Making Intentional Time for God

     Feeling spiritually empty?  Like you're not feeling God in your life?  It's something that a lot of people struggle with.  One of the things I appreciate about CMU is how we create an environment that helps keep us close to God.  One recent example of this is a small group that has been formulated with the intent of spending intentional time with God.  Every week day, for an hour, this group gets together to spend time in silent reflection with God.  We read through the Psalms, one a day, and then spend some time in silence, making space for God.  The practice is called Lectio Divina, or spiritual reading, and it is a practice that Christians have used for thousands of years to help facilitate connections with God.

     Spiritual disciplines are a bit of a paradox.  They don't create intimacy with God, but when practised regularly they can create good conditions for God to move in our lives.  These disciplines include prayer, fasting, spiritual reading, and many others.  They can be very important in opening us up to intimacy with God.

    One class that has helped me a great deal in this regard is Exploring Christian Spirituality.  This intensive class pushed me to articulate my understanding of Christian spirituality and to practice spiritual disciplines.  My idea of Christianity greatly changed through the experiences I had that semester.  I learned that the impetus was at least partially on me as an individual to cultivate opportunities for God to enter my life.  

     If you're interested in spiritual disciplines, a great place to start is Soul Feast: An Invitation to the Christian Spiritual Life by Marjorie J. Thompson.  It's an easy read, and a good introduction to spiritual disciplines and practices.

    What I especially appreciate about this group is the community aspect.  I feel so much more comfortable spending time with God if it is with others as well.  Going on the journey together provides us with a support network, as well as ongoing opportunities to help others.  
     If you are on campus and want to join, swing by Lee's apartment in Katherine Friesen Apartments at 10:30 in the morning Monday to Friday.  If you don't live here, maybe you want to experiment with some spiritual disciplines, either with others or by yourself.  The spiritual growth can be amazing!

You Might Also Like:
My Definition of Christian Spirituality
Q & A with Pastor Dan
Spirit

CMU Grad 2011

Last Week of Classes

     Well, here we are at the last week of classes.  Yours truly has just realized that he really needs to get moving to get everything done because he's been putting too much on the back burner.  We are all out of here in just over two weeks.  
     The weather has been excellent for the past while, which is good because it allows us to get outside for walks after we've been feeling rather cooped up in residence for the past few months.  During this time of intense work, it's important to keep from feeling isolated; to still make time for others.  
     It's also important to make time for God.  I've realized how I'll start to feel really empty if I skip spending time praying and reading for more than a day or two.  It's kind of crazy how direct this connection can be - my happiness right now is directly connected to spending time with God.
     It's interesting to think about life being comprised of relationships, and our happiness being dependent on how we're doing in those relationships.  Our friendships with God and others - how much of a bearing does that have on our happiness?
     

Pranks

     Picture time.  What is this, do you ask?  Let me interpert the picture for you.  The clothes in the snow belong to Matt Mayers.  He is being pranked by Rianna Isaak.  Why is he being pranked?  I believe it was for throwing something at Rianna.  She froze the clothes, by the way..! 

     What did Matt think of all this?  Let's ask him.

     He won't say anything.  Is he actually upset, or just faking it?  We'll never know.

     Was I asked to help?  Yes, I was.  They asked me to get some clothes from Matt's room -- so I locked his door and then told them it was locked and I couldn't get in.  Oops! 

     I was also pranked by Rianna -- she put cafeteria food (FROM THE FLOOR!) under my pillow.  Will there be retaliation?  Stay tuned....

Show your Support!

     Sports are an important part of the lives of many CMU students.  The CMU Blazers have men's and women's basketball, volleyball, and soccer teams.  This upcoming weekend is a big one for us -- the men's and women's basketball teams face Red River College on friday and saturday.  I'm sure there will be vans heading out -- go and support your CMU Blazers!
     In the spirit of this weekend, I want to share a video my friend Laura made on the bus trip to Bottineau North Dakota last semester.   She's a member of the student media team. Take a look:

Vlog - Laura Tait "Bus trip to Bottineau" from CMU Media on Vimeo.

     The sports teams have been very busy this year -- it's been an especially good year for the women's volleyball team, who had 15 wins, with only 1 loss to Providence College.  We had mixed results in other areas, but fun was had, and that's what counts, right?  This weekend we're vying for 3rd place in our games against Red River.  If you're around, come on out!

