2018
Lenten Devotional GUIDE
Love God. Love People. Belmont University University Ministries
Guide to Daily Prayer
O P E N I N G P R AY E R
Comfort, comfort your people, O God! Speak peace to your people. Comfort those who sit in darkness and mourn, Forgive us our sins and end the conflict in our lives. AMEN.
CONFESSION OF SIN Reflect quietly before God, asking for forgiveness for all those things you have done and the good things that have been left undone. Remember, “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness” (1 John 1:9).
SCRIPTURE LESSONS Read the assigned passages for the day found at the top of each page.
P R AY E R S The following is a suggested guide for prayer during Lent: Pray for all Christians around the world; especially for those who endure persecution for their faith. Pray for our nation and all those in authority. Pray for Christ’s peace in the world. Pray for the end of conflict and war. Pray for justice for all people. Pray for all those who engage in the ministries of the Church and especially for Belmont University. Pray for those who suffer and grieve. Pray for God’s transforming work in your life.
Lent 2018
This Lenten Devotional Guide is a Belmont community tradition that helps us to enter more fully into the season of Lent. Our prayer is that the words found here will nourish and challenge you as you journey with Jesus to the cross during this Lenten season. In the Christian tradition, Lent is the period of the liturgical year from Ash Wednesday to Holy Thursday. The traditional purpose of Lent was the preparation of the believer for baptism on Easter Sunday. Today, the church affirms that through the practices of prayer, repentance, almsgiving and self-denial, Christians are prepared to remember the death of Jesus on Good Friday and celebrate his resurrection on Easter Sunday. This guide has instructions for daily devotions throughout the season. You are encouraged to read the assigned scripture passages, the devotional and spend time in prayer and meditation. Through these spiritual practices, God will be at work in your life. We are immensely grateful to all of those who have helped to make this Lenten and Holy Week guide available to our campus community. This is a campus-wide collaboration that includes contributions from students, faculty, staff and alumni. It is a testament to the giftedness of our community. As we enter into this season, I leave you with this Franciscan blessing: May God bless you with discomfort. Discomfort at easy answers, half truths and superficial relationships, so that you may live deep within your heart. Amen. May God bless you with anger. Anger at injustice, oppression and exploitation of people, so that you may work for justice, freedom and peace. Amen. May God bless you with tears. Tears to shed for those who suffer from pain, rejection, starvation and war, so that you may reach out your hand to comfort them and turn their pain into joy. Amen. May God bless you with foolishness. Enough foolishness to believe that you can make a difference in this world, so that you can do what others claim cannot be done. Amen. And the blessing of God, who creates, redeems and sanctifies, be upon you and all you love and pray for this day, and forever more. Amen.
Grace and peace, R EV. HEATHER GER BSC H DAU G HER T Y University Minister, Office of University Ministries
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W E D N E S D AY, F E B R U A R Y 1 4 Isaiah 58:1–12 | Joel 2:1–2, 12–17 | 2 Corinthians 5:20b–6:10 | Matthew 6:1–6, 16–21
Ash Wednesday
My denomination has not generally observed the season of Lent; it’s always been something that “other people” do. But, in the last few years, many pastors and congregations have found it to be a helpful season for their spiritual formation. Because of our general unfamiliarity with it, our Sunday School class decided to do an in-depth study of the history of Lent, its purpose and its practices a few years ago. In the course of the study, we learned a lot of good and interesting things: • The season of Lent is one of the most ancient traditions of the church. The earliest Christians used this time to prepare new converts for baptism on Easter Sunday. These new converts would learn the traditions and practices of the faith as they prepared to enter into their new community. • The 40 days of Lent (from Ash Wednesday to Easter Sunday, excluding Sundays), come from a number of significant events in the Bible: Noah survived the rainstorm that lasted 40 days and 40 nights, Moses on Mt. Sinai for 40 days, the Israelites wandering in the wilderness for 40 years, Job on the ash heap for 40 days and Jesus tempted in the wilderness for 40 days. All of these significant times included the number 40. • The season of Lent has been seen as a penitential season—a season where Christians are invited to reflect on their own faith and practice, to confess the ways that they have fallen short of the call of discipleship and to open their lives to the transforming work of the spirit. One man in the class said, “Aren’t we supposed to be focusing on these things all of the time? Why would we need a special season for that?” Of course, he is right—however most people don’t do a great job of keeping our focus on our relationship with God all of the time. So the season of Lent gives us the opportunity to hit the reset button—to acknowledge that we fall short of all that we are called to be and do and invite God to be at work in our lives. Our texts for today all call us to this kind of self-examination and change. They call us to something different—to new ways of life that keep our focus where it should be, on God. This new focus gives the most abundant kind of life, not only for us, but for those around us that we are called to love and to serve. Our texts also remind us that our practices during this season are not to show those around us what great Christians and faithful people we are. But instead, the focus and practices of this season put us in a place of intentionality where God can be at work in us—forming us more fully into Christlikeness. During this season of Lent, I invite you into this kind of life—opening all of who you are up to the work of the Holy Spirit in your life so that you may more faithfully love God and neighbor.
