The "American Dream" is built on the idea that if you work hard, use the opportunities you are given, and don't give up, you will prosper. It's all about you. However, it's not good for us. When we are focused on ourselves, it's easy to get upset when we suffer from minor injustices and it's easy to end up depressed and unhappy.
As Christians, our story is different. We are called to recognize that everything is a gift from God: families, friendships, our abilities, the beauty of nature, human resiliance, our lives, and even faith. It's all a gift. God came to earth as Jesus to show us how to live in tune with God and to wash away all our sin -- to reconcile the world into relationship with God. We are more loved and blessed than we can comprehend. Out of joy and thankfulness, we are called to share our gifts with others -- to bless others as extravagantly as God has blessed us. We are called to set our sights on our relationships with God and other people
This doesn't mean that if we trust in God, everything will go our way. The Bible tells time and time again that God dwells alongside the lost, the lonely, the oppressed, and the suffering. Even when the world seems to be out to get us, when we get our focus on sharing God's blessings with others, we find that our problems start to shrink. I find this amazingly beautiful.
God Almighty, be with us amidst every step of our lives, and help us to always remember to let your love and blessings overflow from us into the world around us. Let your kindom take root on earth, and let it begin in our hearts. May your will be done with our hands and feet. AMEN.
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Upcoming Events:
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THEOLOGY PUB - 5:15-7:15pm the 1st & 3rd Tuesdays of each month in the Mason Rathskeller (lower level of SUB1)! Order yourself food and drink of choice and we'll have a non-judgemental chat about life, God, faith, and the intersection of all these things. The next one is Tuesday 4/20/2010 (tomorrow), and we'll have a seminary student from Gettysburg visiting with us -- don't miss it!
747 Creative Christian Worship - We are back in SUB1 room B (3rd floor) on Wednesdays at 7:47pm. This week, we will be exploring scriputral ties relating to Earth Day and some feminist interpretations of scriptures. This worship experience will involve drumming too, so come prepared to immerse your full body into worship! ALL are welcome!
Habitat for Humanity ONE BY YOUTH - The GMU Chapter of Habitat for Humanity has been invited to be a part of a huge volunteer project on April 24th in a Georgetown South neighborhood (near Manassas). We will work alongside 2,000 eager volunteers filling sidewalks, painting fences, planting trees, etc. This is a great opportunity for our chapter to help out and make a difference. The day begins at the Boys and Girls Club at 7 am and will end around 6 pm. For details and transportation, please visit the Facebook event and the registration page.
GAME NIGHT with HILLEL and UCMNV - Wed. 4/28, 8:30-10pm in SUB1 room B - 747 will run a bit shorter this night, and will be followed by an evening of games with our friends from Hillel and United College Ministries. This should be awesome!
TransFORM conference - April 30 - May 2 at Wesley Theological Seminary in D.C. - This is a FREE conference on forming transformational missional communities. That's a mouthful, I know. It's focused on how Christian communities can be spread the gospel in our specific contexts (unique to the location/people involved) -- on being an outward focused communitiy that exists to share God's love with others in a variety of ways, transforming us and our communities in the process. Website. Facebook.
DO YOU HAVE IDEAS FOR THINGS YOU WANT TO DO? Just let us know what you'd like to do -- and when!
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Summer Opportunities
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SUMMER ACTIVITIES: I'm starting to try to figure out how many students will be around this summer. Last year, we started having fellowship events each week during the summer, and if people are going to be around this summer, we can do that again. Let me know if you'll be around so I know what to expect -- and if you want to help plan activities.
Ever consider being a counselor at SUMMER CAMP? I still can't believe I actually got paid for all the fun I had the year I was a camp counselor! Ask me for more info.
Lutheran Student Movement - Sharing the Gospel in a 2.0 World - August 11-14, 2010: What does it mean to be disciples of Jesus in a world with social media? Join college students and others from across the country as we gather in downtown Chicago to explore this issue with phenomonal speakers including:
Let me know if you want to go, and we'll help you afford it. $100 discount for the first 200 student registrations! More info HERE.
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Grace and peace,
Ben
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Lutheran Campus Ministry at George Mason University
http://www.gmu.edu/org/lutheran
MSN 2C7; SUB 1 room 207; Fairfax, VA 22030
703-829-0220
703-829-0220
