GroshLink

Another quote from Gordon MacDonald's presentation on The Changing Face of Ministry: Engaging All Ages in the Mission of the Church. 

What are the spiritual resources for ministers? What prevents them from becoming dull, sullen, lukewarm bureaucrats, people who have many projects, plans, and appointments but who have lost their heart somewhere in the midst of their activities? What keeps ministers vital, alive, energetic and full of zeal? What allows them to preach and teach, counsel and celebrate with a continuing sense of wonder, joy, gratitude, and praise? -- Henri Nouwen, The Living Reminder

A number of people have found Henri Nouwen's book The Living Reminder a helpful resource in addressing these questions.  Anyone have a copy I can borrow?

Pray for complete healing/recovery for Hayley.  She came home from school Wednesday afternoon with a low fever and dry cough.  Her fever continued to rise on Thursday, but it's better today.  Other than that there's nothing out of the ordinary, i.e. nothing that warrants a doctor visit yet.  Hayley's largely been in her room and we're washing/sanitizing hands like crazy!  No other cases at present -- praise God!  Pray for Theresa and I to maintain patience and self-control, we're very tired due to Eden and Lily not sleeping well.  Pray for Lily to go back to sleep this afternoon and for Eden to give a nap at least a try.

Another quote from Gordon MacDonald's presentation on The Changing Face of Ministry: Engaging All Ages in the Mission of the Church. 

There are scars on my faith, but underneath those scars there are no doubts. (Christ) has me with the consent of all my being and with the cooperation of all my life. The song I sing is a life song. Not the temporary exuberance of youth that often fades when middle and old age sets in with their disillusionment and cynicism. … No, I’m eighty-three and I’m more excited today about being a Christian than I was at eighteen when I put my feet upon the Way. ... Now by seasoned, tested, corroborated experience I know that this is not a way, but the Way. -- E. Stanley Jones

To God be the glory!  Join me in prayer that Theresa and I might share such testimony in coming years.

Today I went with a group from Elizabethtown Brethren in Christ to hear Gordon MacDonald present on The Changing Face of Ministry: Engaging All Ages in the Mission of the Church. I'll share some quotes over the next couple of days and post the notes when they're "ready to go."  

In the past, the time-span of human change was considerably longer than that of a single human life. Thus, mankind was trained to adapt itself to fixed conditions. But today our training must prepare individuals to face a novelty of conditions. -- Alfred North Whitehead (1931)

Note:  After outlining some significant post-1450 change cycles, MacDonald commented, You don’t talk about change cycles anymore, it’s just change.  Still thinking about that one.  Do you think it's all change?

Praise God for his palpable Presence & work at the PSU-Hershey Christian Medical Society (CMS) retreat. The retreat appeared to go off without a hitch. Tom had the strength and attention to fully engage in a number of conversations, including several which provided discernment regarding direction for his growing involvement w/CMS. The speaker connected well with the graduate students, medical students, & nurses as he shared about his call to ministry as a physician through a missions experience & challenged those present to place Christ above all else. This same physician committed to serve alongside students during CMS's spring break medical missions trip to the Dominican Republic. To God be the glory!

 

I wait for the LORD, my soul waits, and in his word I put my hope. My soul waits for the Lord more than watchmen wait for the morning, more than watchmen wait for the morning. -- Psalm 130:5-6, NIV

Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

God has richly blessed our family's transition to Central PA. In recent months it has become more and more apparent the importance of having a team of people in regular prayer for us as we face complex familial and ministry decisions. I'm inviting you to officially join our 2010 prayer team.

Three options exist, please email us to let us know if you are open to making such a commitment.

• Regularly pray for our work, i.e., at least 1 x week.
• Distribute our monthly prayer calendar and encourage others to pray for us in the local congregation, small group, prayer gathering, etc with which you are connected.
• For those close to us geographically, we are looking a 4-6 person prayer team which meets 2 x a month. If you are interested, let us know if you would be available Tuesdays, 10 - 10:30 am, or Thursdays, 9:15 - 9:45 am. If you are desire to be part of a regular local prayer team, but are unable to make one of these times please let us know and we'll try to accommodate your schedule.