H EATHER DAUG HER T Y, University Minister University Ministries · 2 ·
T H U R S D AY, F E B R U A R Y 1 5 Psalm 25:1–10 | Daniel 9:1–14 | 1 John 1:3–10 During the summer of 1966, Kathleen Thomerson wrote the hymn “I Want to Walk as a Child of the Light” on a driving trip from St. Louis, Missouri to Houston, Texas. Thomerson, a noted organist who taught in both the church and the academy, utilized this text from 1 John as she wrote the lyrics to her hymn. “I want to walk as a child of the light. I want to follow Jesus. God set the stars to give light to the world. The star of my life is Jesus. In him there is no darkness at all. The night and the day are both alike. The Lamb is the light of the city of God. Shine in my heart, Lord Jesus.” The choir at the church I attend sings this tune from time to time. The hymn points to the desire of the individual to emulate Jesus while also referring to the idea of the collective, the city of God. All of the texts for today illustrate the relationship existing between the individual and the community. The Psalmist asks to know the ways of the Lord and later alludes to the community of Israel. The figure of Daniel prays to the Lord and confesses, while also mentioning the collective punishment wrought on the community because of its infidelity. And in 1 John, the author entreats the reader (you and me) to listen so that fellowship with others and with God may be achieved. Often while the choir at my church sings, I start to notice the individual members of the group that I know more personally. I also begin to think of their stories. I see a woman who lost a child to a chronic illness, a woman whose husband endured cancer, a man happily remarried after a devastating divorce and a man who sits in his wheelchair because after a debilitating fall, he lost the ability to move without effort. During Lent, Christians may spend time in reflection, prayer, confession and fasting. Our individual focus is on our preparation for the communal celebration of resurrection on Easter Sunday. Lent is often a somber time, but the idea of resurrection sustains us, individually and communally. Resurrection is hope. I see this hope in the folks that comprise the church choir. Their narratives illustrate hope and faith, as after enduring life’s crushing blows, they continue to sing. I am inspired by their singing, as is my faith community. Their singing and their stories help me reflect on the promise of resurrection, when light overcomes the darkness of death. “In him there is no darkness at all” is a phrase that beckons us forward, through the Lenten season to the light of Easter.
SALLY HOLT, Professor of Religion College of Theology and Christian Ministry
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F R I D AY, F E B R U A R Y 1 6 Psalm 25:1–10 | Daniel 9:15–25a | 2 Timothy 4:1–15 While traveling through rural Appalachia in 1835, William Walker encountered a tune that had been passed down from generation to generation for many years, yet never written down. Adding it to his collection entitled “Southern Harmony,” Walker penned a hymn that allows us to reflect today on the power of Jesus’s crucifixion and resurrection. The hymn “What Wondrous Love Is This,” written in the early 1800s, has a simplistic yet powerful text that is particularly meaningful during this Lenten season. “What wondrous love is this, O my soul, O my soul,
To God and to the Lamb I will sing, I will sing;
What wondrous love is this, O my soul!
To God and to the Lamb I will sing;
What wondrous love is this
To God and to the Lamb,
that caused the Lord of bliss
Who is the great I AM,
to bear the dreadful curse for my soul, for my soul,
While millions join the theme, I will sing, I will sing,
To bear the dreadful curse for my soul.
While millions join the theme, I will sing.
When I was sinking down, sinking down, sinking down,
And when from death I’m free, I’ll sing on, I’ll sing on;
When I was sinking down, sinking down,
And when from death I’m free, I’ll sing on.
When I was sinking down
And when from death I’m free
Beneath God’s righteous frown,
I’ll sing His love for me,
Christ laid aside His crown for my soul, for my soul,
And through eternity I’ll sing on, I’ll sing on,
Christ laid aside His crown for my soul.
And through eternity I’ll sing on.”
The simplicity and persistence of all four verses reflect the era in which it was written. The repetition does not indicate a limited expression of God’s love, but rather a profound understanding of Christ’s sacrifice on the cross and his unending mercy. C. Michael Hawn, Distinguished Professor of Church Music at Perkins School of Theology, praises the repetitive nature of this hymn, “It is the kind of repetition that sounds trite when spoken, yet gains strength and power through singing. These are not the carefully crafted words of a theologian, but utterances directly from the heart or, even more profoundly, from the soul.” When we pause and consider God’s mercy in our lives and the sacrifice he made on our behalf, we can’t help but stand in awe and sing of his love—even if it’s just a few words of gratitude, over and over again.
