Lutheran Campus Ministry at The University of Arizona

Every Friday Pastor Ron and fellow students from our leadership team send out weekly devotions over the LCM listserv. Below are some of our recent devotions.

What do you think? Does this sound like an eatable recipe? Do the diverse food ingredients seem like they would be pleasing to the palate?

This Turkish dessert was a gift brought by several UofA Muslim student guests (Akif, Emre, Zeynep, Aslan, Erkan, Selda, Amhet, Dilshod, and Alishare) to LCM Vespers this past Wednesday eve. The dessert is known as "Noah's Pudding," or "ashure." From the ancient story, when Noah and his family stepped off the ark they gathered all the varieties of food they could find and put it together for a meal. Diverse foods coming together in sweet compatibility.

That was the theme of our Vespers – diversity coming together. We dialogued about prejudices that occur when we don't actually know people from another culture or religion. We shared traditions, TV shows, campus life issues. We learned about Islam, and shared our Christian faith (including singing Holden Evening Prayer). Ahmet (computer science grad student) even demonstrated and sang the beautiful Muslim "call to prayer" for us.

What grabbed my heart was the ease with which we all related to one another. Despite our differences, we're all just plain human beings, beloved creatures and UofA students in God's amazing world. In fact, come to think of it, I think these are the times when I feel most alive and closest to God – when I step across borders and honestly meet people face to face and heart to heart. Maybe this is how God felt when the border between God and Earth was crossed, i.e. when "the Word became flesh to dwelt among us" (John 1:14).

Hopefully we'll connect with these friends again. And hopefully in my own faith life I will find other ways to break through the barriers that divide me from God, from God's Earth, and from other people. I have a hunch that is where we will find the risen Jesus living.

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For our first Vespers last night we looked at the Book of Genesis. Genesis means "beginnings." This 50 chapter book

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Something I was thinking about the other day:

When I was a child I used to go to Camp Aloma, a Lutheran summer camp up in
Prescott, Arizona. At the end of summer when I was thirteen, one counselor
wrote in my "end of the summer" yearbook the verse Proverbs 16:9. He told
me that it wouldn't mean as much to me now as it would in the future. He was
very right.

Proverbs 16:9 says: "In his heart a man plans his course, but the Lord
determines his steps."

I think that as we get older, and especially as college students, so many of our
plans are altered by God's will. It seems as though one day you think you know
which direction you are heading in and the next it can be totally changed by
either an experience or self-doubt. The important thing to remember is that God
is always in control. God knows what he has in store for you and He will
determine your steps in getting there.

It's frustrating and hard to not always know the direction you are going in.
We all can relate to that. But my purpose in reminiscing about this is for you
all to keep in mind that everything will always be okay when you put your
reliance in God. God will determine where we go and how we get there. Remember
the simplest thing about our faith, the first thing we are taught: God loves
us.

Sometimes just relying on that and letting God take control of our busy college
lives is all we need for a bit of relief, and a sense of joy. :)

Find peace as this semester draws to a close,
Love and God Bless,
Bailey Cool

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Hello hello!

Today a few of us went to church in Wilcox, AZ. I have to admit that when my alarm woke me up at 6, I wasn't thrilled and briefly considered not going. But the drive was beautiful (and we saw LLAMAS, which is always a plus) and the people were soooo welcoming. They let us take over their service, had brunch for us, and then put up with us babbling about college. The church has a relatively large high school group, and had asked us to talk to them about what they would have coming up in the next few years. After the question and answer discussion led by PR, we got a chance to talk with some of the students. They said we didn't scare them (we were pretty honest about stuff) and one girl said that we had made her more excited about college. Some of them shared what they wanted to do after they graduate high school, and I couldn't help but smile inside as I thought back to what I would have said back then. Their minds will probably change.

I guess what struck me about the visit was the sense of community I felt from their congregation. It was a little church with a small group of people, but filled with so much kindness. I was expecting the visit to be awkward, which it wasn't, and although we knew that they wanted us to talk with their high school students, I didn't expect the parents and older people to ask questions and seem interested. Additionally, I didn't expect the students to listen, but they did. I guess I never get used to or tired of the community feeling that you get and the bonds you make from having a common relationship with Christ. It makes me wonder how far it'll stretch, and what opportunities that common bond will open up for my future.