Theresa and I appreciate your support and care for our family and ministry. If you desire to become involved, please email us (groshes at groshlink.net) by Monday, November 16. Thank-you.

Day-by-Day by His Grace,

Tom Grosh
InterVarsity Christian Fellowship
Graduate & Faculty Ministry
Groshlink
Emerging Scholars Blog

Our Mission: "To establish and advance at colleges and universities witnessing communities that follow Jesus"

Our Vision: "To see students and faculty transformed. Campuses renewed. World changers developed."

Pray for logistics of this weekend's PSU-Hershey Christian Medical Society (CMS) Retreat to come together well. Pray for me to have the strength, energy, attentiveness, and discernment to offer my gifts of service well during this weekend. Praise God that we've had the opportunity to work out a schedule to serve Theresa and the girls well while I'm away.

*At last count 35 were registered for rest, unwinding, spiritual renewal, and two teaching sessions by a Christian physician on "Using your medical skills as a ministry: Should I? Why and How?" The second teaching session will focus on "Short term medical missions" and has particular pertinence as 20+ medical students are considering short term medical missions over spring and/or summer break. Note: several faculty mentor couples are not only involved in short term medical missions but are considering long term creative access medical missions opportunities in 'closed countries.' Pray for discernment in conversations between faculty and students.

When Eden requested reading Little Miss Muffet during her afternoon quiet time on Monday, I was struck by how seldom I've read Mother Goose to my girls.  Going through the upstairs book collection, I found Richard Scarry's Best MOTHER GOOSE Ever (Golden Books, 1964).  Eden loved it and drifted off to sleep. 

As always, Richard Scarry delivered a creative depiction of the stories being told.  What a joy to read through the whole Richard Scarry's Best MOTHER GOOSE Ever and leave Eden with

Good night,
Sleep tight
Wake up bright
In the morning light,
To do what's right
With all your might.

May it be so! 

PS.  Much better than Good night, sleep tight. Don't let the bed bugs bite. ... I wonder if the bed bugs bit next door as Lily woke up shortly after I left Eden's room and started writing this post.  Gotta go, maybe I should give Lily a reading of Richard Scarry's Best MOTHER GOOSE Ever ;-)

As I mentioned the other day, Eden's been digging into God and Me: 365 Daily Devotions (Penny Boshoff, Authentic Media, 2005) over breakfast.  We've explored God and Me: 365 Daily Devotions several times before, but looks like we might give it a try to work through it.  I've found it exciting how she wants to read, discuss, and pray through at least two a day ... so we'll be finished with this book in half the time if not less ;-)

The October 17 devotional is about The doctor.  The piece briefly notes the training involved in preparing to become a doctor, rejoices in/prays for earthly doctors, and then points to Jesus as the best doctor (see Matthew 4:23-24).

Eden has met a lot of doctors and health care professionals through the years.  Her question for the morning was Do doctors ever get sick?  Great question!  I tried to share how doctors and health care professionals try their best not to get ill in order to serve their patients and that one day, in the new heaven and new earth, there will be no sickness.  I wonder if this is part of what led into our conversation regarding the care for Elise Faith, which occurred later in the morning as we paged through photo albums.

BTW, today I'll bring lunch for the PSU-Hershey Medical Center's Christian Medical Society (CMS) and help provide some food for their dinner outreach for first years who will be taking their 4th Anatomy & Physiology exam on Friday.  Praise God for the resources provided by followers of Christ committed to this mission which enable me to serve this meal.  Pray for the students (graduate, medical, and nursing) to be little Christs in their classes/exams/rotations/labs, for the number of students attending this weekend's retreat to continue to climb (last count I heard was 34), and for the Word and Spirit to guide activities sponsored by CMS in such a manner to impart a stronger clarity in the call to follow Christ in all aspects of their life.