G EOFF P RICE, Director of Instructional Technology Library and Information Technology Services
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S AT U R D AY, F E B R U A R Y 1 7 Psalm 25:1–10 | Psalm 32 | Matthew 9:2–13 The one word that leaps out to me after reading these passages is engagement. Our God wants to engage with us. He wants us to physically and emotionally come to Him with our raw honesty. He did not create us to do this life alone. We need each other; we most certainly need Him. The Psalms today represent how we bring our confessions to Him. How we emotionally pour out the cries of our heart to Him. I love how David pairs honesty and confession with utter trust and dependence on God. Movement towards Him is done because we choose to trust Him. I love Romans 15:3 where Paul writes, “May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in Him.” It is a two part promise that I believe encapsulates God’s desire for us. We choose to trust Him, even when circumstances do not support that, even when it doesn’t feel good. We choose to trust Him because of His promises to us. When we choose to trust Him, we enter more fully into His guidance and molding of our hearts. David reiterates this in Psalm 25, “He guides the humble in what is right and teaches them His way.” God invites us, beckons us, to move towards Him. To call upon His qualities, just like David did in Psalm 25, “…because of Your love,” “Remember Your great mercy…,” “Good and upright is the Lord.” These are used to remind ourselves of the true qualities of our Father. He desires communion with us, and when we actively pursue Him, His qualities are showered upon us: His peace, joy, hope and love. He longs for a partnership, a relationship with us, and that is done by us moving towards Him. When we do this, we stand strong against both internal and external temptations, remember the promises of God and call upon Him for continued awareness of them. The story in Matthew represents the physical movement of faith by a few young men. They bring their handicapped friend physically to Jesus, and Jesus welcomes them. He heals the paralytic and commends them on their faith that was demonstrated in their physical action of pursuing Jesus. Where do we need to choose to trust Jesus more? Not trust him just when things make sense, or when things are going well, but choose to trust him at all times. To bring our honest confessions, desires and fears to him with the trust that David demonstrated, that our Father will teach us and work with us when we seek him. It is a beautiful partnership our God desires. Let the closing of Psalm 32 ring in your ears as a prayer of encouragement and hope for us all, “Rejoice in the Lord and be glad, you righteous; sing, all of you who are upright in heart!”
JORDA N HOLM, Coordinator of Academic Services and Sports Ministry Athletic Department
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S U N D AY, F E B R U A R Y 1 8 Genesis 9:8–17 | Psalm 25:1–10 | 1 Peter 3:18–22 | Mark 1:9–15
First Sunday of Lent
In today’s passage from Psalm 25, the writer is keenly aware of his or her limited ability to faithfully follow the ways of God. The path of God is marked by steadfast love and faithfulness. The ways of God are good and upright. God is merciful and keeps His covenant. On our best days we only dimly reflect these characteristics. Most days though, we are far from embodying the ways of God. Most of us are not steadfast in our love, but are fickle and move on when things get painful or difficult. We do not live upright, but live dualistic and fragmented lives. We live by an ethic of “people get what they deserve” and refuse to be bound by a covenant of love. I think many of us intuitively know we fall far short of perfect love, but that reality is hard to admit. When we do recognize our shortcomings, our initial instinct is to fix ourselves, or at least that is my instinct. I observe a failure, judge that failure and then immediately analyze and think about what I can do better next time. This cycle repeats itself, but never leads to substantive transformation. The psalmist illuminates a different path for us. This path doesn’t require judgment or fixing, but requires that we repent and wait. In all honesty, I do not want to wait for God, because I struggle to trust that the covenant faithfulness He promised to Noah is true today. I become impatient with the process and want to do things my way in my time. Yet, in her spirit-led wisdom, the Christian church has created space for us to acknowledge our shortcomings and lack of trust while we turn and choose a different path. Lent is a season to recognize the paths we choose often lead us astray, but if we turn and wait, God will lead us home.
