The Pursit

For most of my blog posts, I find myself scavenging the internet, wandering through blogs of women in ministry, trying to find inspiration. I read incredible story after story, and can’t help but ask God why I don’t get to experience moments like them. I’ve become obsessed with stories; I lie in wait for a good one, waiting around for God to speak to me through the written account of other people’s experiences.


Nothing is different about this blog post. I developed an entire page of quotes and ideas, concepts, connections, and object lessons all provided by strangers who’s personal lives I follow secretly from the safety of my computer screen (hey, they put it out there!). As I prayed for God to allow me to make something original, I was reminded of a quote from my favorite movie… I’m not sure what my audience demographic out here is, but hopefully most of you are familiar with the 90’s classic Never Been Kissed. Nearing the climax of this typical yet timeless chick flick, Drew Barrymore’s character, Josie Grosie Josie Geller says, “Somebody once said, to write well, you have to write what you know. Well, this is what I know…”

So what do I know? After spending two years at the most exciting and largest evangelical Christian university in the world, you would think I’d be able to make some strong self-evaluation or a cohesive statement of lessons learned. At this point, my OSL blog posts have revealed enough about my tendency to get lost in introspection, but I still have a hard time pulling out concrete conclusions.

Even though I’m a communications major, I often find myself struggling to communicate things clearly. This week, I went to lunch with the leader of my upcoming mission’s trip and two other girls from the team. My leader asked me, “What’s something about your life that’s different now than from before you knew Christ?” This isn’t a complicated question; it’s not even that hard, but I think I failed at properly answering. There are plenty of answers that would suffice, and I chose to talk about the difference in my friendships. When I was in high school, I constantly craved deeper relationships, but the more I pursued them in the wrong context, the less connected I felt. At Liberty, things are different. I am constantly blown away by the friendships I’ve developed, and I know that is because they are rooted in Christ. However, my answer came out in a way that worried our leader. He told me to be careful not to be so focused on the people, relationships, environment, and culture. Yes, it’s awesome to have Christian friends at Liberty, but what happens when I’m back in my home environment? Will I adapt to those changes by doing whatever it takes to find a connection?

I didn’t know how to take his observation. I was embarrassed. I immediately got defensive and explained that of course my friendships went deeper because of the outflow of my relationship with the Lord, and it’s been a journey to arrive here. My freshman year involved a limited number of friends as I started seeking after the Lord more on my own, and learned what I needed in my friendships. My leader responded with saying he didn’t doubt my heart (or my salvation), but just wanted to point out what could possibly be a hindrance.

I’ve been replaying that conversation a lot, realizing that what upset me most was that my answer was ambiguous. I look up to this him as a man strong in the Lord, and believe him able to see things with discerning spiritual eyes. I was disappointed with myself, that my response left him questioning Christ’s involvement. My pride was stirred and demanded, “Doesn’t he know that I’m spiritual? I mean, I’m an SLD for goodness sake! Doesn’t that say enough?”

The answer is no. Positions and titles don’t change anything. Being a Liberty student doesn’t mean anything. Tweeting scripture and hanging verses in my dorm room doesn’t make a difference.

His comment doesn’t make me doubt what the Lord has done in my life, because I know the change and sanctification that has taken place. I know that the difference goes beyond my friendships or environment… but this was a reminder to make sure that I’m living out that change as an overflow of the work in my heart. I love taking inventory of all the blessings that come from life in Christ, especially the ones that come in human forms. However, I never want to lose sight of the main thing. I don’t want to let the blessings distract me from the blesser. My relationship with the Lord isn’t defined in the body of Christ, but in Christ himself. My leader encouraged me to spend some quality, one-on-one fellowship time with God, without the distractions of other people. That time ended up being so sweet and humbling.

So often, I seek inspiration in the people around me, but God’s been reminding me that inspiration comes from Him alone. In closing, let’s address the elephant in the room, which is finals and summer fast approaching. I’m being challenged to keep Christ the center of my thoughts, keeping my eyes fixed on Him regardless of my environment. It’s something we can all remember, especially as our surroundings change for a season. I encourage you to reflect on the change the Lord has done in your life, and let that inspire you to keep your eyes fixed on Christ. Our situations change and our time is short, but He is outside of time and space, and remains the same.

-Lexie Dache

Your Next Roommate Won't Be Rebecca Black--by Mike Wynn

 The world has changed since I last posted on this blog, and we have all been affected. Through the wonders of Youtube, the amazing Rebecca Black has graced us with the song of our generation, Friday. Seeing as this blog is posted on a Friday, I can only hope that my words can briefly override the repetition of this lyrical masterpiece taking place within your head right now. But why fight against it, when I can work with it?! Thus, through the assistance of Miss Black's song, I want to help you find your roommate for next year.

