Resonate - Bibletime

"Sometimes we can get caught up in the fancy world of PR and message "tweaking."  We seek to take our goals, principles, mission/vision, messages, etc. and we try to roll them all into a name and tagline.  Maybe we spend weeks shaping and refining just the right language to make our message appealing enough to cause change.  The recent presidential debates and just that.  Real messages and goals get morphed into popularly appealing ear candy with no real substance at all.

* * * * *

Today, for resonate, I want to take a step back and boil things down to the core.  Phillipians 2:3-4 gives a vision for what resonate is all about:

"Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others."

Resonate is about removing self and elevating others. In simple terms, Paul shows us a path to Christianity that removes pride, preconceived notions, and judging that is often associated with Christianity, and puts humility first.  Christ would have us lay aside our own inhibitions and struggles, even our weaknesses, and seek to give a hand to those around us.  Resonate, and all college or young adult ministry is, at its simplest, about being the hands and feet of Christ.

Resonate - Renew (pt. 3)

The third and last part of what we do at resonate is "renew."  I  talked about part 1 here and part 2 here if you missed it!  This last component is a challenge to all those in the family, whether new born christians, or part of the old guard, the constant renewal of the soul is important in how we live every day!

* * * * *

"Therefore if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come!" II Corinthians 5:17

This verse really encapsulates what the life of a Christian is all about.  At first glance it appears to many outside the family that God will make our life into a new one, where are pain and suffering disappear.  Some even take it to mean that we will have health, prosperity, and nothing but good times on the horizon.  We know, however, that this simply isn't the case.  God's renewal of our hearts is a never-ending process.  The old-fashioned, big, theological word for this process is called sanctification. This basically means that Christ and His Spirit remain in us to make us new every day.  It is a journey that will last until Christ comes again, and one that I will gladly accept in my life, even when it may not be a pain free ride.  

In our college ministry, we strive to see this renewal in our committed core of Christians.  We pray that we will see true discipleship happening, and that lives are changed for the Christian and for those in that Christian's circle of influence!  That's what resonate is all about!

Cider Party

We had a great time two weeks ago at resonate, making fresh apple cider from our apple trees!  Here are some pics of the process!  Thanks to Emily for taking the pics.

Jordan and I making the cider.  We had it down to a science!

Molly, one of our awesome ladies helping!

I love this shot of the cider collecting in the big steal pan.