JOSH RIEDEL, Assistant Director of Spiritual Formation University Ministries
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M O N D AY, F E B R U A R Y 1 9 Psalm 77 | Job 5:8–27 | Ephesians 2:1–10 No one is handing out a free pass to skip hard times. Regardless of race, religion or socioeconomic status, we will all experience difficulties and grief to some extent. The question is not whether challenging times will occur; the question is how to best navigate these times of pain. People often struggle with the thought of a good God allowing sorrow in this world. Job 2:10 asks, “should we accept only good from God and not adversity?” As someone that has been to the depths of sorrow, I can confidently say, God is there! In fact, on occasion, I find myself longing for the depth again. The presence of the Lord is thick amid brokenness, pain and uncertainty. Compassion and provision abound; with eyes fixed on God, struggle is reward—a scope directly into the heart and character of God. In the scripture selections for today, we catch a glimpse of deep suffering and sorrow. Asaph, the writer of Psalm 77, cannot even speak for his anguish, letting out groans at the thought of God. Job, “a man of perfect integrity, who fears God and turns away from evil,” (Job 1:8) cannot be comforted by his friends and curses the day of his birth because of the suffering he was enduring. Jesus, the Son of God, bore excruciating pain and suffering on the cross as atonement for sin. Asaph begins the psalm with a focus on self, describing a troubled spirit. However, we see the focus begin to shift in verse 10. Asaph begins to recall the faithfulness of God, the miracles and wonders. Instantaneously, deep anguish turns to glorious praise. This personal reflection on the goodness of God and all that He has done brings joy in the midst of sorrow, peace in uncertainty. Through the darkest times, God reveals hope for the hopeless. God’s word is a tangible record of His faithfulness. Salvation alone is fuel enough to turn our sorrow into dancing. Jesus suffered unimaginable pain for our sins; in this, we find great comfort for our own afflictions. Reflecting upon all that God has done helps us change our focus from self to God. Take a moment and make a list of ways you have experienced God’s provision and faithfulness. Perhaps you need this right now, or quite likely, you will need this list in the near future.
T IFFANY BAILEY, Director Belmont Baptist Collegiate Ministry
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T U E S D AY, F E B R U A R Y 2 0 Psalm 77 | Job 5:8–27 | 1 Peter 3:8–18a In this season of reflection and prayer, Psalm 77 reminds us of God’s ever-present faithfulness. This psalm is a lament; it is a cry of fear, anxiety and desperation to God. The psalmist’s prayer states that God had once made his heart to sing, but now finds it to be empty and barren. He thought that God was changeless, that He would always respond every time he came to Him, but He had not. He was therefore, driven to the irresistible conclusion that He is like a man, and you cannot count on Him. This psalmist is facing the possibility of losing his faith. All that he once rested on, which had been such a comfort to him, which had strengthened him and given him character and power among men, seems to be nothing but a crumbling foundation that is disappearing fast. Soon he must lose all that he has held onto in the past. This is the “day of his trouble” and his present distress. Is that not the hidden problem with many of us? I have lost track of the times people have called me saying, “I just don’t know what to do. I’ve tried prayer, I’ve tried reading my Bible, I’ve tried to think through it, but nothing seems to help. I don’t know what to do. What’s happening to me?” Apparent unresponsiveness from God is not unusual. This is part of the standard program God has for disciplining and training His own. “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” (1 Corinthians 10:13a). The faithfulness of God is deliberately put into contrast with the statement, “No temptation has seized you except what is common to man” because every one of us tends to suffer from the feeling that what is happening to us is unique. But many have experienced similar temptations if they are seeking to live the life of faith. The prophet Isaiah declares the reason this is true. Isaiah reveals what God says. “For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways” (Isaiah 55:8). That is, God says, “My reason is above yours. You understand so little of life compared to what I see in it. My thoughts are not your thoughts”; therefore, you can expect there will come times when you will not understand but will be perplexed. His thoughts are higher than our thoughts; as the heavens are above the earth, so much greater is His vision of what reality is. Our Father, I am so grateful that the things Your Word talks about are not remote from my experience, that You are the God who is interested in life. So for today, as we continue the Lenten season, let us lean into trust when we cannot understand your greater plan.
CRYSTA L LEMUS, Junior Honors Neuroscience Major
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W E D N E S D AY, F E B R U A R Y 2 1 Psalm 77 | Proverbs 30:1–9 | Matthew 4:1–11 What are the things that keep you up at night? Take a moment to ponder that question … even jot down some of the things that come to mind. Perhaps you have suffered a loss. Perhaps you have been wounded by someone you love. Perhaps you are in a season of what seems like insurmountable challenge. As we read Psalm 77, we recognize the sentiment. The distress of the psalmist gives way to a series of very honest, pointed questions: “Will the Lord reject forever? Will He never show His favor again? Has His unfailing love vanished forever? Has His promise failed for all time? Has God forgotten to be merciful? Has He in anger withheld his compassion?” Sounds familiar? The irony of these despair-filled questions is that they actually serve to point the psalmist to God—not away. The honest, heartfelt anger and disappointment that cause us to cry out to God invite us to consider the presence of God in the midst of our woe. If we are brave enough to articulate our pain and ask the tough questions, something happens to us. Like the psalmist, we connect ourselves to God, however challenging that feels in the moment. “I will remember the deeds of the LORD; yes, I will remember your miracles of long ago. I will consider all your works and meditate on all your mighty deeds.” If God is able to receive our questions, we should be willing to give ourselves the freedom to ask them. We learn from the psalmist that the road to remembrance of God’s faithfulness is sometimes paved with our doubts, fears and questions. Our cries, however uncomfortable, stem from our deepest longing to feel God’s presence. During this Lenten season if you are struggling, if you are finding you have more questions than answers, know you are in good company. Be brave like the psalmist and cry out to God! Ask your questions and trust God is there to receive them.
