So, looks like I need to restart my blog, and to do that I need to reset and go to where I am.
I am still at Baker University, and I recently found out that I will be graduating early. Yup, in December of 2012 I'll (hopefully) be walking across the stage with my Bachelors of Science degree in communication. This is all very exciting. I do not know what I am going to do immediately after that.
I have been discerning about it, and I'm leaning towards sticking around the area before heading off to Washington DC in the Fall of 2013 for seminary. Teresa and I are looking to check out Wesley in DC at some point soon, as well as talk with some of my Zeta Chi brothers of taking a road trip to Chicago where I'll check out my 2nd choice (Garrett). Of course I'll also visit St. Paul's (KC) at some point, just to see if it sparks my interest.
I think I've nailed down what direction I want my life to go and where I am being called to. I am very solid in my call to go into ordained ministry, and I want to focus on church revitalization and conflict resolution in churches. I really enjoy both of these topics, and I feel that is where my focus will be.
Speaking of churchy things, I am not a jurisdictional delegate for the Kansas East Conference of the United Methodist Church!!! What does that mean? It means in April, myself and 11 others from the eastern third of Kansas will go to General Conference in Tampa, FL. General Conference is the only body that can officially speak for the UMC. I will be a reserve delegate, at that conference, and a regular delegate for the jurisdictional conference in Oklahoma City in July, where we will elect bishops, among other things. This means I will try and blog about issues coming up at that conference as well.
Other things in my life? I am still with my girlfriend Teresa. We are almost at the year mark, which is REALLY exciting for us. I work at Arrowhead Hardware in Baldwin City, KS as a part-time "do whatever they tell me" guy. I have been president of the Zeta Chi fraternity this past semester and I was just elected to serve another semester in that capacity.
I have also been a leader in a "Freshman Salon Class" this past semester. I will do the same thing this coming semester. The class I will be co-teaching with Baker Campus Minister Ira DeSpain is on "Seeing Gray in a World of Black and White" by Adam Hamilton. I will also try to blog on things I see from that book as well. I will also be taking a class on "Communication in the United Methodist Church" another class I may blog about.
Is that it? Ummmm....I cleaned my room yesterday....it looks nice. I think that is about it. I'm going to blog more often, promise!
Wednesday, November 23, 2011
Saturday, March 12, 2011
Search Me
Wow its been a while...
So I just got shot.
No, not physically shot.
A spirtual shot.
A wake-up call if you will.
Latley I have been really struggaling with my call. Going into ministry is the only thing I've seen myself doing. But I have started to get anxious about my future. Is the church really going in the right direction? Will I make enough money to support my family? Am I going ot fit into a ministry setting? If I am a methodist elder, how will moving around effect my (hopefully eventual) family? This had started getting to a point where I decided that I was no longer going to go into ministry. I didn't tell anyone this, but it is what I felt.
However, God started talking.
It started with my girlfriend, who, at times, has a much better perspective on life than I, saying, when I told her that I was thinking this, said, "I don't want you to give up your dreams for material gain." At this point it had gotten so bad that I almost just shook it off. However, deep in my heart, I felt smethign screaming saying "YOU IDIOT!!!! SHE IS RIGHT!!! WHAT ARE YOU DOING?!?!?!" That voice was too distant to listen to though.
The next occurance happened when I talked to a VERY wise professor, who happens to have a lot of expereince on this issue, and who also just happened to be my advisor. I told her what I was thinking, and she acted kinda shocked. She walked me through what it would take to get into Human Resources (the new career path I was looking at). She also listened to me talk about my issues with becoming a pastor, and said she saw my opinions and my reasonings on all my points. She told me one thing though that caught my off guard. "Bryce, you shouldn't dismiss the idea of being in ministry, because you have such a heart and personality for it, you could think about ministry in other ways besides being a pastor." That same voice came back, this time saying "Alright, now she's saying it, she validated how you are feeling, but are you really going to give up on this?"
