Prostitution of Our Souls

Girls thinking through idols in their life

Recently I led a devotional time for a group of college women on the subject of idols. I framed our discussion on the truth that  I have recently discovered in my own life: idols steal our hearts from Jesus in an entanglement of false hope. In a commentary I read while preparing for this time, John Piper explained that in our relationship with God, there is no singleness. We are either faithfully married to God and completely devoted to Him, or we are a prostitute.

A prostitute? I had to stop and think about that.... I look at my life and think it's pretty far from "prostitute." But God's standards are not our standards, and in the book of Hosea, He lays out in pretty thick language how He feels when we run away from His love and into the arms of other lovers.

How often do we think of our idols (the things we put our trust in other than Christ) as inconvenient at worst? No, Hosea explains that our idolatry is equivalent to cheating on our husband with multiple other lovers. Except in this instance it's worse -- way worse -- as God is our faithful and loving husband, and we are the adulterous wife giving herself over to prostitution.

The book of Hosea is probably my favorite book in the Old Testament. Mainly because it has the strongest language concerning the idolatry of Israel and of us even today. Sometimes I need God to make His point loud and clear. And quite honestly, I have a hard time seeing the idols in my life, so Hosea really lays it out for me in a way I can understand. In the book, God makes the prophet Hosea marry a harlot so that he could experience how it feels for God to be married to us. The book gives the picture of an unfaithful wife (Israel in the text, you and me today) continually running away from her husband and after other lovers.

God comes after His bride with discipline and love, in Hosea 2:1-13. Look at the harsh language: the shame of nakedness, slaying her with thirst in a parched desert. Most of the times our idols look like blessings, right? A career, boyfriend or girlfriend, even fulfilling Christian activities, yet God says He will expose all that has the appearance of blessings as a forest the wild animals will devour.  Ouch.

Do we ever really think we'll get to this place? When we go for that next job promotion, how often do we even notice that we are looking to it for the affirmation and acceptance only God can give? Once more, do we really think we are putting ourselves in a position to experience painful thirst, suffering, nakedness, and years of wandering around in the dessert alone?

All the girls at our morning devotional we call "Mug n Muffin"

Before we give in to complete hopelessness, let us remember that God also has tender love for His bride -- Hosea 2:14-23. Isn't this language amazing? He will speak tenderly to her, He will make what was once ruining her, a door of hope. Jesus offers the restoration our hearts are truly longing for. No amount of "free time" and no level of order in my house and life will ever really give me what I'm looking for -- true joy. Only Jesus can give that. He is the living water my soul thirsts for. (John 4:10)

His promise? He will recaptures our hearts. As in all our attempts to find love outside of Him, the adulterous wife cannot find real love in the idols she is chasing. She will go back to her husband, not begrudgingly, or because she has found something newer to satisfy her lust, but out of repentance (turning from self and toward God).

"She will chase after her lovers but not catch them; she will look for them but not find them. Then she will say, 'I will go back to my husband as at first, for then I was better off than now.'"

Hosea 2:7

I could go on, but there are far better resources out there for digging out our idols than what I can share. Here are some of my favorites, and the ones I used with these college women. I hope they help you as you seek to uproot the idols in your life and turn face-to-face with Jesus, the REAL lover of your soul.

Diagnosing Our Idols

Tim Keller -- Idols of the Heart

Feeding Children in Ethiopia

A couple of weeks ago, Cru had their annual Winter Conference in Fort Worth, TX. During the conference students packed meals to be sent to our long term team in Ethiopia, who will be delivering them to the poorest of the unreached people groups in their scope. Students from Texas, Arkansas, Oklahoma and Louisiana raised $19,000 before the conference to make this effort a reality. It was by far one of the most fun outreach experiences of all the Winter Conference's I've attended.

Please pray that as the STINT team in Ethiopia serves the physical needs of these children, that opportunities will arise for the Gospel to be shared and transform the lives of people in this area of the world.

Merry Christmas, grateful for you

Teary eyed watching this and being reminded of all the Lord has accomplished this year...... beyond thankful for those who give and pray faithfully for me and my ministry in Dallas. THANK YOU, Merry Christmas :)

 Campus Crusade for Christ -- Christmas Thank You from Masterworks on Vimeo.