CHRISTY RIDINGS, Associate University Minister, Director of Spiritual Formation University Ministries
· 9 ·
T H U R S D AY, F E B R U A R Y 2 2 Psalm 22:23–31 | Genesis 15:1–6, 12–18 | Romans 3:21–31 Billions of years from now, the sun will become a red giant, one of several phases of typical star life. It will swell to an enormous size and consume everything in its way, including earth. Supposing the beings on Earth at that time manage to escape, they will await the likely entropic heat death of the entire universe: namely, when it becomes maximally disordered and life becomes impossible. Clearly, the universe was not designed to keep us around forever. So, what is the purpose of all that we see and experience? Psalm 19:1 answers, “The heavens declare the glory of God…” Isaiah 6:3 responds, “…the whole earth is full of his glory.” In Isaiah 43:7, God states, “…everyone who is called by my name, whom I created for my glory…” Apparently, the universe, the earth and even humans exist both because of and for God’s glory—it’s not all about us. But at least God’s ultimate purpose for the cross was about humans, right? Well, no. Paul writes in Romans 3:25, “God presented Christ as a sacrifice of atonement, through the shedding of his blood—to be received by faith. He did this to demonstrate His righteousness, because in his forbearance He had left the sins committed beforehand unpunished.” In other words, Jesus did not die because we were worth it (Romans 3:10–18); he died to show us how amazingly just, loving and gracious he is (Ephesians 2:4–9). Where does that leave us? I see two options. We can reject this glory-seeking, egomaniacal god as unreal or unworthy of our time and attention. Or we can recognize that, left to ourselves, we are utterly incapable of attaining God’s standard of righteousness and unworthy of his time and attention (Romans 5:8). The characters and writers of the scriptures above were poignantly aware of this reality: Abram, Moses, David and Paul each had embarrassing, righteousness-destroying events recorded for billions of people to read over thousands of years, and Isaiah called himself a “man of unclean lips” (Isaiah 6:5). This humbling latter view forces us to see God for what He is: ultimately deserving of all the glory he seeks. Like Abram, our only hope of righteousness comes through believing just that. When we do, we do not feed an attentionseeking monster; rather, we rightly acknowledge our place in a universe that’s not about us at all.
STEVE ROBIN SO N , Associate Professor College of Science and Mathematics
· 10 ·
F R I D AY, F E B R U A R Y 2 3 Psalm 22:23–31 | Genesis 16:1–6 | Romans 4:1–12 The story we read today about Sarai and Hagar is one of those stories in the Bible we quickly brush over, and understandably so. We see two “heroes” of the faith, Abram and Sarai, oppressing and treating a foreigner with contempt and hatred. The text itself seems to turn Sarai into the victim, but if we linger long enough we see that Hagar, not Sarai, is the real victim here. Hagar is only following the orders of her oppressors when she conceives Abram’s child and is then punished for the very act she was forced to do. What are we to make of this difficult story? What are we to make of Abram, a man that Paul uses as a supreme example of righteousness through faith, when Abram is an accomplice in the abuse of an oppressed woman? I’m not a biblical scholar, so I want to avoid any “answers” to these questions. However, I do think the passage from Psalms sheds some light on how God sees oppressed people like Hagar. The psalmist declares that God does “not despise or abhor the affliction of the afflicted” and the “poor shall eat and be satisfied.” If we continue reading in Genesis we find that God does indeed care for Hagar, as he finds her alone and on the brink of death in the wilderness and makes a covenant with her. Today’s text asks us how we will respond to the injustice, abuse and oppression we see and experience today. Stories of sexual abuse and exploitation have peppered the media over the last year or so, with many of the abusers being men that we as a society have deemed “righteous” and trustworthy. Injustice and oppression is woven into the fabric of our society, and these passages force us to confront our own complicity in perpetuating injustice. We worship and are loved by a God who cares for the oppressed and we are called to do the same. Let us repent of our complicity and personal agendas and allow the Holy Spirit to call us into a life marked by justice.
