How Basketball Changed My Life - Methodist Campus Ministry E-Letter

Dear Friends,

 

Today is absolutely beautiful!  Amazing how a day can start off so cold and end up so warm.  Kind of like life.  This coming Sunday we are looking at more spiritual truth from Napoleon Dynomite.  Again, Napoleon has so much to say about the redemptive power of friendship.  This time we are going to look at how our friendships can be just the “Good News” that the world needs.

 

Thursday night we are having our Bi-Annual Game Night at the Wesley Foundation.  This is going to be so much fun.  Free food, good fellowship, lots of laughs.  I think we don’t laugh nearly enough in life.  This is an opportunity at add some joy to the semester.  But more about that later.

 

Now for Sami’s Ramblings About Jesus:

 

This is the story of how basketball changed my life.  You may be thinking, “Great.  Another testimony from an athlete that found Jesus.”  Well no.  No one has ever in the history of the universe ever called me an athlete (although I did learn to play volleyball in college and our co-ed church B league team won the championship).  And it wasn’t sports that led me to give my life to Christ.  In fact, since my earliest days I’ve been in relationship with Jesus.  No, the great sport of basketball is not responsible for my conversion.  But I am married to someone who loves the game.

 

I must admit that my earliest days as a basketball wife are not praiseworthy.  You see, for my husband basketball has been the passion of his life for as long as I have known him.  Just like I felt called into ministry and that God wanted to use my life for His glory there, Tim felt called to be a coach and that God would use him in that area.  It took me years to understand what that meant, a couple more to accept and embrace it, a couple more to enjoy it.  I remember in the early days of our marriage I was jealous of the time he spent with basketball, wanting instead for him to be spending time with me.  If anyone could lay on the thickest guilt trip, it would be me. 

 

I don’t know when the Lord began to change my heart, but I know that it happened.  God began to show me that the best parts of the man I loved were there because of his passion for basketball and that if I removed basketball I would lose everything about this man that made him so precious to me.  The Lord began to show me that as He put Tim in coaching positions, He was putting him in places where he could change the world around him for good, bringing glory to God’s name.  While I often fumed about how much things in my area of ministry never changed, God showed me that Tim’s quiet, basketball witness was changing attitudes and hearts everywhere he went, simply because he lives his life as a coach with a deep integrity and commitment to be God’s man in that position.  People may not even know they are hearing the gospel when they interact with Tim, but his life is a living testimony.

 

At some point the Lord melted my cold disinterest in a sport I could never play and opened my heart to the potential for changing lives through a simple game. 

 

Last night I spent the evening watching Tim coach his girl’s varsity basketball team in the first game of the district tournament.  The last time a team from his school even won this particular game to be the District Runner-up was in 1998.  His team had lost the last 5 previous games.  Their opponent had already beaten them two other times this season and were coming into the game having won their last 5 previous games.  Both teams played hard.  At the end of the last buzzer it was tied.  Tim’s team had yet to win a game in over-time this season.  It didn’t look good.  But Tim never gave up that game.  Those girls never gave up that game.  Four agonizing minutes later they won by 4 points. 

 

I wept.  After a long season of disappointment, they won a victory that no one thought they could win.

 

I am continuously amazed at the gospel of Jesus Christ.  Sometimes the metaphor for hope that I find most convincing is the basketball floor, where victories and losses play themselves out in a very personal way in my household.  It is like that in life too.  When we least expect a victory, Jesus brings the good news of the resurrection.  Even to that which seems most dead to us.

 

So Tim, I know you are reading this.  Thank you for being the one God has used to teach me the most important lessons about not giving up, facing the facts, and then digging deep.  Thank you for reminding me that when we least expect it, something wonderful can happen.  Thank you for showing me that God isn’t done with us yet.  I love you.

 

And for those of you who are not Tim, join us on Thursday night for Game Night.  It is a simple thing to enjoy the company of friends and play a good game of ping-pong.  But it is a profound thing to realize that the presence of Jesus makes something even as simple as a game among friends an opportunity for the gospel to come to life.

 

Blessings,

 

Sami

Flawed and Forgiven

I’ve been pondering all that has happened with the Alpha Gamma Rho fraternity since the news broke about the hazing incident. My heart has been heavy, especially as I thought about the young men involved. I can’t imagine what it has been like for them on this campus. And my heart hurts for them. What comes to mind is a scene from the film Raising Helen. There comes a point in the movie when Kate Hudson and Joan Cusack must confront the wayward niece who secretly ditches the prom in favor of getting a hotel room with a boy that seems to stay in trouble. I love the line where Joan Cusack addresses the young man (after thoroughly chewing him out) saying something like “By the way, you are not bad. What you did is bad, but you are not bad.”

