As I mentioned in my last blog posting, our 2008 commencement is upon us. Two days after our middle son and his classmates graduate from Covenant, Kathleen and I will depart with a wonderful group of first-year students for south India, where we will spend two weeks watching, learning from, and working alongside Indian Christians in their wide-ranging ministry: community evangelism, children’s programs, mercy ministry, tsunami relief. In our previous trips with students to Romania and Kenya, we have been deeply humbled and encouraged as we have witnessed the remarkably fruitful work of our brothers and sisters in these countries, and we are anticipating a similar experience in south India.

In every case thus far, our earnest desire to “help” is always rewarded by our being helped more: to see firsthand the boldness and effectiveness of Christians who are doing ministry that we could never do; to observe types and shapes of ministry that we would never think of; to watch fellow Christians stretch often quite meager resources to accomplish what we might be tempted to consider impossible; to see the Spirit bring results in hearts and lives that remind us that God’s purposes and ways are grander and more lovely than we ever imagined. Click to continue »

With our 2008 Commencement less than three weeks away, I am keenly aware of the excitement and nervousness that grip our graduating seniors (and their parents!). Covenant has provided the context for mind-stretching, relationship-building, discipline-creating, gospel-orienting study and life. Now it’s time to move into the next stage of God’s providential calling. Many of them have long-term plans in place for jobs, graduate schools, missions, weddings – clear next steps in pursuit of God’s specific callings. But some are unsure about exactly what they should be doing and where they should be doing it. And they continue to think and pray and inquire, finding work and homes “for now” as they look ahead.

This is a time when many graduating seniors would love to hear that voice from heaven announcing the future and giving out work assignments! Stories of such clarity, as worthy and wonderful as they are, often lead the rest of us – the vast majority of us – to a kind of discouragement about our own futures. In the absence of God’s voice, how do we know what to do? How do we find the right path? How do we avoid missing God’s purpose for our lives? Click to continue »