Digging in...

The Tennessee campus is once again abuzz with students and spring semester is underway! For the seniors, this is the beginning of the end (and I certainly remember that feeling only a year ago). Post-grad plans are starting to be finalized, all amidst the desire to make the most of the final semester. For the freshmen, it's sort of a second beginning. The first semester was a whirlwind of academic and relational confusion, but now they are returning to campus a little wiser and many with a solidifying group of friends. For many in between, it's just one more semester. The excitement of freshman year is well past, exhaustion has set in, and graduation seems all to far away.

For the 1st-year RUF intern (yours truly), it's a semester for digging in. There are still and always will be new people to meet, but most of the introductions are over. The time has come to build on those relationships that were started in the fall. The campus is no longer an overwhelming, intimidating labyrinth, but it's feeling a little more comfortable, manageable, a full of places to connect with students in the rhythm of their daily lives. Volunteer Orange is no longer a strange and obnoxious color...well, we won't go that far. Maybe next semester...

(I kid. I own plenty of orange paraphernalia. Including a visor [see top-left picture])

I might also add that it's already been a semester of digging out...there has been an unseasonable abundance of snow in the South this year, and East Tennessee has been no exception. Okay, digging out might be an exaggeration. We had 4 inches one day...keep in mind, I'm from Florida, where we turn our sprinklers on when it gets below freezing so we can lick icicles and gleefully

crunch the frozen grass.

I would also like to thank you all for your very generous support at year's end. Pending the final official report for December (which should be this week), my calculations place me at 100% of my budget for the 2010-11 school year. Both your gifts and your prayers have been such a blessing in this regard. God has indeed provided.

So what's going on this semester with RUF @ Tennessee? I'm glad you asked...

LARGE GROUP: This semester's sermon series is on the

Ten Commandments, not to be confused with the Charlton Heston film. There is so much confusion in the Church today regarding the Law and it's relationship to grace. Is the Old Testament still relevant? Should we study it? Are we still bound by it's rules? If so...which ones? Too often, in an effort to avoid lmoralism and works-righteousness, we throw out the Law, completely forgetting our call to pursue holiness. Christians today tend to fall either in the legalism or license camp. It's either all about the Law, or it's all about Grace. Both are present in Scripture...how do we reconcile them? That's what our campus minister, Brent Harriman, will be covering in his Large Group sermon series, using the Ten Commandments as a basis and framework for exploring the Law's relevance and applicability to us today. It's such an important, foundational, and transformational concept to the Christian life. Pray that God will be at work in the hearts of students as they hear these messages. Pray also that these important lessons will not just be confined to our Large Group, but that we, as a staff, as well as the students will be able to live these truths out in such a way that it resonates across the whole campus.

SMALL GROUPS: This semester, I will once again be co-leading the Freshman Guys' Bible Study with Brent, our campus minister. We'll be continuing to go through the Sermon on the Mount. I have been very encouraged to see how dedicated the guys have been to attending and participating, and also their commitment to each other. It's been wonderful to see friendships grow and develop amongst them that are sure to last them the next 3 and a half years and even longer. Pray that God will continue to speak into the lives of these guys through the radical teachings of Christ from his Sermon on the Mount, and that He will be present as they develop community and build strong friendships. Pray for new guys that will be joining the study, that they will feel included, accepted, and loved.

ONE-ON-ONES: The bulk of my job will continue to be meeting with students, predominantly freshmen guys, one on one. I'm excited to have the opportunity to continue building these relationships, and Lord willing, there will a number of opportunities for more formal discipleship. Pray for my interactions with these guys, that I will point them to their Redeemer and not to myself.

EVENTS, ACTIVITIES, AND CONFERENCES: In addition to our Large Group, Small Groups, and 1-on-1's, we got plenty of other stuff going on this semester as well!