Then, I went into the Career Development Center to talk about how to get a HR internship. The person I was talkin gto had all sorts of contacts and possiblities for me. It was quite amazing to see the possiblities. However, my heart was burning, and all I could think was "this isn't right...this isn't right...this isn't right..." it just did not feel right. The only time it gelt even close to right was when she suggested doing an HR internship in a church. Voice: "Are you ready to accept this yet?"
Finally, just 30 minutes ago, I was sitting at my house in Burlington, and for some reason, a memory, that has seemed to become more and more distant as the days have gone past, I went back to Youthfront. I remembered the worship services, I thought of the people, staff and campers. Then I remembered the connection I had with the Lord. I had to listen to the music again. So I listend to "Search Me" by Mike Crawford and His Secret Siblings.
That is when it happened.
I was shot.
With a shot of realization.
"Search me and know my heart, Oh God, test me and know my anxious thoughts"
Everythign came back. God knows my heart. He knows who I am. And for the majority of my recent life, I have felt called to a mission. That is where my heart is. My heart is to go into ministry. Material gains or not, it is what I am called to do.
What does this mean for me?
Well...I really need to find a summer ministry job. I've applied at one place so far, but I really need to find other possibilties too. I want to learn, I want to be shapened, because ministry is what I want to do. It is the life I am called to. I do not know excatley what kind of ministry that is. It might be pastor, it might be something else, but it is my call, and now I need to start figuring it out.
So I just got shot.
No, not physically shot.
A spirtual shot.
A wake-up call if you will.
Latley I have been really struggaling with my call. Going into ministry is the only thing I've seen myself doing. But I have started to get anxious about my future. Is the church really going in the right direction? Will I make enough money to support my family? Am I going ot fit into a ministry setting? If I am a methodist elder, how will moving around effect my (hopefully eventual) family? This had started getting to a point where I decided that I was no longer going to go into ministry. I didn't tell anyone this, but it is what I felt.
However, God started talking.
It started with my girlfriend, who, at times, has a much better perspective on life than I, saying, when I told her that I was thinking this, said, "I don't want you to give up your dreams for material gain." At this point it had gotten so bad that I almost just shook it off. However, deep in my heart, I felt smethign screaming saying "YOU IDIOT!!!! SHE IS RIGHT!!! WHAT ARE YOU DOING?!?!?!" That voice was too distant to listen to though.
The next occurance happened when I talked to a VERY wise professor, who happens to have a lot of expereince on this issue, and who also just happened to be my advisor. I told her what I was thinking, and she acted kinda shocked. She walked me through what it would take to get into Human Resources (the new career path I was looking at). She also listened to me talk about my issues with becoming a pastor, and said she saw my opinions and my reasonings on all my points. She told me one thing though that caught my off guard. "Bryce, you shouldn't dismiss the idea of being in ministry, because you have such a heart and personality for it, you could think about ministry in other ways besides being a pastor." That same voice came back, this time saying "Alright, now she's saying it, she validated how you are feeling, but are you really going to give up on this?"
Then, I went into the Career Development Center to talk about how to get a HR internship. The person I was talkin gto had all sorts of contacts and possiblities for me. It was quite amazing to see the possiblities. However, my heart was burning, and all I could think was "this isn't right...this isn't right...this isn't right..." it just did not feel right. The only time it gelt even close to right was when she suggested doing an HR internship in a church. Voice: "Are you ready to accept this yet?"
Finally, just 30 minutes ago, I was sitting at my house in Burlington, and for some reason, a memory, that has seemed to become more and more distant as the days have gone past, I went back to Youthfront. I remembered the worship services, I thought of the people, staff and campers. Then I remembered the connection I had with the Lord. I had to listen to the music again. So I listend to "Search Me" by Mike Crawford and His Secret Siblings.
That is when it happened.
I was shot.
With a shot of realization.