So, I guess this devo isn't all that...exciting.....but it's something to think about nonetheless. Have a great week y'all.

Peace,
Erin

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God sightings:

I saw a bobcat this week on my morning walk. Tuesday. It was about 20 feet out our back door. We looked at each other, I probably the more excited one. Then, s/he turned slowly and sauntered away. We heard a cry two nights earlier that sounded like a cross between an owl and a very old cat. Now we think it was this bobcat. We also saw probably the same one cross the road a 1/2 mile from our house in the dark after Vespers on Wednesday. If you've never seen a bobcat (this is only the 4rd time for me), it looks like a stripped tabby house cat on steriods. Not real large, but very muscular.

I was thinking about "sightings", those glimpses that come unexpectedly and rarely, but always leave you feeling like you've been touched by something very special. Maybe even a holy moment. Maybe even a God moment. Why? Because whether the sighting is from nature, or seeing a person that makes you do a double take, or even reading a passage from the Bible and seeing it in a new light, it causes you to stop and look again. In the stopping I realize busy-ness in my life, lack of focus, worrying about foolish things. I realize that there is much that I probably even don't notice that is right in front of my face. Maybe I've walked right past numerous bobcats without even noticing. But you can be sure on my morning walks since, I've kept my eyes a little more alert.

The faith community of LCM should help us all to keep our eyes more open and alert, especially to God moments all around us. Not just in the special times, but in the everyday normal times.

I've been giving haircuts to homeless men at Casa Maria soup kitchen the past 3 Mondays mornings. I'm going again tomorrow. Each time I see people through new eyes. I'm starting to know not just their faces, but also their hair, and heads (many with scars that have stories in them). I'm having lots of God sightings, and feel blessed.

I pray that God will bless us all with sightings this coming week. And especially sightings that will cause us to look more carefully into the world God has given us.

See you soon.

Peace, in Christ

Pastor Ron

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Hello everyone!

"No temptation has seized you except what is common to man. And God is
faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when
you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can stand up under
it." 1 Corinthians 10:13

Winston Churchill was speaking to the House of Commons one day when he gave this
advice, "We must always be ready to meet at our average moment, the thing that
any possible enemy could hurl against us at his selected moment."

I just want us to think about what we are tempted by in our "average moment" and
how we handle what we come across. Do we fall into temptation or do we avoid it?
I know that it can be very difficult when that moment comes up to choose the
best road.

Trials can come with such a force that they blow you off course. Temptation can
strike at your backside and almost give you whiplash! The key is to stay
vigilant and maintain your objectivity and apply the biblical measures of right
and wrong you know to be correct. Martin Luther's standard was a conscience
informed by Scripture and good common sense. It is not God's will that you
have a vacancy of temptation or trials, but that you have victory in temptation
and trials.

Are you ready at this moment to meet what the devil may throw at you or what God
may allow to come your way? Get ready by spending some time in His precious word
this weekend.

--
Ashley Fellers

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We've talked many times about the number of "homes" a person has in college. It's a popular subject, somehow both clichéd and applicable, at the beginning of the school year as we adjust to leaving our hometowns and our families and settling into our new town with our new extended families.

I want to talk about "homes" in a different light. On Wednesday, Betsy talked about a church that was more than a building, something that included people, hope, and pain. Consider what home is to you, besides the building; my childhood home is a place where I am myself, spend time with loved ones, and relax. I am even starting to feel at home in Tucson. Sometimes, though, homes are less simple; neglect or abuse may dissolve the peace that should be found there. Sometimes we turn our back on them for a more glamorous world. Sometimes we simply don't fit there anymore, and it is time to move along.