This is what my heart feels, and wants to say to the young men all wrapped up in what happened at the AGR house. Those were some awfully bad choices. But you are not bad. I believe you were created in love, that the One who created you loves you (even now, especially now) and can restore every dignity that your poor choices took away. . . . if you allow it.

If we were all honest, we could say that there are things we have done that dishonor and mar the human dignity we were given at birth. We have also done things to strip others of their dignity. It would be easy for each of us to believe we would never make such choices, but the truth is the potential lies within each of us. I just know that in my own life there are sins that must be forgiven, things I regret deeply and must seek God’s forgiveness for before moving on to be who I was made to be.

I know this can be a difficult issue. Mercy would be so much easier if choices happened in a vacuum and only the ones choosing were affected. But in the real world this is hardly true. The consequences of our choices ripple out in ways we could hardly imagine. All we have to do is read the past issues of this very paper to see that those who are not even associated with the fraternity now have a reputation tied to the AGR incident within the larger community of our country because they attend WKU. I do believe that time will do its part in making this situation old news. But there are plenty of situations in life where the choices of some affecting the lives of others do not go away so easily.

Particularly in cases of abuse, those who must survive the choices others make can often find themselves overlooked, their stories of suffering unheard. The need for healing and restoration can seem bigger than the help available, more demanding than simply letting time pass by. This is why I believe God takes our choosing so seriously, and never merely says, “Forget about it; it was nothing.” It is always something when God’s children hurt. God’s heart always hurts with us and works to bring healing. And God always holds us accountable for the truth of our choices. We can never misrepresent the outcome of our choices before God; God knows the outcome better than we do. It is why as Christians we call our poor choices “sin”. True, it is an ugly word, yet what it does to others, ourselves, and the world we live in is ugly. However, as a Christian, I also believe in hope and forgiveness. Now matter how big we mess up, I believe that the God who is big enough heal what we broke is big enough to forgive us and change our hearts, so that we don’t go around hurting others anymore.

As a campus minister my prayer for the brothers of Alpha Gamma Rho is that each one will find the mercy and forgiveness they need. It is also for all of us who have messed up in ways we cannot even talk about to discover we are still loved. It is finally for those whose dignity has been taken from them because of someone else’s choices to find and experience the healing Love that redeems and restores what life took away.

Blessings,

Sami

It's Game Night; Come on down!

Dear Friends,

 

Just want to invite you to our Bi-Annual

 

Game Night

 

at the Wesley Foundation!

 

 

 

 

When?  This Thursday, March 2^nd, 7pm.

 

What?  Play all your favorite games:  board games, card games, video games, ping-pong, etc.  Eat FREE FOOD!

 

Where?  At the United Methodist Student Center (Wesley Foundation), 1355 College St., a block down from Cherry Hall on the left.

 

 

 

For more info, call us at 842-2880 or email Sami at sami@wkywesley.org.

 

 

Would love to see you there!

Dear Friends,

 

Hope you had a great long weekend!  Wasn’t the snow pretty?  As we look ahead, we will return this coming Sunday night looking at the ways that Napoleon Dynamite can inspire us in our Christian walk of faith.  Don’t believe me?  Come and find out how!  This Thursday we will be looking at the Solid Rock Café we will focus on the question “Am I Supposed to Convert People to Christianity?”.  Show up for free food (and coffee) at 7pm and enjoy a lively discussion of our topic about 8pm (after rousing rounds of ping-pong!).

 

Now for Sami’s Ramblings About Jesus:

 

Have you heard the saying, “You can run, but you can’t hide?”  These words don’t exactly convey a “warm, fuzzy” feeling.  (By the way, if you didn’t get a warm fuzzy last week, e-mail me.  We have one at the Wesley Foundation just for you.)  They either evoke images of IRS agents seeking after those persons falling behind on tax payments or a crazy stalker from a badly made horror film.  Why is it we equate hiding with safety?  I guess if we live long enough, each of us experiences things that cause enough pain to make us want to run away from anything that could resemble it in the future.  A good way to escape the pain of the past is to hide from potential pain in the present and future.  It’s logical.  Maybe it works.  For someone out there I haven’t met yet.