"Search me and know my heart, Oh God, test me and know my anxious thoughts"
Everythign came back. God knows my heart. He knows who I am. And for the majority of my recent life, I have felt called to a mission. That is where my heart is. My heart is to go into ministry. Material gains or not, it is what I am called to do.
What does this mean for me?
Well...I really need to find a summer ministry job. I've applied at one place so far, but I really need to find other possibilties too. I want to learn, I want to be shapened, because ministry is what I want to do. It is the life I am called to. I do not know excatley what kind of ministry that is. It might be pastor, it might be something else, but it is my call, and now I need to start figuring it out.
Monday, September 27, 2010
Perspectives
You know...there is a lot of pictures that mean a lot to me. However, there is one picture that, every time I look at it, it makes a lump in my throat and my eyes a little misty. The funny thing is, a lot of you may have seen it. Here is the picture:
Story behind this picture: The Youthfront South summer staff were at a Royal's game. The two in the bottom of the picture were getting their picture taken by the girl in front of them. My friend and I decided to be deviants and get in their picture. The two up front were clueless, and we both thought this was a hilarious joke.
Story behind this picture: The Youthfront South summer staff were at a Royal's game. The two in the bottom of the picture were getting their picture taken by the girl in front of them. My friend and I decided to be deviants and get in their picture. The two up front were clueless, and we both thought this was a hilarious joke.
Honestly, thats all the story to it. In fact, it doesn't seem like that picture should have an special significance at all. But the funny thing is, whenever I see this picture, I am reminded of the amazing summer I had. How I made friends and all we wanted to do was serve our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ (and be goofballs along the way). That's why this picture is my profile picture.
I think this a testament to perspectives. How many times have you seen "beauty is in the eye of the beholder?" I'm sure we all have that picture, object, or memory that means the world to us, that honestly doesn't seem that significant to anyone else.
I see a teddy bear, you see a precious gift from your grandmother. They see an old tattered book, you see a family relic. You see a normal picture of a couple of crazy college students, I see a precious memory of the best summer of my life.
I think thats how God sees us. So many people have this concept of how we are just "normal" human beings. thats not the case. Our Lord sees us as his children, as loved creations, as His own. You may see a group of hypocrites, liars, and failures, but Christ sees a loved one, a child, as significant, as wonderful.
I invite you to look at people that way. Don't see people for useless, see them for what they are, a loved child of God, and I invite you to remember, you are the world to God.
Until the Whole World Hears,
Bryce
Monday, July 5, 2010
Youthfront Lessons
Wow....
Thats all I can really say (of course I'm gonna say more but, you get the point)
What an interesting summer it has been already. I have to say it has been VERY up and down, and God has challenged me like never before.
I sit here, and I try to sum up the summer so far for you guys....and there is only one coming to mind... humbling.
I have, so far, ministered to 62 students in my cabins (give or take a few). I've had the great opportunity to share with them during (and some after) camp about my life, and they have done the same. (Some of them might be reading this right now, and if so, shout out to you guys). I've had a couple tell me that what I've shared has impacted them, and a couple have asked me very difficult questions that I can only do my best to answer.
Amazingly, it has taught me humility. Who am I to minister to these kids? Sometimes it feels like I am just a kid myself... Some of these guys have dealt with things I cannot even imagine. Who am I? But then I realize something, and this is what I want to share with you guys... God picks us. We might not understand why, and we might not think we are worthy. We may be scared, or nervous, or even think that we are too inadequate to fulfill the calling He has for our lives. But just as Jesus called his disciples, He calls us to follow Him. If we trust in him, we will be able to make it, cause he will walk with us the entire way.
So, I'm gonna continue doing what I am doing. I am going to keep asking questions from peers who have given me some of the best life advice, I'm going to keep soaking in all the knowledge I can of ministry, I am going to have as much fun as I can, and finally, I'm gonna keep walking with these guys, for at least a week, in their lives. Sharing with them what I can, and them sharing with me what they can. Because truly, and not to seem cliche, but I am learning from them, just as much, if not more, than I am teaching them.