Gotta have my bowl; gotta have cereal

Do you like to share? Of course not! Who does? As you look for that next roommate, you've got to be on the lookout for the mooch. The mooch is that person who is either always begging to use your stuff or, even worse, using it without asking. If his bowl is dirty, he is gonna take yours. If his is cereal is gone, you better kiss those Lucky Charms goodbye. If his undergarments need washed . . . I hope you get the picture.

Gotta make my mind up. Which seat can I take?

Room setup can make or break a school year. You need a roommate who gets this. For example, the average student thinks it is best to put the desks against the wall. FALSE! It is best to put desks back-to-back, so that when you feel lonely, all you have to do is look up. That's minimal neck strain for maximum human interaction . . . BAM!

Partyin', partyin' (YEAH!)

This is the best part of the song. It's because the interaction between the soloist and the choir demonstrate the truest bonds of friendship. Will your roommate have your back? You better know the answer to this question if a cougar attacks.

Fun, fun, fun, fun

Nobody ever says, "I want to room with Eleanor Roosevelt," because he would be the most boring roommate ever. When you look up from back-to-back desks and your eyes meet, you will either see soulless desperation or the fire of life. I hope you choose a roommate who has the fire. If you choose the right roommate, then one day you could feel just as cool as that random guy who raps in the music video.

By Mike Wynn

Mike Wynn is a Resident Director for the Office of Student Leadership. He is also the star of The Mr Wynn Show. If you would like to contact Mike about this post, you can do so through his blog: http://themrwynnshow.blogspot.com.

The Pursuit, Part VIII by Andrew Butler

At the end of March my friend approached me. He asked me if I was interested in reading 1 Peter every day for the month of April – this piqued my interest. I committed. At this point I’m almost a week in – and I’m loving it. Meditation is taking on a whole new meaning. I’m learning to live and breathe the Word of God. I don’t think I’ll ever look at 1 Peter the same after this month. I’ve chosen a few of my favorite verses to include here – this month, I encourage you dive deep into Scripture. You won’t regret it.

“Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! According to his great mercy, he has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for you, who by God's power are being guarded through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.” (1:3-5)

“Having purified your souls by your obedience to the truth for a sincere brotherly love, love one another earnestly from a pure heart, since you have been born again, not of perishable seed but of imperishable, through the living and abiding word of God…” (1:22-23)

“But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light.” (2:9)

“Live as people who are free, not using your freedom as a cover-up for evil, but living as servants of God.” (2:16)

“…shepherd the flock of God that is among you, exercising oversight, not under compulsion, but willingly, as God would have you; not for shameful gain, but eagerly; not domineering over those in your charge, but being examples to the flock. And when the chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the unfading crown of glory.” (5:2-4)

“Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God so that at the proper time he may exalt you, casting all your anxieties on him, because he cares for you. Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour. Resist him, firm in your faith, knowing that the same kinds of suffering are being experienced by your brotherhood throughout the world. And after you have suffered a little while, the God of all grace, who has called you to his eternal glory in Christ, will himself restore, confirm, strengthen, and establish you. To him be the dominion forever and ever. Amen.” (5:6-11)

The Pursuit, Part VII by Leslie Wood

Hello again blog friends!

I can’t believe another month has come and gone?!? It won’t be long before we’re all packing up our dorm rooms and saying goodbye to our beloved friends to head home for 3 months of summer! I’m sure you are all looking forward to that! Only 21 days of class before finals. Can you believe that?!?!?

As I was thinking about this post and what I wanted to say I kept thinking about how this blog is supposed to show you how RAs and SLDs are normal students. The more I tried to come up with something creative for this post, the more my mind went blank. The truth is, just like every student on this campus, I feel like all my professors put papers and tests in the same week. I think they do it for fun, so they can stand back and laugh at us running around frantically scrambling to finish their assignments.

It’s weeks like this that I think we all wish the semester was over or that it was at least warm outside. This cold dreary weather makes everyone stir crazy!

Though I know we are all looking forward to this semester being over, next year has already begun! I’m sure if you’ve been to Jazzman’s anytime in the last month, you’ve noticed various interviews taking place. For the past 6 weeks OSL has been putting together their team of RAs, SLDs, and PLs for next year. It’s been fun to meet with a lot of amazing students and hear about the hearts they have for the students on this campus.