First few weeks on campus....

Every year we remember the statistic that freshman are more interested in the Gospel during their first 6 weeks on campus than any other time in their college careers. Because of this our team has been planning and praying hard for reaching out during these crucial first weeks on campus.

As our staff team prayed, I was reminded that it was 2 weeks BEFORE my first college class that I had found the group of people I would spend the next 2 years with. I jumped head first into the fraternity parties, sorority events, and got into a relationship that led me further from Christ than I had ever been. I would never have walked into a church or campus ministry on my own accord, but I would have responded if someone cared enough about me to get to know me and share how I could have hope outside of the typical college experience.

 

It is because of this that we are motivated to stand outside in the 110 degree heat passing out popsicles and getting into conversations with freshman. Here are some pics from our table at the Mean Green Fling, where hundreds of student organizations set up tables to tell freshman what their group is all about.

Mean Green Fling

You also know that I have a huge heart for sorority women, since I was in a sorority myself. We have started this semester by visiting each chapter and making announcements about our Cru events. These announcements are not meant to terminate on themselves. We want to make significant contacts with women in each house in hopes of getting in front of their freshman to share how to balance life in college and think deeply about the spiritual part of life. These freshman talks translate into one-on-one conversations where our staff women will get to know these women and have an opportunity to share where they can find their greatest satisfaction in college -- Jesus.

Here is a picture of the books we passed out as a give-away in each house. The book gives a real look at the Sex & The City lifestyle that so many young women aspire towards. The author, Marian Jordan, talks candidly of her life experience and how she was looking for love in all the wrong places... leaving her thirsty, drained, and even more empty, and how Jesus is the only one that truly satisfies the desires of our hearts. For more on Marian's ministry visit: http://www.redeemedgirl.org/

Sex & The City Uncovered books for sororities

This past Thursday we had our first Cru event called "The Big Something." We gathered outside a dorm in the middle of campus, played live music, gave away free sno-balls, and played some volleyball. All this in hopes of meeting some new students and inviting them to be a part of our community. One of our staff guys told us later he counted 85 students at this event -- praise God!  

Some students came because we handed them a flier at the Mean Green Fling, some came because their friend invited them, and some just came because they heard the music from their dorm. This was a great encouragement to us to see that students who had no idea what we were about took a risk to come to our event alone and get to know us. What a huge step for a freshman! We are having the same event next Thursday and are encouraged by the Lord that this was His will for us. We will be kicking off our regular weekly meeting (worship & bible study) on Sept. 15. 

Student Leaders at The Big Something

Here are some things to pray for:

• That many freshman would walk by our 2nd The Big Something and that we would get into spiritual conversations with them 
• We have tables doing spiritual surveys with students every day this week -- pray for divine appointments and for energy/perseverance through the heat and long days
• That we would be able to develop relationships with sorority freshman

Student guys filling out spiritual surveys

Staring Fear in the Face

The lies get worse as they stream though your mind. You do not wander as the adulterous woman (Proverbs 5:3-6). You are a new creation -- a daughter of the King who has clothed you with strength and dignity (Proverbs 31:25). You have no reason to feel ashamed -- because the blood of Christ has cleansed you from all unrighteousness. (1 John 1:9) Beauty is fleeting and should not be trusted in; seek after the fear of the Lord. All fear exists because at one point it was reality. Once you experience something as reality it is hard to forget. We need your grace to help us remember that another person's sin does not define us. Your own sin doesn't define you because you are in Christ -- He defines you and gives you worth. You will not crumble under it.

 

You are broken and fallen.

But God is victorious through Christ's death and resurrection (Isaiah 25:8)

You cannot put your trust in man. All others will fail you. God, insecurity need not be projected on another. We are tempted to lay it on the ground, but I rather surrender it to you. Father, fear shows the truth about who we are -- that we do not really trust you. We don't trust you are who you say you are -- we don't trust you have our best interest at heart and we do not really believe you love us. Confession to you is freedom. In that I can truly breathe.