The twins and I [Theresa] had a great trip to Pgh to visit friends this weekend. I picked them up after school and we headed out. It was rainy and raw but only a few snowflakes mixed with the rain near Breezewood. We stayed with Mike and Shayna and let me tell you, it was hard to imagine when the twins were little that they would one day be my "easy kids." But they were so much fun to travel with. On Sat. we went to the Heinz History Center and had a great time there. I highly recommend it if you are visiting Pgh. This was our third time there but some of the exhibits change so there was plenty to see. And do -- it's a great museum for kids with lots of interactive exhibits. From there we went north to meet friends (Heather and Tami and their kids) at Wildwood Highlands in North Park. It was great to catch up with them. When we got back to the Bowling's house Toby and Chloe were there and we played a few games, all of which I came in miserably last. It's a good things I'm not a particularly competitive person :) This morning we left just before 9am so that we could be home in time to meet our friends Josh and Lydia who were stopping in at our house for a quick visit on their way BACK to Pittsburgh! We had the chicken corn noodle soup that I had prepared on Friday before I left and Tom heated up in the crock pot while at church this morning. Boy, life takes a lot of organization! So, a great time was had by all -- here and abroad. [Note:  Originally posted on Facebook, October 18, 5:13pm].

Over the past several weeks, Eden and I prayed from Prayers for little hearts (Prayers by James Galvin of The Livingstone Corporation, Design by Catherine Berstrom, Tyndale House Publishers, 1996) before turning to a devotional. Just the other day we finished Prayers for little hearts and have now turned to A Child's First Book of Prayers (By Lois Rock, illustrated by Alison Jay, Augsburg Books, 2002).  Here's the Introduction, pray that it will be so ...

Learning to pray is learning to see the world as it looks from heaven.  It means learning to believe in the power of faith and hope and love... the unfailing love of God.

May these simple prayers be a first step in your journey.

The kids' version of My Heart's Christ Home came off the shelf again. We only read part of it over Thursday night dinner, but Friday morning we pushed through it with Eden, Ellen, and Hayley before the twins headed to school. Note: Eden has enjoyed it several times over the past several days.

I was impressed how the pictures and the plot still kept Ellen and Hayley's attention. It connects with 4th grade class (including multiplication tables), playground action, and relating to Christ in the context of family commited to following Christ alone. If you don't have a copy for your elementary age child, I'd recommend you check it out.

Note to parents and adults: the original My Heart's Christ Home alongside Tyranny of the Urgent, have been vital pieces of campus ministry with generation after generation of college students.  In addition, I periodically use these resources to prayerfully review my own walk with God and work through with others in the context of adult electives.

Note:  Related posts include 

1. My Heart - Christ's Home
2. Drawing Close to Our First Love

Even though Theresa and the twins are away ... Eden, Lily, and I wrapped up The Jesus Storybook Bible over dinner last night.  What an "end!"

John came to the end of his book [Revelation].  But he didn't write "The End."  Because, of course, that's how stories finish.  (And this one's not over yet.)

So instead, he wrote:  "Come quickly, Jesus!"

Which, perhaps, is really just another way of saying ...

 (More)

Lots in today's Emerging Scholars Network's Blog Post Week in Review: Milliennials in Transition Edition. I'd particularly encourage those who are parents, pastors, youth/young adult ministry team members, and/or part of the higher education orbit to 'not miss' Lost in Transition: With his latest research on emerging adults, sociologist Christian Smith helps the church reach out to a rootless generation.

"If anything, college is no different in terms of the faith corrosion outcomes on youth. It may even strengthen the faith of some. We think this is partly about a growing number of evangelical faculty at secular colleges. Another factor is the increasing presence and legitimacy of campus religious groups and ministries [InterVarsity Christian Fellowship, Campus Crusade] that provide support systems — not just fellowship, but also intellectual engagement that may have been lacking in past decades. The culture has also changed: “spirituality” is more acceptable now than in past decades. Most faculty know you cannot say stupidly anti-religious things in the classroom and get away with it." -- Interview of Christian Smith by Katelyn Beaty, Lost in Transition, Christianity Today International, 10/9/2009). ... To God be the glory!