• Food Court Mondays: We interns will be hanging out in the University Center Food Court on Mondays from 11:30 to 12:30 to eat lunch with students. This should be a great opportunity for fellowship amongst the group, as well as a way for us to meet new students and build new friendships.
• RUF Winter Conference: February 18-20, we'll be joining all the other RUF groups from AL, TN, and KY at Fall Creek Falls State Park and Conference Center for our annual Winter Conference. UT usually brings a big group, and it's a great time for students to get to know each other better and for freshmen and other new students to get plugged in to the larger group. There's plenty of hiking, worship led by Belmont campus minister Kevin Twit (of Indelible Grace), seminars led by other campus ministers, and a speaker, Marshall Brown (former Alabama campus minister and current associate pastor of a church in Los Angeles). I went to this conference all four years with Samford, and I'm excited to be returning as an intern with UT!
• Spring Break Mission Trip: March 14-18 we'll be going to Chicago with Sunshine Gospel Ministries to participate in their Bridge Builders week. In addition to participating in service opportunities around the city, we will get to witness many different ministries in action around Chicago and learn from the Sunshine staff. The goal is to learn, through instruction and practice, a biblical view and perspective on the poor. I've heard great things about this trip, and many other RUF groups have participated (there will be 3 others there with us the same week). I'd ask special prayer for this trip, as I will likely be the only UT RUF staff member going!
• RUF Summer Conference: May 16-21 we'll be joining other RUF groups from all over the country for RUF Summer Conference at Laguna Beach Retreat Center in my home sweet home of Panama City Beach. Plenty of seminars taught by other campus ministers, worship, a speaker, and plenty of beach time. It's a wonderful week of fellowship, learning, and worship...the biggest event we as RUF participate in. It's always an awesome experience.

Please pray for these activities, events, and conferences, that God will use them to strengthen the friendships already in place amongst students, that new ones will be formed, that new or fringe students will be able to plug in to the larger group and find community, and that God will be at work in the hearts of all the students through the worship, teaching, and service opportunities.

Thank you again for all of your encouragement, prayers, and support! I'm really looking forward to this upcoming semester, and never fear...I will keep you informed!

Resting in His Promises,

Stephen

Old Friends, New Year...

(photo credit to shannon d.)

Okay, so "old friends" might be stretching it. It's been less than a year since I was seeing these people everyday.

A group of us Samford-ites gathered together for New Years' at our friend Erin's new home in Nashville. It was so good to see everyone and catch up. After being together in Birmingham for four years, we're now spread out over 8 states (Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Mississippi, Tennessee, North Carolina, Kentucky, and Texas).

Amongst us we have RUF interns, nurses, grad students, teachers, church communications/graphics person, etc., and so there was plenty to catch up on after a semester apart. It's so encouraging to hear how God is at work in each of our lives as we head in different directions, and yet we're still able to come back together and enjoy fellowship as if it had only been a week rather than months since we'd seen each other.

As another semester of the RUF internship quickly approaches, it was wonderful refreshment to see God's faithfulness to our friends and be encouraged by them as well.

I also had the opportunity to meet up for one evening with a group of RUF interns in Birmingham the night before N.Y.E. Again, it's always encouraging (and FUN) spending time with other interns. Like co-workers swapping industry jargon at the water-cooler, put a few lonely RUF interns together and it's magic. It's times like that when you realize that God really did create us for community.

As I have now returned to Knoxville and anticipate the return of the students on January 12th, I'm very thankful for the time spent with "old" college friends and fellow RUF interns. It was just what the Doctor ordered.

Thank you all for your continued prayers and support!

Hope in the Darkness...

Even amidst the unabashed commercialism of my apartment's yuletide decorations, I've been reflecting on the true picture that the Christmas story paints. It's true that the story is not one grand, joyous tale, but neither is it purely tragic. The picture we see is one of hope in the middle of despair, a light in the darkness. That darkness is reason to weep and mourn, but how much more should we then rejoice at the blessed, glorious Hope that was born to us in the middle of such wretched circumstances. That Hope is still ours today as we continue walking through this world's brokenness. We must not focus on the darkness, but without the darkness, the Light loses its context. A candle seems a lot brighter at midnight than at noon. Our Hope is the incarnated Christ, celebrated by lowly shepherds, wise kings, and a celestial host of angels.

This is what makes the story of Christmas universal...not merely bound to the month of December. This characterizes our Christian walk. Yes, we are living in a dark and broken world. We see this on a broad scale with wars and natural disasters. We see it on a more personal scale in our relationships and in our own hearts. But the Hope of Christ shines amidst it all, and that light reaches even the darkest corners of our hearts and relationships with others.

As I reflect back on my first semester as an intern with RUF at the University of Tennessee, I see this theme running strong. I cannot deny the brokenness I see all around me. I see it in this city. I see it on this campus. I see it in the lives of students, and most of all, I see it in my own heart. Perhaps one of the biggest lessons I've learned so far is that I'm far more dependent on God for far more than I ever imagined. Yet just as the glory of God broke into a world in need that cold night in Bethlehem, I am greatly encouraged by the work I see God doing in this city, on this campus, in the lives of students, and in my own life.