Thankfully, we have more than one home. Apparently, God forsaw this college student phenomenon and offers it to all. He offers us a place to be ourselves, to spend time with loved ones, to relax. He offers us our faith, his plan for our lives, his son. We have a home with Christ- something more true than anything this world can offer. It need not replace a family home, but it is always there, waiting for its Prodigal son (or daughter) to return. May we recognize the gift we have in our many homes and the gift of perfect love from God, a God who yearns to welcome us back, renew our lives and send us out again ("Call us Home").

I'll finish with a prayer from the "Call us Home" liturgy:

Loving God, we confess that our fear and pride have driven us far from you. Captive to a world of sin, we are restless and adrift, scattering discord and pain in our own an others' lives. Forgive and call us back to the place from which hope springs, love flows, and mercy reigns. Amen.
Erica Tollefson

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Love Yourself that You May Love Another

First of all, to all of you who were aching with disappointment at not getting this "Friday" Devo sent to you on Friday, I apologize. I'm sure it was quite difficult to get through the first two days of your weekends without it. But here it is, your Friday/Sunday Devo.

This devo's going to be about Love. Now, before I begin, I have to admit that I am not a devoted "devo reader." I've probably only read two or three in the entire time I've been at LCM. So if what I write here in this devo has already been written before, in some form or another, I apologize. Hopefully (or maybe not) you don't read all of them either and this'll be new for you.

So this devo's about Love, more specifically, romantic, relationship between two people in college Love, and even more specifically, romantic, relationship between two people in college Christian Love.

What is Christian Love? We know that as Christians we're supposed to Love God more than anything, and that we're supposed to Love our parents, neighbors, enemies, and especially the poor, and that we're supposed to Love them all as we Love ourselves.

So this list of who (and Who) we're supposed to Love as Christians, and how we're supposed to Love them (as ourselves), leads us (or least me) to two questions (1) What is Christian Love within a romantic relationship between two people?, and (2) What does it mean to Love someone as we Love ourselves?

Well, I don't think we can answer the (1)st question without first answering the (2)nd being that the (2)nd tells us how to Love: As we Love ourselves. Now, at first glimpse this seems pretty simple, and we have certainly heard this verse many, many, many times in our lives. But it seems that we often miss something that Christ is trying to telling us here: That we must Love ourselves to Love anyone else. If you don't Love yourself, and you try to follow Jesus' words and Love someone else (maybe in this case a girl or guy that you'd like to pursue a relationship with) like you Love yourself, you're not going to be able to Love them. You're going to "love" them like yourself and you don't Love yourself. So you can't Love them. And you won't believe that they Love you either, for can't accept someone else's Love unless we can Love them, and if we don't Love ourselves, we can't Love them.

So Jesus is saying that to Love someone as He wishes us to (as a Christian) is to Love them as we Love ourselves. And to actually Love someone as we Love ourselves, we must Love ourselves!

Sometimes we get into relationships that serve only as crutches to hold ourselves up amid all of our insecurities and anxieties. In other words, that girl or guy we're in the relationship serves more as a means to making us feel better about ourselves than an end in her or himself. Jesus tells us that this can't be called Love. For when we are in this kind of relationship (and I know many of us have been there) we begin to realize just how much we depend on this person, just how weak and helpless we'd be without them, and we begin to realize we have no idea who we are anymore, and how can we Love ourselves if we don't even have a self to Love? We start to hate whatever it is that we've become. And then we begin to hate that other person, that person we supposedly "love" as ourselves.

We constantly argue and fight because we know that we depend on them, yet deep down we know that we need more than them. We need ourselves. We need to Love ourselves, and we need to Love ourselves in order to Love them.

This isn't to say that we shouldn't feel a passionate need for the beloved. We should. It's to say that that need should flow from the Love that we have for ourselves; that Love that is so great we can't contain it, and have to give it to someone else.

And Christ tells us that when we really, REALLY Love ourselves, we Love ourselves not because we think that we're so great and perfect and sinless, but because we know that we're Loved and accepted unconditionally by God, Who doesn't Love us only when we Love Him, but always, whether we deserve it or not. He gains nothing from us by Loving us. He simply Loves.

