it is with this uncertainty that I have found my home at PSF and, through it, developed my faith. It is my intention in this entry to describe a personal experience gained from two sermons over the past three weeks. I still toy with its prevailing question, or more its challenge, weeks later- In much the same manner that one toys with a unique proposition, question or experience.
A little over two weeks ago, I attended the 5:30 service over at 1st Presbyterian Church and was left thinking about a particularly resounding sermon. I could have been because of my recent familiarity after reading this Steinbeck novel. Or, it could have been simply the manner in which Trey Wince tied Genesis and Samuel together into a simple biblical question. I don’t know what the cause; however, I do know that I was left with the burning question of “what is it to live east of Eden?”
Cain and Abel, to my surprise, was both the root cause and unrelated to my quandary. I found myself less dwelling upon the deliberate selection of that which is knowingly not right or just, and instead I found myself dwelling upon my omissions or lack of a willingness to stand for the good or the just. Further, I found that for some reason this question related very well to a second sermon by Jennifer stressing the need to be jubilant in one’s own faith and “dance.” In even the greatest turn of events, I found myself surprised by a sudden confidence regarding my own future, which has in turn led to a greater desire to recognize and improve upon where I stand east of Eden.
The fact that I am writing about this incident is testament that I continue to toy with the concept and how it could improve my person and my faith. I know that its presence will shape my actions for as long as I grapple with this idea, and possibly longer.
For the reader, I hope that this brief depiction of a small part of my faith and personal struggle gives a unique perspective of PSF and its students as they grapple with their own struggles and triumphs.
Peace of Christ,
Stefan Szlendak
Unlike Alex, who did an excellent job describing his experience sharing his story (on Sept. 30th), I have not yet had the opportunity to take part in “the stories we tell” as a person sharing their story. Soon, I will have the chance. And, I know that the story that I tell will include much of the same uncertainty and maturation regarding faith that others before me have shown. It is my hope that I can demonstrate the same confidence and determination that they exuded during their presentations.
However, beyond a simple underlying feeling regarding the transition of my faith, I know I will have difficulty describing my journey. I cannot say what was the day or even the month, season, or year when I first believed in God. A further timeline pertaining to my acceptance of the Trinity, certain Prophets, and biblical verses is equally jumbled and far from complete.
Nonetheless, it is with this uncertainty that I have found my home at PSF and, through it, developed my faith. It is my intention in this entry to describe a personal experience gained from two sermons over the past three weeks. I still toy with its prevailing question, or more its challenge, weeks later- In much the same manner that one toys with a unique proposition, question or experience.
A little over two weeks ago, I attended the 5:30 service over at 1st Presbyterian Church and was left thinking about a particularly resounding sermon. I could have been because of my recent familiarity after reading this Steinbeck novel. Or, it could have been simply the manner in which Trey Wince tied Genesis and Samuel together into a simple biblical question. I don’t know what the cause; however, I do know that I was left with the burning question of “what is it to live east of Eden?”
Cain and Abel, to my surprise, was both the root cause and unrelated to my quandary. I found myself less dwelling upon the deliberate selection of that which is knowingly not right or just, and instead I found myself dwelling upon my omissions or lack of a willingness to stand for the good or the just. Further, I found that for some reason this question related very well to a second sermon by Jennifer stressing the need to be jubilant in one’s own faith and “dance.” In even the greatest turn of events, I found myself surprised by a sudden confidence regarding my own future, which has in turn led to a greater desire to recognize and improve upon where I stand east of Eden.
The fact that I am writing about this incident is testament that I continue to toy with the concept and how it could improve my person and my faith. I know that its presence will shape my actions for as long as I grapple with this idea, and possibly longer.
For the reader, I hope that this brief depiction of a small part of my faith and personal struggle gives a unique perspective of PSF and its students as they grapple with their own struggles and triumphs.
Peace of Christ,
Stefan Szlendak
30 September 2009
For this weeks blog I thought I would write about the theme for PSF “The Stories We Live By”. I just wanted to take the time to write about how much of a fan I am become of this years theme. The last two years had their themes as well, but this is the first one that I have truly connected with and that helps me to connect to others.
For those who are not aware, “Stories We Live By” revolves around getting real people from both Campus and the surrounding area to come in and share their faith stories with us. Thus far we had the chance to have two fellow PSF students plus myself come in and share their faith stories. As someone who has had the chance to both give and receive in terms of sharing faith stories, I feel like I have a great perspective on this. When someone chooses to come up to the front of the room and stand before 20-30 people and tell some very personal stories about their lives they are making themselves vulnerable.