This past Tuesday night OSL hosted their annual Leadership Fair. All the RA’s and SLD’s for next year set up tables advertising their hall and all approved Prayer Leaders come and set up interviews. It was a lot of fun to see how everyone set up their table and what kind of free food was being offered. Everything from pancakes, to cookies, to cupcakes, and brownies, potential Prayer Leaders left with full stomachs and a few interviews set up as well. For those of you who missed it, trust me when I say that we have an incredible group of student leaders in place for next year. I’m excited about all that God will do next year through the halls on this campus.

As we look ahead to next year, we are still in this year. There is still much to be done this semester, so as I look ahead in excitement, I have to stay focused on this year.  I encourage you to do the same. As excited as some of you are about summer break coming, stay focused on this year and finish strong!!

Have such a good week blog readers!

PTS(b)D: Post Traumatic Spring Break Disorder by Lexie Dache

It was the best of times; it was the worst of times.

It was time to rejoin the ranks of Liberty University post spring break.

For some students, returning to school is a relief, an upgrade from spring break’s required 6 am wake-up calls for education practicums, or others who couldn’t escape the cheek pinching from extended relatives and nosy…. I mean sweet, elderly church women.

For other students, unpacking their freshly laundered clothes and climbing into their extra long twin dorm bed is accompanied with an unsettled heart.

Greeting the return of girls on my dorm is one of my absolute favorite things. I don’t need to keep my door open, because the shrieks of girls reuniting can be heard from across campus. But this past week, I noticed the large number of students who met my excited squeal with a faint smile.

It would be silly to expect everyone to be excited on their return to school, because honestly, who really gets excited about returning to papers, lectures, and labs? But as I caught up with different girls, I was reminded just how diverse Liberty really is, and how deep the struggles of my peers run.

I saw firsthand the look of grief on a girl’s face, after she got to spend the week with her boyfriend. Their time together was followed by a face-to-face goodbye which will endure for a very long 7 to 8 months. Another friend shared of family struggles, frustrated about arguments that never seem to die over time, each visit home only seems to rip the band-aid off now-ancient wounds. Other stories included funerals, hospital visits, bad news about old friends, or another week of unfruitful job applications.

We come back from spring break, expecting to be revived and refreshed, our strength restored, ready to take on the 2^nd half of the 2^nd semester. It’s the home stretch, after all, and a strong sprint should be enough to finish us out. However, for some, it takes all the strength just to show up. While that might be the most exhausting thing, it can also be the most refreshing—if one is willing to be honest about their condition.

I’ve found that at Liberty, brokenness is not considered a dysfunction or disease.

But that doesn’t make opening up about pain easy.

Luckily, at Liberty I’ve also found that empathy is contagious…. but it has to start somewhere.

If you’re reading this, I want to encourage you to look around, search for those who returned from spring break without the same glow that existed before. If you see a friend struggling in this final lap of the academic year, reach out. Remind them of the Biblical truths that we can stand on, secure in all power, while simultaneously falling down and acknowledging our desperate and utter weakness.

For those who are weary, I would encourage you to reach out as well. It’s okay to be honest, and to answer your roommate’s “How was your spring break?” with more openness. Although we spent spring break separately, we still have these 8 weeks together. Don’t miss out on an opportunity to either stretch your spiritual muscles by supporting a friend, but also don’t fool yourself into thinking you were meant to carry this weight alone.

“Carry each other’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ… Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, especially to those who belong to the family of believers.”

Galatians 6:2,10

Spring Break by Mike Wynn

It feels oh so good to be back on the Liberty University Office of Student Leadership blog. It is also exciting to know that this is going to be posted on the Friday before Spring Break. Because where does every college student want to go before leaving for Spring Break? THIS BLOG!!!

Ahhhh . . . Spring Break. It just sounds refreshing. It's kind of like the appetizer to Summer. But I think I like Spring Break most because it is the break during which our nation celebrates the beloved poetic tradition of the limerick. I grew up in a home that cherished our family limericks. With that familiar AABBA pattern, so versatile and rich, if you weren't raised to love limericks, you probably had bad parents. 

About seven years ago, when I was a Resident Assistant, RA for short, at Liberty, I wrote a special Spring Break limerick for my students. I would like to share that with you now.

There once was a kid on Spring Break

Who took a nice trip to the lake

He said, "The RA's not here,

So throw me a beer."

AND HE DIED!

I hope you enjoyed it. Have a safe and wonderful Spring Break.

By Mike Wynn

Mike Wynn is a Resident Director for the Office of Student Leadership. He is also the star of The Mr Wynn Show. If you would like to contact Mike about this post, you can do so through his blog: http://themrwynnshow.blogspot.com.