Soon after arriving back to Columbus after a wonderful holiday with family and friends, the excitement of the National Championship was upon the city. Let's be real though, If there's one thing I've learned serving the students at Ohio State it's that there is a LOT of pride in this school and especially in their football team. There are, in fact certain basics that one needs to know in order to have conversation. When having trouble getting a conversation going just bring up "that 3rd string quarterback" and the conversation sky-rockets. I'm not going to lie- I've used this tactic with some of the men. We kicked off the semester with a bang by hosting a watch-party at one of our men's houses, Antioch. One of the guys counted 115 people. That's a lot. It never ceases to amaze me how excited and pumped up people get for sports. We sing. We clap. We cheer. We let out a whoop! We jump from our seat and trow our hands up in the air. There is a hum of noise all throughout the room as people talk about the game. You get the picture. When I first encountered Saint Paul's Outreach, I was invited to an Opening of the Lord's Day. This is a wonderful tradition and one of my favorite things to do. Deffinitely something I would like to continue doing my whole life. A Lord's Day Celebration is a celebration setting aside our day of rest, Sunday, through prayers and time spend with loved ones. Typically this happens on Saturday night. At my first Lord's Day Celebration, we had a meal and some good time spent together, and before we ate we prayed. And then we sang some songs. We worshiped. There was singing, clapping, there was maybe a whoop or two (I don't remember) and there was definitely a hum about the room as people talked about and thanked the God of the Universe, our creator and Lord who loves us. I don't know about you, but I think that if a game with no eternal significance in our life is worth words and actions of praise, so is our Lord and Savior. 115 Students watching a National Championship game is a lot of students, and the atmosphere is certainly one of great excitement as they cheer on their team. But let me tell you... 144 students coming together to praise the God of the Universe, to cheer Him on in the battle for his kingdom and not just cheer on, but join in.... Unlike some sports teams, our God does not disappoint. We join a team that we know has the victory. Do you not know that the runners in the stadium all run in the race, but only one wins the prize? Run so as to win. Every athlete exercises discipline in every way. They do it to win a perishable crown, but we an imperishable one. Thus I do not run aimlessly; I do not fight as if I were shadowboxing. No, I drive my body and train it, for fear that, after having preached to others, I myself should be disqualified. - 1Corinthians. 9: 24-27 This weekend 144 students rejected Satan and his ways and invited Christ into their lives as their Lord and savior asking Him to unleash His graces and gifts in their lives. I'd say that's a victory. If you abide in me, and my words abide in you, ask whatever you will and it shall be done for you. By this is my Father glorified, that you bear much fruit, and so prove to be my disciples. As the Father has loved me, so I love you; abide in my love. This weekend, we asked.
Change the campus. Change the world.
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This Blog...I'm Emily: a mission leader with Saint Paul's Outreach. This is blog is here to keep you up to date with what is happening in the mission field at Ohio State! Archives
October 2016
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