I want to thank everyone for the well wishes and the prayers. It has meant the world. And if any Youthfront people are reading this...I can't wait to continue this journey with you guys... Some days, its hard, and we wanna quit and never look back (I've felt this way too...) but guess what? We are gonna make it...cause Jesus has called us to this...and the results...have, so far, been amazing...
God Bless
Thats all I can really say (of course I'm gonna say more but, you get the point)
What an interesting summer it has been already. I have to say it has been VERY up and down, and God has challenged me like never before.
I sit here, and I try to sum up the summer so far for you guys....and there is only one coming to mind... humbling.
I have, so far, ministered to 62 students in my cabins (give or take a few). I've had the great opportunity to share with them during (and some after) camp about my life, and they have done the same. (Some of them might be reading this right now, and if so, shout out to you guys). I've had a couple tell me that what I've shared has impacted them, and a couple have asked me very difficult questions that I can only do my best to answer.
Amazingly, it has taught me humility. Who am I to minister to these kids? Sometimes it feels like I am just a kid myself... Some of these guys have dealt with things I cannot even imagine. Who am I? But then I realize something, and this is what I want to share with you guys... God picks us. We might not understand why, and we might not think we are worthy. We may be scared, or nervous, or even think that we are too inadequate to fulfill the calling He has for our lives. But just as Jesus called his disciples, He calls us to follow Him. If we trust in him, we will be able to make it, cause he will walk with us the entire way.
So, I'm gonna continue doing what I am doing. I am going to keep asking questions from peers who have given me some of the best life advice, I'm going to keep soaking in all the knowledge I can of ministry, I am going to have as much fun as I can, and finally, I'm gonna keep walking with these guys, for at least a week, in their lives. Sharing with them what I can, and them sharing with me what they can. Because truly, and not to seem cliche, but I am learning from them, just as much, if not more, than I am teaching them.
I want to thank everyone for the well wishes and the prayers. It has meant the world. And if any Youthfront people are reading this...I can't wait to continue this journey with you guys... Some days, its hard, and we wanna quit and never look back (I've felt this way too...) but guess what? We are gonna make it...cause Jesus has called us to this...and the results...have, so far, been amazing...
God Bless
Tuesday, May 25, 2010
Night Before
So here I sit...in my bed...for the last night...at Zeta Chi. At least for this summer... Well, maybe even just for this week. But it feels...nostalgic...
I spent most of today hanging out with Jessica. While we were driving back to Baldwin, I pointed out to her how empty the dorms and campus seemed. Incidently enough, I started getting a sick feeling to my stomach. Freshman year is gone, and now it is time to move on to this summer.
In approcimately 7 hours, I will be stepping foot onto Youthfront Camp South. I must say...I am excited. I'm also very nervous. I do not know what to expect, I do not know how everything will go down.
I guess that is an issue I have had for most of my life. I like control. I have a hard time letting it go. I would not usually disclose this information in blog form, but, anyone who knows me knows that is true of me. I like knowing what is going on and what to expect 24/7.
I guess that is going to be one of the things I'm gonna have to work on this summer. I need to learn to let God have control of the situation and trust his rplan, and I believe that God led me here, so we'll just have to see what happens. I think growth will occur, and I'm excited for it. So...I guess...this is it. My next update will be at Youthfront. *sigh*....Ready or not...here we go....
I spent most of today hanging out with Jessica. While we were driving back to Baldwin, I pointed out to her how empty the dorms and campus seemed. Incidently enough, I started getting a sick feeling to my stomach. Freshman year is gone, and now it is time to move on to this summer.
In approcimately 7 hours, I will be stepping foot onto Youthfront Camp South. I must say...I am excited. I'm also very nervous. I do not know what to expect, I do not know how everything will go down.