This then must be Christian Love, and in this case, Christian relationship Love: To Love the other not so that they may Love us, not because we may gain something from them, but because we wish to graciously give them that Love that we have for ourselves, that Love we gain from knowing that God Loves us.

So what is a Christian romantic relationship between two people? I'm certainly no master at relationships, but I'd say it's a relationship in which the two people can truly Love each other because they truly Love themselves, and can truly give themselves to each other in Love because they have Loved-selves to give. As Christ, we must Love the other not because we need them to Love us, but because we really, really need to Love them.

I pray for both you and myself that we can know God's unconditional Love for us, that through this Love we can Love ourselves, and that with this Love we may Love another as much as we want to, and as much as they deserve.

Peace,

Hunt Hoffman

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During Vespers this past Wednesday, I remember a couple of the students mention that some of the things that give them hope are the little things that people do to show they care. An extra snack here or a hug there could brighten anyone's day. I feel like these are a few things that any Christian would be more than willing to do in order to put a smile on someone's face.

What really amazed me though, were the over 900 people who participated in The University of Arizona's Relay for Life event on Friday to raise $56,000. The vast number of people that showed up to aid The American Cancer Society really helped solidify my faith in the kindness and support that people are willing to give one another.

I also paid special attention to one young man walking as a cancer survivor who never seemed to stop. Whether I was walking around the mall or taking a break, he was always steadily on the go. Even though he walked using forearm crutches and at a slightly slower pace than the majority of the participants, he showed a will to continue that truly inspired me. The strength that he had to complete the morning renewed my hope in all people.

Since hope in not something that comes readily to everyone, I encourage you to search for the little or bigger things that you are capable of doing to promote hope in all people. I also ask that you keep an eye out for the hope that others may instill in you, especially in this coming week as we all prepare for new chapters in our lives.

May your week be filled with a new faith in the hope that Christ's Resurrection brings us,

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Nashville, Tennessee. The city evokes images of Country Music, doesn't it. But I learned this past week while at the ELCA Campus Pastor's conference in Nashville that it means so much more.

Our group of 80+ Lutheran campus pastors had a real treat on the Saturday eve. The Peter Mayer Group blessed us with a private concert. Peter is a studio musician, an A+ guitarist and singer. He records and tours around the country with Jimmy Buffett (of "Margaritaville" fame). Peter is part of Buffett's band, the Coral Reefers.

Also, Peter has strong Lutheran roots, and has written many Christian songs. His band was featured at the 2006 ELCA National Youth Gathering (40,000 high schoolers) at the Alamo Dome in San Antonio, TX. They play jazz, country rock, and classical.

I bought 3 of Peter's CDs. One song in particular grabbed me. It's called "Loose in the World." I think it nails the Easter season so well. Jesus' resurrection means "Jesus is loose in the World." He can't be controlled or kept out, but is alive and stirring things up and wanting to make a difference.

So I asked myself, how is Jesus loose in my life? In my world? Three thoughts come to mind:
1.      Jesus stirs me to be fascinated with him (now more than ever, it seems).
2.      Jesus stirs me to look more deeply into other people's lives (to see behind the façade).
3.      Right now, Jesus is stirring me to think about his message being for the wider family of Life (not only humans).

How is Jesus loose in your life? Is he doing anything interesting? Is he challenging you in a new direction, or trying to slow you down on a wayward path? I pray that you and I both will be given the eyes of faith to see where he is "causing trouble" this week, and find the where-with-all to join him and see where it leads.

One part of the song goes like this: "The word went leaping off the pages, breaking in the windows and leaping over walls. All you asked for was a cool glass of water, and you got a waterfall!"

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In church this morning I realized how often we, as Christians, talk about peace. From the passing of the peace to liturgical responses to the songs we sing during communion, peace is our most common prayer. If it's so easily found in church services, why can't we find it in the world? Why can't we find it in our hearts? There are a lot of types of peace we could hope for: understanding between countries, a canceled class in a busy week, or the kind you find when alone in nature. Tonight, however, I'm aiming small (kind of) and shooting for just one: the peace we talk about in church, the peace that's so complete it's hard to define. Jesus said, "I am leaving you with a gift- peace of mind and heart. And the peace I give isn't like the peace the world gives. So don't be troubled or afraid." I hope, sometime soon, besides finding a moment to catch our breaths in this busy time, we all know this bigger, real peace.