Mikado Sneak Peek

    

     The Mikado is going brilliantly.  We've been working hard to put the finishing touches on it this past week, and the first show was yesterday.  It's showing tonight and Saturday at 7:30pm, and Sunday at 3pm, so come on out if you want to see an awesome show!  Tickets are $5 for students, $15 for adults, and $12 for seniors.  Phone CMU at (204) 487.3300; they are also avaliable at the door.



Into the Craziness!

     Well, it might be a surprise to some of you high-school students, but in the university world we are more than half-way through the semester.  My life is getting crazy with Mikado practices every night and a 25 page paper to work on during the day.  And it's not just me feeling the stress!  Here's the funny thing, though - it seems like socializing actually can go up a bit during times of stress.  How, you ask?  It's a proven fact!  Take a look at this:

"Piled Higher and Deeper" by Jorge Cham -- www.phdcomics.com.  Used with permission.

     Now, keep in mind that a responsible student does get everything done.  What suffers?  You got it.  Sleep!  You know what they say - about how you gain energy by spending energy?  It's true.  If you're tired but don't want to sleep, just do something and (usually) energy will come back.  It's worked for me so far!

     It's really very good that reading break is over.  I got far too much work done because there was no one to ever distract me.  Well, now the party has started once again.  Looking forward to what's in store for the rest of the semester.  Take care of yourselves!

Mikado + Reading Break

Hey, how's it going?


1.  I need to put a plug in for the Mikado.  It's an opera that CMU is putting on, written by Gilbert and Sullivan about love, executions, Japanese gentlemen and scandal.  It's happening March 3-5th at 7:30pm on North Campus, and Sunday March 6th at 3pm.  Tickets are $5 for students.  Come on out!


2.  This past week was reading week.  There were many things going on: a group of students went to Nashville Tennessee to help people rebuild houses as part of Mennonite Disaster Service; others went travelling to Florida for vacation.  I went home and buckled down for a week of work.  I'm going to have much more free time now!


3.  It's getting warmer..!

Project: Valentine

     Don't just sit there.  Take action!

    The 2011 Art of Peacebuilding class was charged with making a creative difference in our community.  Here's the question: can we make Valentine's Day more important than it is?  St. Valentine was a priest in Rome who was martyred on February 14th.  Though his work, he is one of many individuals who through their actions have shown Christ's love.  Why not plaster campus with artwork commemorating those who have shown love and worked for peace?

    Real Love.  True Peace.

Refreshing Winds

The CMU singers surround the audience during the opening worship session

     Refreshing Winds was very cool.  
     It's CMU's blockbuster conference on worship which they host every two years.  Stretching from last Thursday to Saturday, it attracted people of every denomination from all over Canada.  This year, we had Brian McLaren and Steve Bell as special guests.  Steve Bell is a prolific singer and songwriter based right here in Winnipeg, and Brian is one of the most prominent Christian writers in North America.

    The campus was packed.  Many of those attending were living on campus for the weekend and many more were eating in the cafeteria.  The days were also extremely warm (just below freezing) which is very weird for Winnipeg!  
     My favorite part was the 1/2 hour presentation Friday morning about us as Christians being open to other faiths, rather than continuing down the road of not listening, but attacking the other.  Brian talked about the four stages of faith.  It was about how we move from "us-vs-them" thinking into a more relaxed, more loving attitude.  Here are the four stages:


simplicity - Us vs. them, where only one can be right.
complexity - There are many ways of doing things. 
perplexity - There are so many perspectives.  Who knows who is right?
holistic - Give up the search for knowing everything, and just follow God using basic essentials (such as 'love your neighbor').


     Brian stressed that it's too simplistic to call the fourth stage the best.  Each stage has something to teach us, and you can't rush people through the stages.  They will move when they are ready.  Unfortunately, though, many churches will cater to a single stage (like stage 1) and leave people in others out in the cold.  
     This is big thinking, which goes beyond what some churches would be willing to consider.  Taking this larger view and looking for the patterns allows us to understand what's going on, where our path might lead.  It legitimizes those who are having difficulties with their faiths who may feel marginalized in their churches.
     I'm glad I was able to attend this conference.  It raised many points about faith that I hadn't considered before.
     