I guess that is an issue I have had for most of my life. I like control. I have a hard time letting it go. I would not usually disclose this information in blog form, but, anyone who knows me knows that is true of me. I like knowing what is going on and what to expect 24/7.
I guess that is going to be one of the things I'm gonna have to work on this summer. I need to learn to let God have control of the situation and trust his rplan, and I believe that God led me here, so we'll just have to see what happens. I think growth will occur, and I'm excited for it. So...I guess...this is it. My next update will be at Youthfront. *sigh*....Ready or not...here we go....
Sunday, May 16, 2010
The Beginning...
Ok, so some of you may not know, but I am going to spend this Summer at Youthfront as a cabin leader. Youthfront is a great ministry based out of KC, and the camp I will be working at is Youthfront south. It is the high school camp and I will get lead a cabin of high schoolers throughout their week there.
Why did I choose to do this? Well...Youthfront is where it all started for me... I went to camp there the summer before my freshman year. It was one of the top 5 experiences of my life so far. It was the place where, for the first time, I felt and knew what it meant to live a Christian life. It really started this crazy ride I've been on since really giving my life over to Christ.
So it just made sense. Many of you know that I am working on becoming a pastor, and I really feel like I need to develop my ministry style, so I'm going back to where it all began. I honestly have no idea what I am getting myself into, nor do I have any idea what it will be like. Its been a long time since I've stepped out in faith on something like this, and too tell you the truth, I'm just trusting God on this one.
So, in a little over a week, I will pack my bags, say good-bye to Zeta Chi and Baker University for the summer, and go to a place where I know no one, have no idea what to expect, nor know anything about...well....anything. Nervous? Yeah I'd say so. Excited? In the words of Sarah Palin, "You Betcha!"
However, I will do my best to keep everyone updated on what's going on. Along with this endeavor, I asked God to point me towards a book that I could get a lot out of and read over the summer. The book that came up was Velvet Elvis: Repainting the Christian Faith by Rob Bell. I'm excited to start in on it. Rob Bell is one of my favorite pastor's, and he is seen as a very controversial pastor. However, I've heard great things about the book, and it was the one God was placing on my heart.
I will try to keep everyone updated as much as possible. Until then, if you have finals still, finish strong (I'm right there with you) and enjoy summer.
Until The Whole World Hears,
Bryce
Why did I choose to do this? Well...Youthfront is where it all started for me... I went to camp there the summer before my freshman year. It was one of the top 5 experiences of my life so far. It was the place where, for the first time, I felt and knew what it meant to live a Christian life. It really started this crazy ride I've been on since really giving my life over to Christ.
So it just made sense. Many of you know that I am working on becoming a pastor, and I really feel like I need to develop my ministry style, so I'm going back to where it all began. I honestly have no idea what I am getting myself into, nor do I have any idea what it will be like. Its been a long time since I've stepped out in faith on something like this, and too tell you the truth, I'm just trusting God on this one.
So, in a little over a week, I will pack my bags, say good-bye to Zeta Chi and Baker University for the summer, and go to a place where I know no one, have no idea what to expect, nor know anything about...well....anything. Nervous? Yeah I'd say so. Excited? In the words of Sarah Palin, "You Betcha!"
However, I will do my best to keep everyone updated on what's going on. Along with this endeavor, I asked God to point me towards a book that I could get a lot out of and read over the summer. The book that came up was Velvet Elvis: Repainting the Christian Faith by Rob Bell. I'm excited to start in on it. Rob Bell is one of my favorite pastor's, and he is seen as a very controversial pastor. However, I've heard great things about the book, and it was the one God was placing on my heart.
I will try to keep everyone updated as much as possible. Until then, if you have finals still, finish strong (I'm right there with you) and enjoy summer.
Until The Whole World Hears,
Bryce
Friday, February 5, 2010
Don't just sit around!