JOSH RIEDEL, Assistant Director of Spiritual Formation University Ministries
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S AT U R D AY, F E B R U A R Y 2 4 Psalm 22:23–31 | Genesis 16:7–15 | Mark 8:27–30 In the Genesis passage we read about Hagar and Sarai. Hagar ran away because she was being mistreated by Sarai. An angel of the Lord found Hagar out in the desert and asked her, “Hagar, slave of Sarai, where have you come from, and where are you going?” He encouraged her to go back to Sarai and submit to her. He told her about her future descendants and about the current child she was carrying. She named the LORD who spoke to her, “You are the God who sees me,” for she said, “I have now seen the One who sees me.” I believe Hagar did what she did to Sarai because she didn’t feel seen! Oftentimes people respond or react out of hurt or being dismissed, as if they have no value. The angel of the Lord informed Hagar that God sees her and that she has great value. How often do we intentionally or unintentionally do this to others? We’re dismissive in our attitudes and in our actions. Take the time during this Lent season and do an introspective look at your attitudes and actions towards others. God sees ALL and loves ALL equally. In the Psalms, David gives us a great reminder of what to do so we don’t get caught up and lose focus. In Psalm 22, David writes of great sorrow that leads to great joyfulness. David questions, “My God, my God why have you forsaken me?” Many of us have experienced pain and suffering in our lives that caused us to cry out to God and ask this question. But what I like is how David goes on to instruct the people and says, “You who fear the LORD, praise him! All you descendants of Jacob, honor him! Revere him, all you descendants of Israel!” During this season of Lent, as we reflect upon the death and resurrection of Christ, we have to remember to always praise, honor and revere God in all of our circumstances.
BENITA WA LKER , Executive Assistant Office of Spiritual Development
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S U N D AY, F E B R U A R Y 2 5 Psalm 22:23–31 | Genesis 17:1–7, 15–16 | Romans 4:13–25 | Mark 8:31–38
Second Sunday of Lent
“For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways,” declares the LORD (Isaiah 55:8). Nowhere in scripture do we see the vast difference in the ways of the Lord and the ways of humanity more than in the person of Jesus. Humans were looking for a king—God shows up as a baby. Humans were expecting victory over the empire—God gives Himself over to be crucified. The gospel is disorienting. Jesus continually tried to instruct the disciples that everything they thought they knew was wrong … or at least misguided. In Mark 8, we see another example of this “reeducation.” “He then began to teach them that the Son of Man must suffer many things and be rejected by the elders, the chief priests and the teachers of the law, and that he must be killed and after three days rise again. He spoke plainly about this, and Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him. But when Jesus turned and looked at his disciples, he rebuked Peter. “Get behind me, Satan!” he said. “You do not have in mind the concerns of God, but merely human concerns.” The thought of suffering, rejection and death did not fit Peter’s understanding of how things were supposed to happen. Up until this point, following Jesus meant bearing witness to power and miraculous deeds. Surely he misunderstood Jesus. Surely he could not mean what he was saying. It was so disorienting that Peter takes Jesus aside and “rebukes him” (I have always wondered what Peter said here!). Jesus wastes no time in using the opportunity to not only address Peter—but everyone in the crowd. “Then he called the crowd to him along with his disciples and said: Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me.” To deny ourselves means we must be willing to let go of our human understandings and turn ourselves over to understandings of Jesus—however disorienting they are. We must continually reeducate ourselves that God does not operate according to our plan nor according to our timeline. The Lenten season serves as a reminder to us that God’s plans encompass a perspective that we, as humans, are not privy to. This perspective may include things that we don’t think should be there—like suffering, rejection or even death. However as the text reminds us, to be a disciple we must be willing to lay down our human assumptions and take up the cross of Christ and all that comes with it. We must acknowledge the ways of the Lord and the ways in which these are different from our own. Denial is not a one-time occurrence—but a daily practice. This season may we consider our cross and the ways in which Jesus is calling us to follow him!
CHRISTY RIDINGS, Associate University Minister, Director of Spiritual Formation University Ministries · 13 ·
M O N D AY, F E B R U A R Y 2 6 Psalm 105:1–11, 37–45 | Genesis 21:1–7 | Hebrews 1:8–12 I can think of a lot of promises that I have broken in my 21 years. Promises to my parents, that I’d be home at a certain time or that I’d already gotten all my school work done. Promises to my friends, that I wouldn’t tell anyone their secrets, that I wasn’t mad at them, that I’d definitely go to such-and-such’s event with them. Big promises, small promises, inconsequential promises and incredibly important promises: I’ve broken them all. I’ve broken a lot of promises to God, too. Things I said I’d do, things I said I wouldn’t do. Prayers, whispered frantically, and bargains made under my breath with no intention of keeping my side of the deal. But here’s the crazy part: our Father holds up His side of the deal no matter what we do. He always keeps His promises to us. The readings for today each talk about promises that God has made to his people. In Genesis 21, Sarah bears a son to Abraham in their old age, fulfilling a promise that God made to them long ago. Psalm 105 reminds us that God remembers His covenants forever; just as He led the Israelites out of Egypt, He will lead us out of darkness and into the light. Death has no power over us because of our Father’s promises. In this season of Lent, we wait in anticipation for the resurrection of Jesus. The resurrection of the Son is the fulfillment of God’s promise to us—a promise that He intends to keep forever! Darkness and death are defeated by the light of Christ, over whom death has no power. Below, I have included portions of two of my favorite worships songs that I think put this beautifully. “Death in His Grave” by John Mark McMillan
“Scandal of Grace” by Hillsong United
On Friday a thief
Death, where is your sting?
