GroshLink

Those of you who were part of InterVarsity at Carnegie Mellon or Grove City College (or for that matter Western PA or even Great Lakes East) sometime during the past several decades will remember Jean Duerbeck's strong Bible teaching, mentoring, and base guitar. The other day I received an email update from her giving praise for God's grace in her transition to life and InterVarsity Christian Fellowship's Graduate & Faculty Ministry in Tempe, AZ. To God be the glory!

It's quotes like the one below, from the archives of cultureisnotoptional, which remind me how much I miss living in the international mix of academic life 'da Burgh.  Furthermore, I am compelled to pray that the people of God in 'da Burgh will graciously extend hospitality to the stranger in their midst. Join me in prayer today for CMU and Pitt international students, which have orientation over the next several days.  They are the first to arrive and on the graduate level they all live off-campus.  Pray for them to become established before the fall term begins on Monday, August 25. 

Additional prayer request (posted 8/17):  Pray for many, both international and American, to become connected with the people of God through opportunities such as the CMU Student Services Resource Fair on Sunday, August 18.

For those who know Maggie and/or are interested in a competitive emerging artists program to highlight and support the next generation of Pittsburgh's Jazz Giants ... check out her brand new blog Jazz Space, which starts with reflections on the Opening Ceremonies of the Olympics. Theresa and Tom are the first to comment ;-)

Today, Randy Pausch passed away.  Pray for his family and friends as they walk through this time of grief and transition.  In addition pray for the gift of creativity to continue to flow through his colleagues and those whom he mentored at the CMU's Entertainment Technology Center.  The CMU news story is posted here and the Chronicle of Higher Education here.

I've started to receive emails from new graduate students moving to Pittsburgh regarding housing, local congregations, and fellowship concerns.  Pray for good connections (note:  I've been passing them along to Pittsburgh's new Graduate & Faculty Ministry Staff Member) and for the next step in their journey through higher education to be taken in the Presence of God as part of the community of God guided by the Word and the Spirit. 

In a recent on-line conversation regarding the relationship of science and faith, several articles were brought to my attention and I commend them to my CMU friends (and to whomever else has interest in such questions):

On Saturday, I was discouraged and shared with a sister-in-Christ that I was wondering who is regularly praying for our mission and our family ... 

We rejoice in Allegheny Center CMA's (ACAC) continuing concern for our family and investment in our ministry.*  On Tuesday, I'll be traveling out to 'da Burgh in our gold/beige 1995 Windstar, can you believe it's still running?  I'll donate the minivan to the car ministry. It will be used for parts or overhauled for use by a family in need of such a vehicle.

I'll return home in a blue 1995 Suburu Legacy with 121,852 miles. Pray for many miles to come as the legacy's primary use will be my various responsibilities with InterVarsity Christian Fellowship and short trips around town to save wear/tear on our blue 2002 Windstar, also recieved through the ACAC car ministry. Praise God for the sharing of skills, gifts, and materials in common!  The Upside-Down Kingdom bringing things right-side up. 

*We were members of ACAC when we lived and ministered in Pittsburgh.

3rd places, for more see my post Most fulfilling parts of the college experience, were a significant feature of last week's Pittsburgh Mission as I mixed with graduate students at Kiva Han in Oakland, walked the streets of Squirrel Hill and paths of Frick Park, met a friend from Allegheny Center C&MA at the Blvd of the Allies Panera over cobblestone and tea, lunched with a pastor at Allegheny Center C&MA's Cafe, dined at Gullifty's before walking to Manor to see Smart People (a film about a fictional CMU faculty member, which I hope to review shortly regarding the value of student/teacher, and flooded me w/campus memories), breakfasted with one faculty at the Wexford Eat-n-Park and another at Pamelas in Shadyside (and picked up a Burnt Almond Torte at Prantl's . . . shhh!  Don't tell Theresa. I already blessed her with some Singapore Rice Noodles).  AND I even added one for the future when coordinating a lunch at the newly renovated Lutheran Center (between Pitt & CMU along Forbes Ave).