God-Reliant vs. Self-Reliant

     Once in a while, I have an spiritual experience that sticks with me.  
     Last week a very good friend of mine, Christy, shared the story of her life in Chapel.  It's an amazing story where it is so obvious that God pursued her and helped save her from her previous lifestyle.  Here is someone who hit rock bottom and God has turned her life completely around.  
     I'm sitting in the audience unsure what to think.  I realize that if anyone else said what Christy did about her conversion experience, I wouldn't have believed them.  I would have brushed it off.  Life doesn't work that way.  But coming from my good friend, I have to take it seriously.  Which leads to hard questions.  Why are miracles so hard to believe?  Why am I skeptical?  Am I growing blind to what God can do?
     Christy has seen Jesus.  Actually seen him.  Does that sound hard to believe?  Does it make you cringe just a little bit?  Too good to be true?  Yeah, me too.  
     That's why I'm scared.  Because I don't think about God often enough.  Usually, I know what I want, I have my plans, and I work to get them done.  I succeed at school because I work.  If I'm feeling burnt out, I'll continue to be burnt out until I change something.  I'll sometimes take my life to God and ask for help, but then I act as though I still need to solve everything.
     Some people would praise this as being self-reliant and self-responsible.  But if I'm self-reliant, how can I be drawing closer to God?  If I have the answers, what is there left for God to do?  Will God help someone who doesn't always think he needs help?

Why I'm Not Leaving Yet

Being a student allows you to have fun experiences you can't  otherwise have!

     Last week, I made a very important decision.  It took me months of thinking, but I've decided that I will not be graduating in April.  It also took a fair amount of convincing to get my parents on board.  They've always encouraged me to move fast, and finish my degree quickly.  And that is what I did for my first two years.  But last semester I took only three courses and a choir, because that's all I needed to take for my program.  Last semester was also my best ever.  Coincidence?  Nope!  
     Taking three courses allows me to balance my time and actually make time for other people.  Three courses allows me to make time for exercise and the other stuff I'm involved in.  Three courses allows me to actually do all of the readings and dig into my courses instead of sprinting all semester.  And most importantly, three courses makes all of the above more fun.
     Here's the thing: finding at the end of your university experience that you've sprinted through it sucks.  This period of your life can be some of the most important years you will have.  That's not meant to pressure or guilt you, but rather to get you to focus on the now rather than the "four-years-from-now-when-I-finally-become-an-adult".  The last is an illusion: four years from now you will still be you.  Perhaps the question is whether you will have sprinted through this time and ended up with a degree (which is good) or whether you will have taken your time, invested in the people around you, worked interesting student jobs that build your skill set, and generally had a blast (which is great).  Some people can take a full-course load and still do all those things.  Many can't.  
     What will be more important when you're looking for a job?  A younger person will excellent marks?  Or a slightly older person with excellent marks but who also has spent their time in university growing in many, many ways that can't be found in the classroom?  I know who I'd hire.
     My epiphany was that I don't necessarily need to speed through this time.  So I'll be around for a while longer.  


(PS: Now is the time to apply for summer student jobs if you're already in university or high school!  Check out my post here.)
     

Wisdom from the Heart

1.  There are some movies that just should never be watched.  Take the original Pink Panther movie.  It'll be good right?  Watching it with your friends is a good idea right?  No.  Never watch it.

2.  Realize that if you're signing up for both a chorus and an opera, you're going to be doing a lot of singing.  While the last might appear fairly obvious, I didn't quite realize how intense this would be!  Last weekend - 15 hours.  This weekend - 12 hours.  Phew!

3.  Grade 12 students: now is the time to apply for CMU's scholarships.  Are you a leader?  Don't think too hard.  Apply!

What Fifteen Hours of Singing in Three Days Does to a Student (the lab experiment)

Four REAL gongs guaranteed.

    This past weekend has given "intensity" a whole new meaning for the Men's and Women's Chorus.  We are preparing to sing Krzysztof Penderecki's "Seven Gates of Jerusalem" with the Winnipeg Symphony Orchestra.  The piece is an hour long - to give you an idea of scale, the WSO is bringing no less than four gongs to the performance (along with a plethora of other instruments!)  The piece was originally commissioned for the city of Jerusalem, consists entirely of bible verses spoken in Latin, and sounds like a bomb going off (the music, not the Latin.  The Latin is just confusing!)
     For anyone who is also involved in the Mikado opera, this makes the entire weekend intense.  I sung for fifteen hours last weekend, which pretty much makes me a temporary music student.  Joining us are a number of volunteers, bringing the entire number up to something monstrous and ensuring that we really will destroy something (or someone) when we perform it on February 4th.