-Erica

The Lord bless you and keep you;
the Lord make his face to shine upon you,
and be gracious to you;
the Lord lift up his countenance upon you,
and give you peace.

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I hope you're finding yourselves well as the end of the year is now at the horizon. God knows, I am. I'm starting to countdown the six weeks left of this year. But really, who's counting?

Multiple reasons exist as to why, of course: The excitement of finishing another degree. The sadness of seeing many friends off for a few months. The burnout that's slowly arising...

It was a sad realization the other day, when I found myself thinking that this will be my 18th year of schooling now done. (Freshmen... shhh) Many missed assignments and stressful nights later, I find myself thankful of having gone through it all. It was a blessing, though not every day seemed like it. We've all been there, sitting in the midst of the storm, offering up the well-spoken supplication and prayer, "God, help me!" Stress, as I'm finding out, is not just confined to school. Regardless, as I countdown to those last days and assignments, I'm finding myself slowly starting to show signs of fatigue. I'm willing to say, I'm getting tired. (No, it's not 9:30 as I write this email)

I'll skip the science lesson and hope that you realize that fatigue and burnout are signs of stress. (Though for those of you who like that type of thing, please read the rest of this paragraph. For all of you others, please follow along with the next paragraph Highlighted with an asterisk) Burnout starts with very physical alerts. Your body is designed to give warning signals of stress overload, which may include insomnia or disturbed sleep, digestive problems, headaches, low energy, chronic tiredness, psychosomatic illnesses, muscle tension, teeth grinding, high blood pressure, libido issues, etc.. Please do note that these are not just obstacles to getting your work done, they are signals by your body to take some time. A few sad facts of the day (and please do note that I work for a Health Center) 1. Stress accounts for 90% of most diseases. 2. Half of all Dr's visits are stress related. 3. Lawyers, doctors, and clergy are the most prone to alcoholism and drug abuse (Sorry PR), 4. Type A people are showing signs of a possible addiction to adrenaline, 5. It is expected that more of us will die from stress-induced illness than old age.

Well, I guess I'm trying to say, relax. That test grade matters, but it really doesn't matter all THAT much. You think that my boss knows that I got a C+ on that accounting test my Sophomore year? (Though if anybody forwards this email to her,...) The answer to that is that she doesn't know, nor would she care if she did.

Life will always be hurried and place deadlines and expectations on you. That's guaranteed. At least give yourself some time now to be healthy. I'm not saying that I lead this department in example, nor did I follow this advice to a tee when I was in your position. But perhaps I needed to hear it. Take some time for yourself: eat a good meal; go out and exercise; call somebody you care for; Take a break; Sleep in; Play a video game; watch the Food Network; etc.... Even our Creator took a day.

Now I'm not saying quit what you're doing. But it's ok to find a better balance that doesn't kill you. It's okay to reset your perspective to what actually matters. Now, I'm not going to be foolish enough to tell you what your priorities should be. You can choose to answer that for yourself, you are an adult now. But, keep your perspective grounded.

Finishing and Farewell - As this will most probably be my last Friday devotion, I sign off today in prayer: God, keep watch over us and give us the wisdom to know when you're there. Even when we're too stressed out to notice. Amen.

- Fernando Ascencio

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The Cross
And taking down the body …(Mark 15:46)

How often do you look in the mirror? I do in the morning (ugh), and probably a few times during each day. What do I see? A guy who looks older than I feel, who probably sees himself differently than others see him, a flawed character with a few scars. On a few occasions in my life I've even spent a few minutes just staring. Hmm. Who really am I?

In the folklore of the Rude clan, I have a relative from a few generations back who never looked in a mirror. "Vanity," she said, and she probably was right. (I don't know if others wished she had looked in the mirror once in a while) But that was her stance, I'm told for religious reasons. I wonder sometimes how that decision affected her self-awareness as a baptized child of God, and sense of how God saw her.