It's been a difficult semester, but I'm told that it's to be expected. "First one's always the hardest" seems to be an RUF intern mantra. Relationships are hard work, and that's the vast majority of my job. God has used these relationships to expose areas of weakness in me that I had never seen before, but throughout the Bible we see God using weak vessels to accomplish His wonderful plan. I am so encouraged to watch these relationships with students begin to take root and grow, quite often when and where I least expect it.

I'll be beginning next semester with a much firmer foundation here in Knoxville and a little more experience under the belt. It should also be a more focused semester, and I look forward to the opportunity to meet more regularly (even weekly) with some students. There will be more opportunities for formal discipleship in addition to informal get-togethers and activities. This both excites and terrifies me all at once, and I ask for your prayers for God's wisdom, courage, and strength as I seek to directly reflect His gospel in these students' lives.

I'll continue to assist Brent with the Freshmen Guys Bible Study, and I'll also have the chance to help organize our Spring Break Mission Trip (still in the works) and our trip to Winter Conference in February where we'll meet and worship with other RUF's from Tennessee, Alabama, and Kentucky. Please be in prayer for these opportunities, as well as other activities that I hope to organize, like a campout (finally), a weekly basketball group, etc.

I have learned so much already this semester, and I am very grateful for where I am. I'm falling in love with the University of Tennessee, which I honestly never expected. I love Knoxville, I'm getting used to the orange, and most of all, I love the students and the other RUF staff. I've been blessed with a great apartment, a very supportive roommate/friend, and a wonderful church family at Redeemer.

I've also been blessed with such an encouraging and loving support base. Many of you have been faithfully supporting through prayer, and some financially too. I cannot begin to express my gratitude for your support. Your encouraging notes, letters, and emails are so uplifting, and your prayers and gifts make it possible for me to remain here in Knoxville working with the students at UT.

Please continue praying for me as I return next semester and seek to build deeper relationships with many of the freshmen guys. As I mentioned before, please pray for wisdom, and also pray especially that God will give me boldness. I am not truly loving these guys if I am not sometimes bold, and that is an area I struggle with.

Also, as 2010 comes to a close, I ask that you please consider me in your year-end giving. I am still working to meet my budget for my first year, and gifts or pledges of any size are greatly appreciated. I still need an additional $1,670 to meet my budget, and this really needs to be raised by January. You can give securely online at https://www.ruf.org/donate/ (just be sure to select my name in the drop-down menu). As you prayerfully make these decisions, please consider:

$1,670 could mean 1 person giving $500, 2 people giving $250, 3 people giving $100, 5 people giving $50, and 6 people giving $20.

RUF is fully funded by donors like you, with gifts both large and small. I am humbled by the gifts that so many of you have already given, and I continue to trust in God's marvelous provision. Because of this, I continue to ask first and foremost for your prayers, whether or not you are able to give at this time.

I pray that you all have a blessed Christmas, and I hope to see many of you soon! Remember that the story of Christmas is one of Light shining in darkness. Whether on a global scale or in our hearts and relationships, this is the power of the gospel for a hurting world.

Resting in His Promises,

Stephen

Tender Tennessee Christmas...

Mmm. Nothing's better than some Amy Grant Christmas music...

There may indeed be "more snow up in Col-o-ra-do than our roof will ever see," but this Tennessee Christmas has been going pretty well so far. As I mentioned in the last post, our apartment is all bedecked for the season...perhaps a little overbedecked. And as promised...there are pictures.

Roommate Jeff and I with our Christmas tree that we found approximately 15 feet from the car...after searching most of the farm.

The tree is strapped down to the car...it was big.

The tinsel-garland was the perfect touch.

Santa and the Holy Family never looked so right together...and so tasteful.

He seems to be hiding behind the bird house...

A real, authentic nutcracker...made in China. The warning label says it will poison food. :-/

Another "authentic" nutcracker, an unnaturally tinted reindeer, and open flame.

The other side of that candle features an angel...and a mushroom.

The Holy Family and Cookie Monster...inexplicably next to each other.

The nativity set, which is unfortunately missing shepherds. They have been replaced by more open flame.

I've never understood stockings. Who would wear those? Who could?

In the dining room, you'll find our Frosty motif...

The living room...what's that? a Christmas village?

Why yes...yes it is.

I wish all real-life villages had random oom-pah-pah bands...

Of course...the countdown to Christmas board.

And the grand finale...The Santa Clause Door Cover. We would have put this on the outside of the door, but we didn't want to make the postwoman feel like she giving Santa a TSA pat-down every time she delivered our mail...