For this blog I have a little bit of a reading requirement... I know, I know..but don't worry, their won't be a test or even a worksheet, and honestly, I think its one of the best articles I've read from umc.org. Don't worry, even if you're not an United Methodist, it still applies to you:
http://www.umc.org/site/apps/nlnet/content3.aspx?c=lwL4KnN1LtH&b=5259669&ct=7983193
I just want to say, this article, has us generation y'ers down to a "T" (hmm, generation y'ers...kinda sounds like generation wires (ironic, no?)).
I definitely think that the church that has been the last couple of decades is not compatible with the main ideals of generation y. I was born in 1990, smack dab right in the middle of the age range we are talking about. I love going to church, after all, I do want to be a pastor. However, I must say that sometimes I get VERY frustrated with all the talk and none of the do.
My age group gets thrown information and pictures and words 24/7 because of the internet, text messaging, satellite tv etc... We hear enough talk, what we want to see is action.
There is also something else I see with youth today. While I cannot speak for everyone, there is something that I see in A LOT of people in my age group. We want to change the world.
Youth are looking towards the future with hope. I attended an event earlier this school year called Exploration. While their, I might with hundreds of my peers my age that were looking into ministry as a career. While I cannot speak for everyone, there was one thing I saw with everyone I talked to; we have a drive to make the church more relevant again. We want, we NEED to help the world, and we see the church as the institution to do it. We see the church as a place that can change lives, heal broken people, and serve all mankind, in the name of Jesus Christ our Lord and Savior.
So basically the bare bones of what I'm trying to say is this: lets start getting our hands dirty. I will admit, over the last couple of years we have made great strides in doing this. However, we MUST keep it up. As a church, we need to find new ways and new opportunities to help the world. If that be environmentally friendly initiatives, 3rd world relief, social justice, or just serving the community. If the church decides that they are going to, not just open the doors, but leave the building with the example that Jesus set for us that we learn inside the building, I think we will see real change in the world.
If we do that, I think we will find a legion of millineals standing with us, ready to get to work as well.
(if you agree...like my status on facebook that is connected with this post...or, if you disagree, I'd love to hear why, don't worry, I love constructive criticism :) )
http://www.umc.org/site/apps/nlnet/content3.aspx?c=lwL4KnN1LtH&b=5259669&ct=7983193
I just want to say, this article, has us generation y'ers down to a "T" (hmm, generation y'ers...kinda sounds like generation wires (ironic, no?)).
I definitely think that the church that has been the last couple of decades is not compatible with the main ideals of generation y. I was born in 1990, smack dab right in the middle of the age range we are talking about. I love going to church, after all, I do want to be a pastor. However, I must say that sometimes I get VERY frustrated with all the talk and none of the do.
My age group gets thrown information and pictures and words 24/7 because of the internet, text messaging, satellite tv etc... We hear enough talk, what we want to see is action.
There is also something else I see with youth today. While I cannot speak for everyone, there is something that I see in A LOT of people in my age group. We want to change the world.
Youth are looking towards the future with hope. I attended an event earlier this school year called Exploration. While their, I might with hundreds of my peers my age that were looking into ministry as a career. While I cannot speak for everyone, there was one thing I saw with everyone I talked to; we have a drive to make the church more relevant again. We want, we NEED to help the world, and we see the church as the institution to do it. We see the church as a place that can change lives, heal broken people, and serve all mankind, in the name of Jesus Christ our Lord and Savior.
So basically the bare bones of what I'm trying to say is this: lets start getting our hands dirty. I will admit, over the last couple of years we have made great strides in doing this. However, we MUST keep it up. As a church, we need to find new ways and new opportunities to help the world. If that be environmentally friendly initiatives, 3rd world relief, social justice, or just serving the community. If the church decides that they are going to, not just open the doors, but leave the building with the example that Jesus set for us that we learn inside the building, I think we will see real change in the world.
If we do that, I think we will find a legion of millineals standing with us, ready to get to work as well.
(if you agree...like my status on facebook that is connected with this post...or, if you disagree, I'd love to hear why, don't worry, I love constructive criticism :) )
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