But this vulnerability and exposure on serves to deepen ones connection both to PSF as well as the people within it. For those listening, it is a chance to truly get to know people in PSF who you may have only known peripherally beforehand. Either way, the bonds between us are multiplied and strengthened through activities such as this, and I think it leaves us better off as a ministry being able to have something like this. I look forward to seeing how things will evolve from this point.
Peace of Christ,
Alexander Sweet
For this weeks blog I thought I would write about the theme for PSF “The Stories We Live By”. I just wanted to take the time to write about how much of a fan I am become of this years theme. The last two years had their themes as well, but this is the first one that I have truly connected with and that helps me to connect to others.
For those who are not aware, “Stories We Live By” revolves around getting real people from both Campus and the surrounding area to come in and share their faith stories with us. Thus far we had the chance to have two fellow PSF students plus myself come in and share their faith stories. As someone who has had the chance to both give and receive in terms of sharing faith stories, I feel like I have a great perspective on this. When someone chooses to come up to the front of the room and stand before 20-30 people and tell some very personal stories about their lives they are making themselves vulnerable.
But this vulnerability and exposure on serves to deepen ones connection both to PSF as well as the people within it. For those listening, it is a chance to truly get to know people in PSF who you may have only known peripherally beforehand. Either way, the bonds between us are multiplied and strengthened through activities such as this, and I think it leaves us better off as a ministry being able to have something like this. I look forward to seeing how things will evolve from this point.
Peace of Christ,
Alexander Sweet
23 September 2009
Every morning, I walk across the Vanderbilt Campus to work at about 7:00 AM. At this time in the morning, there are not many people out and the campus seems like a very different place. It is quiet and peaceful. It is during this time, that I can truly sense God's work. During the busyness of the school day, it is easy to forget about this beauty and to overlook the wonders of God's creations. However, during my morning walk I am surprised at how much I miss during the day. I am reminded that God's presence is everywhere. From the drops of dew on the grass to the beams from the rising sun, God's beauty surrounds me.
Sometimes it is easy to find this beauty, such as through nature, but sometimes it is difficult to find. For example, during our recent PSF trip to Tim's Ford for our rafting retreat, it was easy to see God's work. As we sat on the dock and overlooked the water, I could really sense God's presence. Back at campus, it is sometimes harder to see the beauty around you, but it is there. This beauty can be hidden in small, unique places, but it is there- you just have to look. As we get caught-up in our routines and the craziness of school, we just sometimes forget to look. As a child, I learned a poem about finding the beauty in small things:
"In a bulb, there is a flower,
In a seed, an apple tree.
In cocoons a hidden promise
Butterflies will soon be free
In the cold dark snow of winter
There's a spring that's meant to be-
Unrevealed until its season-
Something God alone can see"
I want to challenge everyone to try and see God's wonderful creations around them this week (and beyond). Try to find the beauty in small things and look for God throughout your daily life because He is there. As it states in Psalms 19:4 "The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of his hands". I think this verse illustrates how God's beautiful work is all around us. God's work is everywhere, you just have to take time to "Stop and Smell the Roses".
God Bless- Joanna
Every morning, I walk across the Vanderbilt Campus to work at about 7:00 AM. At this time in the morning, there are not many people out and the campus seems like a very different place. It is quiet and peaceful. It is during this time, that I can truly sense God's work. During the busyness of the school day, it is easy to forget about this beauty and to overlook the wonders of God's creations. However, during my morning walk I am surprised at how much I miss during the day. I am reminded that God's presence is everywhere. From the drops of dew on the grass to the beams from the rising sun, God's beauty surrounds me.
Sometimes it is easy to find this beauty, such as through nature, but sometimes it is difficult to find. For example, during our recent PSF trip to Tim's Ford for our rafting retreat, it was easy to see God's work. As we sat on the dock and overlooked the water, I could really sense God's presence. Back at campus, it is sometimes harder to see the beauty around you, but it is there. This beauty can be hidden in small, unique places, but it is there- you just have to look. As we get caught-up in our routines and the craziness of school, we just sometimes forget to look. As a child, I learned a poem about finding the beauty in small things:
"In a bulb, there is a flower,
In a seed, an apple tree.
In cocoons a hidden promise
Butterflies will soon be free
In the cold dark snow of winter
There's a spring that's meant to be-
Unrevealed until its season-
Something God alone can see"
I want to challenge everyone to try and see God's wonderful creations around them this week (and beyond). Try to find the beauty in small things and look for God throughout your daily life because He is there. As it states in Psalms 19:4 "The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of his hands". I think this verse illustrates how God's beautiful work is all around us. God's work is everywhere, you just have to take time to "Stop and Smell the Roses".
God Bless- Joanna
9 September 2009
For this week’s blog I was asked to write about why I come to PSF and what it has that makes it attractive to undergraduates.