This week is Holy Week in the Christian year. This whole Jesus thing comes to a head on the Cross (on Good Friday). Those two sticks of cut timber nailed in the shape of a T have been described as a mirror reflecting human sin. In other words, if I think my sins are not that big of deal (or the sins of my culture and nation and church), that the effects can be ignored, or that attention can be diverted by keeping ourselves entertained 24/7, well, the Cross shows a different reflection. What does my sin really look like? It looks like the son of God being crucified on a tree. It looks like the nails in Jesus' body, the thorns on his head, the spear stabbing his distended abdomen, and the sweet life draining away. It also looks like abandonment (all Jesus friends forsook him and fled).

Here's the thing: the Cross is a reality to spend time in. It should make us sick inside, and want to look away and get back to more positive things. But it is important to linger. Because if we do, we will also begin to see the Cross not only as a mirror reflecting the world's and my sin, but also a window. And through that window of those twisted outstretched arms we will see a Jesus who resisted the urge to hoard life at other's expense, resisted violence as a way to solve problems, resisted the impulse to dis-identify himself with all people who suffer injustice. We'll see a Jesus who loved even those who crucified him then, and today. I like to think of it as a peek into the heart of God.

I hope your Spring Break is going well, that you are getting some brain rest for yourself, and rejuvenation with your family and friends. Enjoy. Nancy and I are going to worship at Beautiful Savior LC on Good Friday, and Lord of Grace LC on Easter Sunday (then out to brunch with some friends, sometime a pastor usually doesn't get to do on Easter:) See you all next week.

Holy Week and Easter blessings!
Pastor Ron
Rhrude47@yahoo.com

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"Jesus, for instance, had declared that it was harder for a rich man to enter the Kingdom of Heaven than for a camel to squeeze through the eye of a needle. Apparently in America, however, our camels were smaller and our needles larger." – Donald Worster in The Wealth of Nature

I have put off writing a devotion time and time again because, up until now, I have not felt inspired. It wasn't until a class assignment led me to Donald Worster's book entitled The Wealth of Nature: Environmental History and the Ecological Imagination that I knew that I had found something worthy of your time and careful consideration.

In Chapter 1 of his work, Worster discusses "The Nature We Have Lost" by contrasting the "sublime" and "enchanting" wilderness of the colonial United States with the slightly less appealing and bountiful U.S. of today. He not only attempts to address the questions: "how much has been lost in our short years as a nation, [and] how much have we to be nostalgic about," but also, what went wrong?

While Worster acknowledges that the classically cited material forces, "demography, techonology, and energy," have played significant roles in degrading our environment, he also challenges us to dig further for the causes of our environmental woes. Worster asserts that a certain American mindset was, and continues to be, at the root of the problem.

And the mindset? America is Eden, where natural resources are unlimited, and we, the American people, are the "mirror image of that perfect garden of nature and [are within ourselves] benevolent and good." Worster further argues that we have managed to turn greed into a virtue, idolizing the wealthy as the productive, successful, and most worthy members of society.

I have attached the book clipping. I believe that it challenges us, as both Christians and Americans, to think critically about what we hold as "virtuous" and how that influences our interactions with the world around us.

If you have the time, please take the time to read it. I promise that it will be well worth the twenty minutes.

Peace,
Kendal

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Hope you all had a great weekend. I was just thinking--we're about to start the third week of the semester, and only now is it starting to feel like I'm back in school. The last couple weeks have been an awkward "transition period" for me (seeing friends I hadn't seen all break, figuring out my class/work schedule, trying to remember to do HW, etc.) and now I'm finally ready to start with my "normal" life again. Which also means I'm about to get sucked into a schedule that revolves around classes, prioritizing and time management.

Before the week starts, I think it might be a good time to evaluate where we're going and what our priorities are going to be for the semester. School, work, social life, God, extracurricular activities....are these balanced for you? Just something to think about.

Peace to you,

Erin