                     

           Our fearless leaders.

    Rudy Schellenberg and Janet Brenneman are our fearless leaders, and they are doing their jobs well.  But you must understand what we are up against - the choir is divided at times to twelve separate parts, so basically everyone is singing something different, and no amount of cookies can disguise the fact that aren't always sure what these Latin words mean (despite the translations).  
    Never fear - it's challenging, but we are working hard and we shall prevail!  The performance will be something to remember - I can guarantee it.  I'd suggest that you book Friday February 4th off, and get to the Centennial Concert Hall for 8pm.
     Oh, and what does fifteen hours of singing do to a student over the weekend?  At least one person I talked to told me she couldn't sleep because "one-two-tee, one-two tee, one-two-tee" was stuck in her head all night.  In fact, some of the only people who were just fine (and even found the entire experience enjoyable) were music students.  
     Figures, doesn't it?

what did you do over christmas holidays?

    It's funny how after two and a half years at CMU, my hometown seems like a bit of a dream.  When I got back to Niverville in late December, it felt kinda weird.  Friends I hadn't seen in far too long.  Family who I dearly missed.  I kept very busy this Christmas.  Some of my highlights:


1.  Playing an all-day board game with my friends (seriously, from 10am-6pm).


2.  Midnight trip to a really sketchy Winnipeg McDonald's.

Sketch restaurant, great people!

3.  Attending a really cool Christmas service at my church with a jazz rendition of the Christmas story.

4.  Lots of eating!

5.  Skiing and almost getting caught on the lift for 45 mins.

6.  Watching all the Pirates of the Caribbean movies with my sister, and then realizing that they are making another one (it's due out May 20th!)

7.  Going to a large water park in the US overnight.

     I had a good time.  At the same time, I'm really excited to be back at CMU - I started missing people almost as soon as I left!  Most schools in the Winnipeg area begin today or tomorrow, but classes started for us yesterday.
     Welcome to 2011!

Personalities Under Pressure

     The past week has seen a noticeable change on campus.  Everyone suddenly seems super busy writing papers, preparing for exams, and finishing up assignments.  It's crunch time.  You may hate it or you may love it, but you do have to go through it.
     People respond to pressure in different ways.  It's interesting to see how people change when they are stressed.  As a service to the CMU community and the world at large, I have compiled this Personalities Under Pressure (PUP) list.

The PUP List
1. Super-Big-Joke types.  These types of people see life as one big joke once they get past mid-November.  They are often seen hanging out in lounges, but not usually studying.  Rather, they are asking people to go on walks, or watch movies.  They usually have to haggle, but since these types of people are usually very persuasive, they get their way and procrastination ensues.  

Obviously a type 1.

2. The Facebook Junkie.  These people respond to the pressure of assignments by going on Facebook.  Or rather, living on Facebook.  Since they feel the need to get work done, they don't hang out with others much.  They go to their rooms, and usually get as far as the next sentence in that paper before going online and posting something like "3/1500 wds here i go" and "i just want to go home" and "what is IDS?".  Often within the first half hour.


3. Hide-and-Work.  These types of people will hang out and have fun, but will then take an extra large coffee and a big stack of books and go to South Campus and hide in the study room downstairs, where they will attempt to get work done.  And possibly attack anyone who bothers them. note: a type 3 is often also a type 1.  

Ahh..peace and quiet. No people. No internet access.  Just you and 5634 words.  

4. Balance? What balance?  These people will go all the way.  And by that I mean, they will save those two ten page essays with the back-to-back deadlines until forty-eight hours before.  Then they will proceed to work.  Starting at 9pm, they will work until 8am, take an hour nap, and then work for 9 hours more, have another coffee, and then proceed to continue working until it's all over.  Don't knock it - the job gets done.  The conversations with said people after all this tend to be rather humorous as well.  (This was me in first year.)


5. The Bragger. Every so often, you will get someone who worked really hard all semester and now has very little work to do.  They wander the halls aimlessly, with no one to hang out with, since everyone else is working.  To help console themselves, they may start bugging others, bragging about their achievements.  Enough said.


6. Angry.  This one's fun.  These types of people will either stop talking and just start growling more often, or talk more often about other people, or "The Institution" and how they want to leave.  They will complain about this or that prof, this and that "stupid" assignment, and so forth.  If you don't sympathize, they might then get annoyed with you.  Isn't drama exciting?