First and foremost, I come to Presbyterian Student Fellowship because of the community that it provides. The comfort I derive from having a consistent group such as PSF on campus has helped me through many rough times in college. Whether it be through the resources of Jennifer Fouse, our pastor, or any of the other staff and interns we have, there is a very coordinated, focused and caring group of people out there who have our welfare and spiritual growth in mind. Having that is extremely reassuring. But what I find in PSF that makes it such a great fit for me is the warm and kind nature of those who attend it, PSF is my on campus family more so than anything else I am involved with at Vanderbilt.
I had the good fortune of being involved with an especially vibrant youth group at my Presbyterian Church back home, and my involvement there from the 3rd grade up until my senior year of college certainly laid the groundwork for my involvement with PSF on campus. But even for those without a history of involvement, this is a community that welcomes any and all with open arms and I truly relish that. My desire to reach out and help others experience PSF has its roots in the fact that I think people miss out on so much personal development in college as a result of not being involved in something such as PSF.
To conclude, the real question is not why you should come to PSF, the question is why are you not already here?
Peace of Christ,
Alexander Sweet
For this week’s blog I was asked to write about why I come to PSF and what it has that makes it attractive to undergraduates.
First and foremost, I come to Presbyterian Student Fellowship because of the community that it provides. The comfort I derive from having a consistent group such as PSF on campus has helped me through many rough times in college. Whether it be through the resources of Jennifer Fouse, our pastor, or any of the other staff and interns we have, there is a very coordinated, focused and caring group of people out there who have our welfare and spiritual growth in mind. Having that is extremely reassuring. But what I find in PSF that makes it such a great fit for me is the warm and kind nature of those who attend it, PSF is my on campus family more so than anything else I am involved with at Vanderbilt.
I had the good fortune of being involved with an especially vibrant youth group at my Presbyterian Church back home, and my involvement there from the 3rd grade up until my senior year of college certainly laid the groundwork for my involvement with PSF on campus. But even for those without a history of involvement, this is a community that welcomes any and all with open arms and I truly relish that. My desire to reach out and help others experience PSF has its roots in the fact that I think people miss out on so much personal development in college as a result of not being involved in something such as PSF.
To conclude, the real question is not why you should come to PSF, the question is why are you not already here?
Peace of Christ,
Alexander Sweet
2 September 2009
The first week back to campus has been filled with many PSF activities. We kick-started the year with the annual Council Retreat at Jennifer's house. The council worked really hard and came up with many ideas for the upcoming year. I am looking forward to some of the future events, such as rafting and movie night. We attended two fairs on the Commons, the Religious Life Fair and the Student Organization Fair. I was really excited to see some of our new friends at the meet-and-greet tonight!
We have also had several fellowship events throughout the week, including Shakespeare in the Park and a Nashville Sounds baseball game. There was a huge turn-out for Shakespeare in the Park which was wonderful for our first fellowship event. There were many old faces along with several new friends from Belmont. It was a chance to catch-up with friends. I am also amazed at the amount of people that attended our Meet-and-Greet/ Game Night last night. We enjoyed lots of good food (including deviled eggs). Our new music leaders were amazing and our YAV is awesome as well. Our theme was introduced- "Stories We Live By"- and I am excited to hear people's stories in the upcoming weeks. Each week a student, board member, community member, etc will share their "story" during worship. It will be a wonderful chance for people to share their lives with others in the PSF community.
I am really excited for the upcoming year and I hope our future events are as successful as this first week.
God Bless- Joanna
The first week back to campus has been filled with many PSF activities. We kick-started the year with the annual Council Retreat at Jennifer's house. The council worked really hard and came up with many ideas for the upcoming year. I am looking forward to some of the future events, such as rafting and movie night. We attended two fairs on the Commons, the Religious Life Fair and the Student Organization Fair. I was really excited to see some of our new friends at the meet-and-greet tonight!
We have also had several fellowship events throughout the week, including Shakespeare in the Park and a Nashville Sounds baseball game. There was a huge turn-out for Shakespeare in the Park which was wonderful for our first fellowship event. There were many old faces along with several new friends from Belmont. It was a chance to catch-up with friends. I am also amazed at the amount of people that attended our Meet-and-Greet/ Game Night last night. We enjoyed lots of good food (including deviled eggs). Our new music leaders were amazing and our YAV is awesome as well. Our theme was introduced- "Stories We Live By"- and I am excited to hear people's stories in the upcoming weeks. Each week a student, board member, community member, etc will share their "story" during worship. It will be a wonderful chance for people to share their lives with others in the PSF community.
I am really excited for the upcoming year and I hope our future events are as successful as this first week.
God Bless- Joanna