Leah Rade

A Lesson In Community From 8 Wheaton Seniors

During our long drive to Chicago-land on Saturday night/Sunday morning, we walked down memory lane with Michael, reminding him that the thing that intimidated him the most before his freshmen year, is the thing he now most embraces - community life.

He was especially excited about his senior year, living with 7 other men who began their Wheaton journey three years ago on the same freshmen hall. I remember Michael completing a survey, somewhat like the one we use to assist us in placing people in community groups.  Then, the housing team, using the information collected in the surveys, strategically placed these men together on their hall; similar to how we place people into groups.

Here's the lesson - while these men did not have a choice regarding their placement in their freshmen year, as they relied on the housing office to place them; they have had every choice since then regarding who they "do life" with.  Each one of these eight men have lived together in some configuration during the past three years, with the great opportunity to live together their final year in a senior house.  They share together, pray together, attend church together, talk about girlfriend issues together, eat together, play together and are in Bible study groups together...they live in community!

If you're not in a community group, let us help you get into one.  Fill out this brief survey and we'll connect you with a group.  While you might feel a bit weird about getting placed into a group, reflect on this story, know that we've got you're best interest at heart (we pray about our groups every day), then see where God leads you.  Michael and his group of unique friends, who were placed together three years ago, will be in one another's weddings; be there when each new child is born; cry over life-stuff, and be there for each other...forever.

Michael W. Smith

I'm so excited for my son, Michael today!  Renowned songwriter and singer, Michael W. Smith led worship and spoke during today's chapel service at Wheaton College.  I'm sure that the experience was awesome.  You can listen to the chapel message later this week by logging onto Wheaton's chapel archives. 

Michael called me in January and told me that Michael W. Smith was going to lead chapel on April 7th and you could tell how excited he was.  But last night when Michael called, just before our community group began, I could tell that he was really excited about something.  Then he told me that he was going to attend a songwriter's workshop today at 3:30 PM (central time), led by Michael W. Smith.  That's one hour from now!  Michael (my son) has been writing songs since the age of 6.  This is his major creative outlet. He even taught himself how to play piano last summer.  I just can't wait to hear about his experience today. 

Billy Graham Call In Center

I had a great conversation with our son, Michael, this evening when he called to tell us about his new volunteer position with the "Billy Graham Call In Center".  He learned from one of his professors last week that Wheaton College hosts one of the largest Billy Graham Crusade call in centers in the country.  During any re-broadcast of Billy Graham's crusades, 47 phone lines at the Wheaton Call Center are staffed by trained volunteers, answering calls for about 2 hours following the broadcast.  Michael completed training yesterday and then spent about 1-1/2 hours answering calls.

I assumed that the majority of calls would come from people wanting to commit their lives to Christ, so I was surprised to discover that only 30% of the calls are from people seeking salvation.  About 12% of the calls involve prayer requests.  The remaining 50+% come from people seeking assurance.  These people have at one time in their lives made a commitment to Christ, but because of...get this, temptation issues, feel isolated from God, even questioning their salvation.

In light of our Tempted series kick off today and my small group starting tonight, I was totally blown away by the timing of our conversation; learning even more about the power of temptation and how Satan uses it to deceive people into believing they have lost their salvation.

If you missed the message today, check it out here and then join us for another powerful message next Sunday at 11:00 PM. 

Tempted

I am extremely excited about the Tempted series, which begins tomorrow, because everyone deals with temptation.  Recognizing this, Wheaton College provides all of their incoming freshman men (and I assume women) with a booklet indicating ways to avoid temptation.  The suggestions include:

• placing computer monitor facing the door where it can easily be seen by everyone;
• remove TVs from dorm rooms if they become distractions;
• join a community group;
• find an accountability partner;
• daily Bible reading;
• pray

These are just a few suggestions, but I bet Pastor Dave will have tremendous insight during the four-week series...and you don't want to miss it.  Do you struggle with temptation?  Have you overcome temptation?  We'd love to hear your story and you can share it anonymously.  Check out www.beentempted.com where you can share your story and discover useful resources too.

Run from anything that stimulates youthful lusts.  Instead, pursue righteous living, faithfulness, love, and peace.  Enjoy the companionship of those who call on the Lord with pure hearts.  2 Timothy 2:22

Melancholy Mama

This morning Michael boarded a plane destined for O'Hare International Airport, Chicago.  He is beginning his junior year at Wheaton College, 20 miles west of Chicago.  While I'm sad for me, I'm so happy for Michael, as Wheaton has been the perfect fit for him.  As we sat and reminisced last night, Michael described his freshman year as "perpetual summer camp, only with lots of studying."  He enjoyed his sophomore year because he developed deep relationships.  This morning as we were saying our goodbyes, he said that he felt like he was going to a "family reunion."  His enthusiasm lessened the sting of knowing we probably won't see him until Christmas. 

The Marion Wade Center at Wheaton College has one of the largest collections of my favorite writer, C. S. Lewis.  During our visit last year, I was so excited to see and touch C. S. Lewis' childhood wardrobe, which inspired the great classic, The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe.  I also get excited knowing that Michael is attending a college which has developed great leaders and influencers.

A few of the notable Alumni:

Billy Graham - Great Evangelist
Rob Bell - Author, Christian speaker and Sr. Pastor of Mars Hill Bible Church
Josh McDowell - Christian Apologist
Philip Yancey - Christian Author
John Ortberg - Author and Pastor (former teaching pastor at Willow Creek Community Church)
Michael Gerson - Sr. advisor to President George W. Bush
Dennis Hastert - Former Speaker of the House
Todd Beamer - Passenger on Flight 93 (crashed in Penn. on 9/11/01).  Todd led the others passengers, saying "Let's Roll."  The new student union is dedicated to him.

We're  already missing Michael, but I know that he's at one of the finest colleges in the country, with great friends and brilliant professors.  I can't wait to hear about his adventures.

PS - A cute story - One of Michael's professors asked the class if they had ever heard of the cartoon, Veggie Tales?  Of course everyone in the class raised their hands.  Michael said that she seemed surprised.  She continued to tell the class that her son, Phil, was one of the creators.

Ruth Bell Graham

I've been a bit melancholy this evening after learning that Ruth Graham died this afternoon.  I'm not sad for her, because she no longer suffers from osteoarthritis, or pneumonia.  She is with her Lord, whom she served so faithfully for 87 years.

I guess that I'm sad for her family and for humanity.  While I've always been familiar with Billy Graham, I just recently learned about his faithful wife.  Two years ago, while attending parent/freshman orientation at Wheaton College with our son, Michael, we visited the Billy Graham Museum, located in the Graham Center on Wheaton's campus.  Billy Graham met Ruth while both attended Wheaton College and Wheaton honored Billy Graham in 1979 by dedicating their newest and largest building to their most famous graduate. 

The Billy Graham Museum is very impressive, chronicling his life, ministry and family life.  I enjoyed the section of the museum dedicated to his family, wife and children, where I discovered the woman beside the great evangelist.  Ruth was an intelligent woman from a missionary family who made the choice to support her husband in his ministry. 

As I sit here reflecting on her life I opened my Bible to Proverbs 31:10-31.  The woman described in this chapter has outstanding abilities and is a picture of a woman with strong character.  Just as Proverbs begins with the command to fear the Lord and ends with a tribute of a woman who fulfills this command; Ruth Graham began her life with a fear of the Lord and ended her life in complete obedience.