On Sunday a king
Your power is as dead as my sin
Laid down in grief
The cross has taught me to live
But woke with the keys
In mercy, my heart now to sing
Of hell on that day
The day and its trouble shall come
First born of the slain
I know that your strength is enough
The man Jesus Christ laid
The scandal of grace, you died in my place
Death in his grave
So my soul will live
CLARA LEONARD, Senior Audio/Video Production Major
· 14 ·
T U E S D AY, F E B R U A R Y 2 7 Psalm 105:1–11, 37–45 | Genesis 22:1–19 | Hebrews 11:1–3, 13–19 Do we feel like “foreigners and strangers on earth”? Are we looking for “a better country”? Our original forebears in the faith, Abram and Sarai, were citizens of the city of Ur. But they did not want to make Ur great again, for they were looking for “a better country.” Two thousand years later, a citizen of the Roman Empire, the Apostle Paul, wrote, “As I have often told you before and now tell you again even with tears, many live as enemies of the cross of Christ… But our citizenship is in heaven!” (Philippians 3:18–20). The cross is not a religious symbol; it was used by the Roman Empire to ensure that anyone who got crazy ideas about giving their loyalty to another kingdom would get right back in line. Which of our citizenships most influences our day to day loyalties—the one emblazoned on our passports or the one we possess as members of the Kingdom of God? Today, if we fully embrace The American Dream, could we be justly accused as living as “enemies of the cross of Christ”? It is very easy to feel too much at home in this world, too accustomed to the compromises and crabbed attitudes and half-truths that characterize “real life,” too ready to look after my own interests and too willing to put the best interest of my middle class life and my country ahead of the best interests of others. There is a reason that everyone from the prophet Jeremiah to Jesus were accused of being traitors to the land of their birth: “they were foreigners and strangers on earth…looking for a country of their own.” Abraham left his country never to return; Jeremiah was persecuted and almost killed as a wartime traitor to Israel; and Jesus was crucified because “the Jewish leaders kept shouting, ‘If you let this man go, you are no friend of Caesar. Anyone who claims to be a king opposes Caesar’” (John 19:12). Lent allows us to soberly assess during times of prayer, fasting and meditation on Scripture the ways we have abandoned our allegiance to “a better county—a heavenly one” in order to fit in to our earthy one and luxuriate in all it has to offer. In order to live as loyal citizens of our heavenly country, we need to train ourselves to have “assurance about what we do not see.” In other words, we need to practice a holy self-denial, becoming like those believers who came before: “They did not receive the things promised; they only saw them and welcomed them from a distance.” Deferred gratification is often used to motivate teenagers to not waste their time and money now—so they will have more money and time to waste later! But the writer of Hebrews urges us to not waste our earthly lives, so that it can be said of us, “God is not ashamed to be called their God, for he has prepared a city for them” (Hebrews 11:16).
TODD LAKE, Vice President Office of Spiritual Development
· 15 ·
W E D N E S D AY, F E B R U A R Y 2 8 Jeremiah 30:12–22 | Psalm 105:1–11, 37–45 | John 12:36–43 I tend to be the type of person that needs a frequent reminder of who I am in Christ and His immense grace which covers me. And if you are anything like me, you dwell for far too long in verses 12–15 of Jeremiah 30, where we are told how incurable, unlovable and sinful we are. Yet, the entire rest of that chapter is a covenantal love poem of how God promises to fight for us, punish our oppressors, have mercy upon us, restore us and make us His people. What blessed assurance we have in Christ. What hope we now have, for we have all sinned and are all in need of redemption. What a tidal wave of peace we ought to have when we consider what He has done for us and how far He has brought us. Perhaps you are finding yourself wandering, weakening or waiting today. Perhaps you are teetering on the edge deciding whether life in Christ could benefit you at all. Perhaps you fear the seemingly insurmountable summits that appear in life such as academics, busy schedules, anxiety, navigating relationships or confronting your past mistakes. Or perhaps you feel abandoned and singular in so much more than you could explain with words. Search for peace and belonging in the Lord today. Taste the fullness of life that comes with laying your worries at His feet and trusting He will fight for you. Regardless of how this semester has been so far, regardless of where you are in life, God wants to connect with you and provide for you today. As with the Israelites in Egypt, He is here with you in your wilderness and will bring you through. He will never abandon you. Take a breath, turn your eyes to Him, and let Him know where you are today, because He is present. “For He remembered His holy promise, And Abraham His servant, He brought out His people with joy, His chosen ones with gladness.” (Psalm 105:42-23)
ALEX ORTIZ, Junior Business Management Major
· 16 ·