As many of you know this is to what I've been called. Pray for continuing insight as I "encourage, and equip Christian Scholars to flourish and be a redeeming influence among the people, ideas, and structures of higher education."

AND for more opportunities to speak with parents, youth, youth ministers regarding the importance of discipleship through the years of youth and navigating the transition from high school to young adulthood, particularly the challenges inherent to higher education. Interested? Let me know. ... BTW, I'm in the process of arranging an opportunity to speak w/youth as I type.  Pray for the Word and the Spirit to mold my thoughts and enable me to present with clarity.

Don't miss the FREE audiobook download of InterVarsity alum Gary Haugen's Just Courage (InterVarsity Press, 2008) at Christianaudio.com!

Note: Gary A. Haugen is president and CEO of International Justice Mission (IJM), a human rights organization based in Washington, D.C. Prior to founding IJM, he worked in the civil rights division of the U.S. Department of Justice and was director of the United Nations genocide investigation in Rwanda.  He is also the author of Good News About Injustice (InterVarsity Press, 1999), available in paper and audio.

HT to Robin for links to the story of Dwelling House Savings and Loan, http://www.mellenpress.com/mellenpress.cfm?bookid=5500&pc=9, and the story of its demise, http://www.pittsburghlive.com/x/pittsburghtrib/business/s_638429.html.  Difficult to read of Dwelling House Savings and Loan's demise.  The topic appears to have come up in a campus conversation regarding Economic Justice and the Spirit of Innovation (Edmund Phelps, First Things, October 2009).  Below's a quote I found of interest in Economic Justice and the Spirit of Innovation. 

Why labor minute after minute on-line with email, Facebook, web research, Emerging Scholars Blog ... hour after hour in prayer, Bible study, 1-1 appointments, phone conversations, presentations ... day after day in campus visits, retreats/conferencing, training, reading/writing. ...

Because of the passion to sow, water, and harvest the seeds of the Gospel, i.e., the redemptive love of God the Father, the Son, and the Spirit not only evidenced in history through the cross/resurrection/ascension but even now overflowing from the life of the people of God into the lives of others as we eargerly dive into the reversal of sin/darkness/death while anticipating complete restoration in coming of the new heavens and the new earth. 

How does one sustain such an endeavor over what is approaching 14 years, now with 4 kids running around?

• Not on one's own! 
• By the grace, power, love and strength of God the Father
  • one becomes shaped more and more like Christ through the redemptive work of the
    • Word
    • Spirit
    • people of God (through time/space and accountability).
• There is no doubt that the call to be about such a mission involves all of one's person and that God the Father has wired me to enjoy digging into the transitional/habit forming years of higher education with whomever he sends across my path. AND I'm inspired by the call of the Upside Down Kingdom, the new heavens/new earth, the outrageous task of identifying, encouraging, and equipping Christian scholars to be redeeming influences among the people, ideas, and structures of higher education.
• I followed the call to follow God with my whole person as part of the Kingdom of God at the time of conversion/commitment/transformation during my first year at Grove City College ('93).  The call to student leadership came at the Urbana Student Mission Convention '93.  I stepped into the commitment to InterVarsity Christian Fellowship staff at Urbana '96.* But God alone is my rock and strength.

I stand upon this rock today as Stephen Nichols, professor of theology and church history at Lancaster Bible College and author of Jesus Made in America: A Cultural History from the Puritans to "The Passion of the Christ"  partners with Elizabethtown Brethren in Christ and InterVarsity Christian Fellowship's Emerging Scholars Network to ...

• Preaches on "To Whom Shall We Go?" (John 6:66-69)
• Teach an adult elective for the whole congregation on Jesus Made in America: Honest Looks, Honorable Responses (10 - 10:45 am)
• Present on Jesus for the Academy: Freeing Christ from our Agendas for the 2nd Central PA Christian Scholars Network Lunch.  