 

All of us (myself included) try to avoid pain in life.  But the fact is, no matter how hard we try we cannot avoid every negative thing that might come our way.  But what does happen is that in hiding from life we do cut ourselves off from many opportunities for joy, love, new life, and peace.  And many times we are running away from the very One who wants to deliver us from the heartache of living in the first place.  The truth is, we may try to escape God, but we can never really leave His presence:

 

Where can I go from your spirit?  Or where can I flee from your presence?  If I ascend to heaven, you are there; if I make my bed in Sheol, you are there.  If I take the wings of the morning and settle at the farthest limits of the sea, even there your hand shall lead me, and your right hand shall hold me fast.  Psalm 139: 7-10

 

 We can run, but we cannot hide from the Presence of the Lord.  And this is not a bad thing.  I will never forget the first time I read Margaret Wise Brown’s children’s book The Runaway Bunny.  It begins, “Once there was a little bunny who wanted to run away.  So he said to his mother, ‘I am running away.’  ‘If you run away,’ said his mother, ‘I will run after you.  For you are my little bunny.’”  And sure enough, she did.  It did not matter where the little bunny would go, the Mama was sure to follow.  Finally the little bunny gives up:  “’Shucks,’ said the bunny, ‘I might just as well stay where I am and be your little bunny.’  And so he did.  ‘Have a carrot,’ said the mother bunny.” 

 

How tender and funny our Lord is.  When we run away to hide from God, God is always there.  It is like trying to run away from the air that surrounds us, from the skin that envelopes us.  It just cannot be done.  And when all is said and done, and we finally give up our hiding, God invites us to share His goodness.  He is tender and gentle like that Mama bunny, offering us the thing we are most hungry for anyway.  There is no rebuke, simply open arms waiting to receive us back, wanting to throw a party to celebrate our return.

 

So what are you running from?  What if you stopped running and stopped hiding and simply listened for the still, small voice of the Lord who loves you?  What if your deepest longing was just moments away from being answered by His loving Presence, and your deepest hurt was just moments away from being healed?

 

What if He really is everything He says He is?

 

God loves you so much. 

 

From someone on the journey too,

 

Blessings,

 

Sami

 

You Can Run, But You Can't Hide

Have you heard the saying, “You can run, but you can’t hide?” These words don’t exactly convey a “warm, fuzzy” feeling. (By the way, if you didn’t get a warm fuzzy last week, e-mail me. We have one at the Wesley Foundation just for you.) They either evoke images of IRS agents seeking after those persons falling behind on tax payments or a crazy stalker from a badly made horror film. Why is it we equate hiding with safety? I guess if we live long enough, each of us experiences things that cause enough pain to make us want to run away from anything that could resemble it in the future. A good way to escape the pain of the past is to hide from potential pain in the present and future. It’s logical. Maybe it works. For someone out there I haven’t met yet.

All of us (myself included) try to avoid pain in life. But the fact is, no matter how hard we try we cannot avoid every negative thing that might come our way. But what does happen is that in hiding from life we do cut ourselves off from many opportunities for joy, love, new life, and peace. And many times we are running away from the very One who wants to deliver us from the heartache of living in the first place. The truth is, we may try to escape God, but we can never really leave His presence:

Where can I go from your spirit? Or where can I flee from your presence? If I ascend to heaven, you are there; if I make my bed in Sheol, you are there. If I take the wings of the morning and settle at the farthest limits of the sea, even there your hand shall lead me, and your right hand shall hold me fast. Psalm 139: 7-10

We can run, but we cannot hide from the Presence of the Lord. And this is not a bad thing. I will never forget the first time I read Margaret Wise Brown’s children’s book The Runaway Bunny. It begins, “Once there was a little bunny who wanted to run away. So he said to his mother, ‘I am running away.’ ‘If you run away,’ said his mother, ‘I will run after you. For you are my little bunny.’” And sure enough, she did. It did not matter where the little bunny would go, the Mama was sure to follow. Finally the little bunny gives up: “’Shucks,’ said the bunny, ‘I might just as well stay where I am and be your little bunny.’ And so he did. ‘Have a carrot,’ said the mother bunny.”

How tender and funny our Lord is. When we run away to hide from God, God is always there. It is like trying to run away from the air that surrounds us, from the skin that envelopes us. It just cannot be done. And when all is said and done, and we finally give up our hiding, God invites us to share His goodness. He is tender and gentle like that Mama bunny, offering us the thing we are most hungry for anyway. There is no rebuke, simply open arms waiting to receive us back, wanting to throw a party to celebrate our return.

So what are you running from? What if you stopped running and stopped hiding and simply listened for the still, small voice of the Lord who loves you? What if your deepest longing was just moments away from being answered by His loving Presence, and your deepest hurt was just moments away from being healed?

What if He really is everything He says He is?

God loves you so much.

From someone on the journey too,

Blessings,

Sami

Live, Love, & Laugh Today

I believe that life is a gift, but I also know that in the midst of living it, it is easy to mistake it for a burden instead. In every season of our lives there are gifts, given for us by God who really wants to fill our hearts with His own joy and enthusiasm for the awesome miracle of life. Man, how easy it is to lose sight of that. It’s so easy to get busy. Already some of you are beginning to feel the pressure of quizzes, exams, papers, and projects. Already the long nights of studying have started. Already the juggling of work schedules and activities and classes have started. And this doesn’t even include your social life and love life. It becomes easy to say/believe something like: who has time for a social life, love life, church life, etc.? It’s nuts being a student these days.