And I have this foundation: there is nothing in my history that confirms you will leave me all alone. I cannot look back on my life and say there was a time you were not with me. You are faithful, and keeper of my soul. You define my worth in every way (Psalm 139:1). You have not left me alone as an orphan or abandoned me (John 14:18). You protect me and guide me. I can trust your voice. I can trust your Spirit will reveal truth to my soul and direct me by your powerful word (Romans 2:12).

Love is a risk. We have to be willing to risk to follow you. Lord, to revel in your outstanding, immeasurable love that overcomes all confusion, brokenness, and brutal missing of your perfect mark. We are but small beggars trying to get by. But you have given us power to conquer over fear (Romans 8:37).

The Spirit of truth that dwells and lives within me: You have given me light and life where I deserved death and darkness. Despite of who I am you did this. Despite my rebellious treason against your authority, you love. You fight for me. Help me drink in that grace. Because by the grace of God and sacrifice of Jesus in death and resurrection, claiming victory over death, you say I am. With all authority in Heaven and on Earth, you say I am chosen.

Idols.

Lori's fun personality :)

Most of you know I lived in Branson, MO for most of the summer. There were about 35 students on the summer project we were hosting. One of those students is Lori. Lori is from Maryland, and is a student at UNT. I got to know Lori when I reported to campus in March. We met for coffee at Einstein Bagel on campus, and she shared her story with me. Lori is an open book, a woman who others naturally follow, and passionate about living a life intimately connected to Jesus.

Lori had the privilege of teaching the other student women on project on the subject of idols. Our church in Denton has been discussing this topic recently, and Lori has been learning a lot about this subject in her personal times with the Lord. I'll let Lori tell you about her talk to these women:

I talked about how we first have to identify what our idols are and then seek why we ultimately put those things before God. My main idol is relationships (with both boys and girls). Those are things God has given me, but when I make them absolute by going to them in troubled times over God they became more of a burden. My root idol goes back to approval and comfort though, so when I realized that's why I had been putting those things first, then I was able to find that in God. My favorite part of the night was the end where we all prayed. Everyone just said one word or a phrase that came to mind, whether it be something they want to give up, a fear, or what they're thankful for. My prayer was that the Spirit would be moving especially in that time and I think He was. I enjoyed speaking and I think it was a good learning experience for me.  Some of the girls were tearing up at the end of prayer, and they said they really enjoyed it and that it was different than anything they had ever done before!

Romans 1:18, 21-25  

Isaiah 44:9

Colossians 3:5

Romans 6:14 

This summer Lori discipled 3 staff kids -- here she is with Maloree

No other name.

I'm home from spending 10 days in beautiful Ft. Collins, CO for our US Staff Conference. About 5,000 staff from all over the United States came to be refreshed and encouraged by the leaders of our ministry as well as other well known Christian leaders. I felt challenged a lot over the past week and a half, and have been thinking a lot about how I live out my faith. Is Jesus really my life? Am I willing to do anything and go anywhere for the sake of people hearing about the scandalous love of Jesus? Over the past two years, the organization I work for has been asking themselves the same questions. Are we doing everything we can as a movement to connect people to the abundant life Jesus promises?

While I was in Colorado, it was announced that we will be changing our name from Campus Crusade for Christ to Cru. In speaking with people who do not know Christ but would be interested in hearing more about how they could begin a relationship with Him, 20% said they would no longer be interested in talking with us about Jesus if they knew our name was Campus Crusade for Christ. Most organizations would say 2% is considered a very high percentage of people to negatively respond toward a name. Wow. We are committed to doing anything we need to do in order for others to hear about the saving love and grace of Jesus. With overwhelming feedback from countless individuals that our name was actually hindering us from connecting with others about Christ, we have changed the name of our US ministry to Cru. I personally could not love the name more. I think it will draw people in to the organization, causing people to ask "What are you about?" We are passionate about connecting others to Jesus. Since the leadership of our organization has done such a great job at explaining the name change, I will let them speak instead of me repeating what they have already said so well. Below are two videos that explain more behind the heart of the name change.

It is by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth,

whom you crucified but whom God raised from the dead, 

that this man stands before you healed. 

Jesus is ‘the stone you builders rejected,

   which has become the cornerstone.’

Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name

under heaven given to mankind by which we must be saved.”

Acts 4:10-12

Steve Douglas, President of CCC

Together