Time to get ready. Join me prayer that God the Father will be glorified through all this day's activities/conversations. Pray for Stephen Nichols, by the direction of the Word & Spirit, to clearly contrast Jesus the Christ with the Jesus of our culture/time, challenging participants to follow Christ alone as individuals & as the people of God. Praise God for the good communication between all involved in preparations. At present we have 42 guests for the lunch. Praises: With the help of some volunteers, I finished basic set-up last night.  My parents have been able to help out with the kids this weekend.

*Note:  What will happen at Urbana 09, just 77 days away? Pray for meand the others which fill the Rams Stadium, St. Louis, to share/live the challenges/lessons we receive from the Word, Spirit, and people of God from around the globe.

Below's a story of one InterVarsity alumnus, Tim Keller, pastor of Redeemer Presbyterian, which gives testimony to the long-term value of InterVarsity. I found Tim's story an encouragement, may you also. To God be the glory!  Pray for God's continuing transformative work through InterVarsity's daily life/ministry on campus.

Tim Keller believes that engaging our contemporary culture with the gospel is one of the most important lessons he learned from InterVarsity, as a student at Bucknell University, and later as a staff volunteer while attending Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary. The books of InterVarsity Press, particularly those of Francis Schaeffer, were a significant influence in his spiritual formation. Today as , Tim has the opportunity to engage our culture on a national scale.

A new posture for New York City Christians
New York City is a “culture-forming engine,” Tim observes in an article in the June 2009 issue of Christianity Today. Andy Crouch, the author of the InterVarsity Press book Culture Making, identified Redeemer Presbyterian as a church with an important regional and national influence, helping lead New York Christians to a new posture, “from being a beleaguered minority to being a confident minority.” -- for more visit InterVarsity alumni - Tim Keller (by Gordon Govier, October 06, 2009)

As a border-line introvert/extrovert involved as a leader and in leadership development, not to mention married to an introvert who has served in a variety of leadership roles, I'm quite interested in the soon to be released Introverts in the Church: Finding Our Place in an Extroverted Culture (Adam McHugh, InterVarsity Press, November 2009). If you are too, check out the free on-line PDF of Chapter 1, click here.

Note:  Excellent author interview at Adam McHugh on 'Introverts in the Church'. Here's a sample of the Q&A.

What are some of the benefits that introverts can bring to the ministry?

“Through my diverse experiences as a church pastor, hospice chaplain, and college campus minister, I have become thoroughly convinced that introverts bring tremendous gifts to ministry. Perhaps the most profound of those gifts is our ability to listen. People in our culture so rarely have the experience of being truly listened to – having not only their words and thoughts but also their feelings taken seriously and reflected back to them.  Because introverts process internally, instead of talking in order to understand, we are natural listeners and we also offer a non-judgmental posture which helps others open up to us. I think that we can become a contemplative presence in whatever setting we are in – listening for what’s underneath the words being said and also paying attention to the movements of the Holy Spirit, gently guiding others to hear God’s voice in their lives and in the community.”

First, there is the God issue. Dr. Collins believes in him. Passionately. And he preaches about his belief in churches and a best-selling book. For some presidential appointees, that might not be a problem, but many scientists view such outspoken religious commitment as a sign of mild dementia. ... (Gardiner Harris, For N.I.H. Chief, Issues of Identity and Culture, NY Times, October 6, 2009)

The other day I participated in a discussion regarding how a physician might diagnosis Jesus' mental condition based upon Mark 3. No doubt Jesus and his followers, such as Collins, are considered Outrageous by some (if not many) intellectuals. Getting practical, are you outrageously following Christ and making Christ known in your family, community, workplace?

PS.  Check out the first post on George Marsden's The Outrageous Idea of Christian Scholarship.

While painting/decorating small pumpkins with the Amish, petting alpacas, listening to music, and buying various treasures at Lancaster Central Market's Harvest Breakfast, our family enjoyed Morning Glory Muffins and Pumpkin Bread made from recipes in the Lighter Side of Lancaster:  Traditional Recipes Made Healthier.  This morning Theresa and I downloaded a free copy of the Lighter Side of Lancaster:  Traditional Recipes Made Healthier, provided by Lancaster General Health's Wellness Center.  We encourage you to check it out. ...