But I also know a powerful principle is also at work at the same time: We are only given one life. When our days are gone, they’re gone. I could tell you all of the wonderful things that go along with this season of your lives. But it would be much more valuable to you if I didn’t. You alone can name what makes this time a special time in your life. You alone can choose to live it as special and cherished or rush through it trying to get to the next big thing out there. I want to encourage you to live today as if the living of it really mattered, as if the savoring of its little blessings and quirks really mattered. Because it does.

Live today. Love today. Laugh today. Don’t let it pass you by without being in it.

Choose to receive and enjoy the gift that God’s heart has wrapped so carefully just for you.

Jesus loves you so much today.

Blessings,

Sami

Weekly E-letter from United Methodist Campus Ministry

Dear Friends,

 

Tonight we are beginning our new study that looks at questions college students have about what it means to be Christian and whether it is a big deal.  Tonight’s study will look at the question “How do I know if I’m a Christian?”  There are a lot of folks out there that say if you are a Christian you have to be sure.  We’ll look at what being “sure” really means and if there is truly a “litmus test” for Christianity.  Come on down; the answers might surprise you.  For more information on all of our topics this semester, or for directions, please see our website at www.wkywesley.org .

 

 

Sunday is our Super Bowl Party!  Oh yeah!  Show up between 5 – 5:30pm.  We will have free food (homemade chili) and watch the game projected onto the big screen.  Woo Hoo!!!!!!!  Hopefully this year there will be no “wardrobe malfunctions.”

 

Now for Sami’s Ramblings About Jesus:

 

Over the break I picked up a book by David Chow called The Perfect Program and Other Fairy Tales.  Just like Seven-Up is “the un-cola” this book is the “un-ministry guide.”  It’s written on the premise that we all screw up, and it is one former youth worker’s confessions of his own screw-ups and what he learned from them.  I loved it!  He shares how it was his failures that made him better as a person in ministry with young people, not his successes.  Not that he was content to stay in messes, but that in cleaning them up he learned better and then did better.  This is good news.  And it is the heart of the gospel.  Jesus always is there with grace to offer us second chances.  (And third ones, and fourth ones, and . . . .) 

 

Some of you may have had a really cruddy Fall Semester.  Guess what?  There’s hope!  Start by taking an inventory of choices:  what were the good ones?  What were the really stinky ones?  I have been learning that if I am just really honest with Jesus (and with myself) about my poor choices, then ­He (notice the underlining) gives me the power (i.e. Holy Spirit) to help me change and make new, better, good-er (yes, I wrote it) choices.  Praise the Lord!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

This is still a relatively new semester.  You can still offer it up to Him, asking Him to help you evaluate the way you are living it, and then to offer guidance on a better, good-er way to live it.  You (with the Lord’s help) can turn not only your semester around, your college career around, but your whole life around.

 

The whole message that we, the Wesley Foundation, are here to share with students on campus is this:  God loves you; God has a purpose for your life; as you walk with God that purpose will be fulfilled.  If that is a message you NEED to know more about, check us out.  We are here for you.

 

Blessings,

 

Sami

Campus Minister/Director

WKU Wesley Foundation

sami@wkywesley.org

270-842-2880

How Can We Learn If We Never Blow It?

Over the break I picked up a book by David Chow called The Perfect Program and Other Fairy Tales. Just like Seven-Up is “the un-cola” this book is the “un-ministry guide.” It’s written on the premise that we all screw up, and it is one former youth worker’s confessions of his own screw-ups and what he learned from them. I loved it! He shares how it was his failures that made him better as a person in ministry with young people, not his successes. Not that he was content to stay in messes, but that in cleaning them up he learned better and then did better. This is good news. And it is the heart of the gospel. Jesus always is there with grace to offer us second chances. (And third ones, and fourth ones, and . . . .)

Some of you may have had a really cruddy Fall Semester. Guess what? There’s hope! Start by taking an inventory of choices: what were the good ones? What were the really stinky ones? I have been learning that if I am just really honest with Jesus (and with myself) about my poor choices, then ­He (notice the underlining) gives me the power (i.e. Holy Spirit) to help me change and make new, better, good-er (yes, I wrote it) choices. Praise the Lord!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

This is still a relatively new semester. You can still offer it up to Him, asking Him to help you evaluate the way you are living it, and then to offer guidance on a better, good-er way to live it. You (with the Lord’s help) can turn not only your semester around, your college career around, but your whole life around.

The whole message that we, the Wesley Foundation, are here to share with students on campus is this: God loves you; God has a purpose for your life; as you walk with God that purpose will be fulfilled. If that is a message you NEED to know more about, check us out. We are here for you.

Blessings,

Sami