So there you have it.  Thankfully, this pressure will last only for a few weeks more, and then we can all cool off next to Christmas trees and hot apple cider.  Until then all best in attempting to keep your sanity (rolling around in the snow helps).

In the spirit of risky behaviors, this picture has been used without permission.

     T.S. Eliot once wrote that "only those who risk going too far can possibly find out how far one can go."  Risk.  It's pushing yourself to do something you're scared of.  It's about facing the possibility of failure.  Now, one shouldn't allow oneself to be pushed into risky behaviors.  But if it's what you want, then you should go for it and have the perseverance to follow through.  
     Here's an example.  I love performing.  And yet I take a tremendous risk whenever I get up in front of people.  And believe me, I can feel it.  It's even worse when the performance is an audition for a play.  What I'm feeling is the risk of rejection, and it's scary.
     Here's one thing I've noticed at CMU -- most of us could be more risky.  Many of us have things we'd like to do but don't.  Here's my question - why not do what you want?  Whether it's saying "no" more often, signing up for the opera (I hear there's a few male choir spots left), asking that person out, or organizing that event - why not do it?
     This campus is becoming too predictable.  Please do something risky today!  Why would you risk?  The more you risk, the freer you'll feel.  It's worth it!

CMU Dance Crew!

A Well Done Prank

     Okay -- it's time to talk pranks.  Pranks are "one of those things".  By that I mean that they are unofficial.  I'm sure The Institution would much rather we avoid them.  Nonetheless, they are an important and longstanding dorm tradition that cannot entirely be replaced by more modern techniques (just ask any alumni or faculty -- especially from the "old days.")  In my first year the entire resident population in Concord Hall decided to hold a dance party at 3 a.m. in the hallway where the exhausted Outtatowners were staying.  This year I was quite impressed with the women of the second floor Poettcker Hall res -- they microwaved  what must have been 90 bags of popcorn and then threw it in our hallway, rigging the doors so that we'd also get it in the face upon exiting.  I found out later that they had been making popcorn for weeks in advance.  
     But how does one prank someone else?  How can you make sure you're doing it right?  Never fear -- I will now present to you the basics of a well done prank.


A Well Done Prank
Step 1: (8 pm) blow up a tremendous amount of balloons.

         

Hmm.. should I pose for the picture or ignore the camera?

half-way done!

Step 2: (11:30 pm) Go to Tim Horton's

When you have 4-1/2 hours to kill, where else would you go?

Step 3: (4 am) Transport balloons into subject's room.

          

   

     It took Andrea almost an hour to get out of her room in the morning.  Incidentally, she had mentioned something about a room full of balloons a while back.  What a coincidence...!

Good morning!

      And there you have it - a well done prank, bringing joy to those around us.  Seriously, though, and before I start sounding like some advertisement, you should share the fun.  Prank someone this week for me, okay?  Good luck!

Q & A with Pastor Dan

     Dan Unrau from BC has been or pastor-in-residence for the past week.  This past Thursday, I sat down with Dan and asked him some questions about his life and his work.  Enjoy!

Has moving from Manitoba to BC been a positive or negative experience?
You know, it's been interesting.  I've always remained theologically and socially connected to Winnipeg.  Mennonite Brethren churches in Winnipeg tend to have a more mainstream theology which I can relate to.  On the other hand, I appreciate the music in BC much more.  On a given Sunday we might listen to Led Zeppelin in church.  You just don't get that here.  It's a shame.


What's the hardest part of your job?
Simply telling people I'm a pastor can be tough.  In some cases, people who have known me for a while still don't know -- it's easier in BC where the question "what do you do?" doesn't come up in conversation very often.  I find that people can clam up when they find out that I'm a pastor.  It's unfortunate.  


What do you think is the biggest spiritual issue facing people right now?
Lifestyle.  There are many Christians who really live almost the same as anyone else would.  And if we're doing that, then what difference does the Christian have from the average person?  When someone tells me that they've given up on Christianity, the first thing I ask them is if they were reading the bible and praying regularly before they decided to jump ship.  Almost none of them were.  I think we need to live differently if we expect something different.


     I really enjoyed having Dan on campus.  I enjoyed his stories, his friendliness, and his energy.  His presence here this past week added energy to the entire campus.  Even after just a week, I'm going to miss him.