I think Football as a Second Language (Libby Nelson, Chronicle of Higher Education, September 28, 2009) provides an excellent campus outreach idea. We did some of this in 'da Burgh with 'da Stillers (who BTW don't appear able to stop w/o Troy), in addition to learning about the sports in other countries (which at times I found much more interesting).

As I think about it, I wonder how many Americans understand our form of football well enough to teach it? Since I have the four girls today, maybe I should give it another shot so they're prepared for the opportunity.

Ready. Set. Hike. ;-)

Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

What a joy to hear back from so many of you after our 9/21 update. Your encouragement, prayer, and support in so many aspects of our mission remind us that we are not alone as we seek to extend the Word of Life on campus.

Four items to highlight:

1. October Prayer Calendar: Includes 2009-2010 Ministry Calendar (p2 of PDF). Note: Up-to-date prayer calendars can always be downloaded at http://groshlink.net/static/about. Please open/print for personal use and share with prayer meetings, small groups, mission committees, local congregations, etc. If you desire a personal update/visit, drop us an email so we can arrange a time to connect.
2. Finances: If you have not already done so, prayerfully begin considering how you might support us financially at year end and/or in 2010. As you'll remember, God provided through His people at the close of last fiscal year. Although we've been tightening on ministry and household expenses, we are 20% behind on our budget for the new fiscal year.
   
   • Financial support for this strategic ministry should be directed to "InterVarsity Christian Fellowship," P.O. Box 7895, Madison, WI 53707-7895. Please enclose a separate piece of paper indicating that the gift is for the work of "Tom Grosh." On-line giving available at http://www.intervarsity.org/donate/to/Tom_Grosh
3. October 7: visit http://blog.emergingscholars.org/ for ...
   •  ESN Book Club: The Outrageous Idea of Christian Scholarship, http://blog.emergingscholars.org/2009/09/esn-book-club-the-outrageous-idea-of-christian-scholarship/
4. October 11: 2nd Central PA Christian Scholars Network Lunch, Elizabethtown Brethren in Christ, Elizabethtown, PA. Interested in learning more about the Central PA Christian Scholars Network? Let us know. ...
   
   • Topic: Jesus for the Academy: Freeing Christ from our Agendas, Stephen Nichols, professor of theology and church history at Lancaster Bible College, author of InterVarsity Press' Jesus Made in America: A Cultural History from the Puritans to "The Passion of the Christ. For more visit http://www.intervarsity.org/gfm/esn/event/jesus-for-the-academy
   • [T]here is something peculiar about the tendency to contemporize in American evangelicalism. American evangelicals reflexively harbor suspicions of tradition. In fact, most tend toward being(rabidly) anti-tradition. Consequently, the past is overlooked as a significant source of direction. This leaves American evangelicals more vulnerable than most when it comes to cultural pressures and influences. In the absence of tradition, one tends to make up a new one, one not tested by time and one more or less constructed by individuals or by a limited community. This anti-tradition animus arises from what Sidney Mead once labeled historylessness, and what I have elsewhere called ahistoricism. This is the tendency of Americans in general to be not only amnesiacs of the past, but to be amnesiacs who aren’t necessarily looking to be cured. -- Excerpt from Stephen J. Nichols, Jesus Made in America: A Cultural History from the Puritans to 'The Passion of Christ,' posted at http://www.ivpress.com/title/ata/2849-x.pdf.

One more day by the grace of God alone,

Tom & Theresa Grosh
InterVarsity Christian Fellowship
Mid-Atlantic Faculty Ministry Catalyst
Brethren in Christ World Missions Affiliate
http://www.groshlink.net
http://blog.emergingscholars.org/author/tomg/

Students and Faculty Transformed, Campus Renewed, and World Changers Developed.