T H U R S D AY, M A R C H 1 Psalm 19 | Exodus 19:1–9a | 1 Peter 2:4–10 Where were you on August 21 last year? Did you join thousands of members of the Belmont community on the Lawn to watch the last total solar eclipse visible in Nashville until the 26th century? If so, do you remember how hot it was that day and our excitement as we anticipated the moment when the moon’s shadow, rushing across North America at over 1,000 miles per hour, would reach us on the Lawn? Who can forget the building crescendo of our collective cheers as the sky darkened and the temperature dropped? We celebrated celestial wonders as the sun silently ran its course and circled the heavens—sparing nothing from its heat until its path intersected that of the moon. Indeed, the “heavens declared the glory of God and the sky proclaimed the work of His hands.” The experience on the Lawn on August 21, 2017, is a memory we will carry for the rest of our lives. The psalmist declares that without words or sounds Creation pours out speech and communicates the knowledge of God. Of course, this truth is not and should not be confined to cosmic ordering of planets, moons and stars. Rather each of us is also called to join in bearing witness to the fullness of God’s goodness and creative work both in word and deed. Lent is a season in which we have an opportunity to examine our lives in light of the Gospel of Jesus who, in the words of Belmont’s mission statement, is “the measure for all things.” Psalm 19 reminds us that a devotion to the measure of God’s commands and precepts will renew our lives, gladden our hearts and enlighten our eyes. Our world seems more fractured than ever before by division and disagreement—between family members, within the Christian community, across racial, ethnic and religious groups and between political parties and nations. In the midst of such division and rancor, what will be our contribution to declaring God’s glory and proclaiming His work? Will the words of our mouths and the meditations of our hearts encourage others to pursue God’s Good News? May we who comprise the Christian community of learning and service that is Belmont University respond to this call and challenge with the same enthusiasm, joy and sense of harmony that marked our observance of the celestial wonder that we experienced together.
JASON ROGERS , Vice President Administration and University Counsel
· 17 ·
F R I D AY, M A R C H 2 Psalm 19 | Exodus 19:9b–15 | Acts 7:30–40 Someone once said to me that Christians ought to be known more for what they’re for than what they’re against. In agreement, I pondered these words and deep in my soul tried to discern how this looked in my own life and in my spiritual community. As Christ followers, we hold true to the tenets of scripture and believe in the veracity of scripture. Knowing this, we join in with the gospel message with arms wide open and a desire to meet people where they are and embrace them in love. This means then that I must consider how Jesus was and is “for” us and therefore, we have to be “for” others, taking his message to those who may feel that the church is “against” them. In my own urban ministries with marginalized individuals, who are daily encountering injustice through poverty, racism, homelessness, etc., I think about the importance of demonstrating the fullness of the gospel which values and loves each of these individuals unconditionally. Most of my friends who I minister with are used to relationships that are conditional and dependent on what they can give. Consider Psalm 19 where we visualize the imagery of God pitching a tent for the sun and making the sun (and his son) available to all. The scripture says that nothing is deprived of its warmth. The passage goes on in verse 7 to say that “The law of the Lord is perfect, refreshing the soul.” When I think of something that refreshes my soul, it is something that is done with pure intentions and meant for me to take delight in. We learn more about the statutes and precepts of God with words such as trustworthy, right, giving joy, radiant, pure, enduring and forever. These words resonate with me so deeply as I work to advance the cause of Justice with Jesus as my leader. I want those around me to embrace these attributes as central to the gospel and understand that through Jesus they can feel joy, radiance and trust. In that same passage of scripture we also see that the decrees of the Lord are firm and righteous. This speaks to the standards of godliness that we are to uphold in our lives and the importance of leading a life that is repentant and holy. I think at times we as believers can over emphasize the need for repentance when we encounter someone who doesn’t profess faith in Christ or whose faith is tested. At the same time we may not speak enough of the many ways that Jesus invites us into fellowship with him through love, mercy and grace. Making space for both of these realities is where I seek to be. What a gift for all of us to fully embrace a transformative gospel that is for us, where Jesus at the center, advocates for us and desires us to lead transformed lives. We all need to “die” to sin, but we also need to recognize the power of unqualified, unfailing love that welcomes us in.
MONA IVEY- SOTO, Assistant Professor College of Liberal Arts and Social Sciences
· 18 ·
S AT U R D AY, M A R C H 3 Psalm 19 | Exodus 19:16–25 | Mark 9:2–8 Take a moment to stop and be with Peter on the mountain top. Imagine yourself standing in the entirely radiant, divine presence of God. Our sweet Jesus revealed to be God on earth! His presence is fearsome in the way that beauty tends to take our breath away. In this moment, doubting anything about the reality of God’s presence in the world is nothing short of absurdity. Peter desires to remain in this space. He wants to physically put a stake in the ground and make tents so that he might dwell in the presence of the Lord. Even today, there are moments in our lives when the Lord’s presence is so wonderfully, physically apparent. We call them “mountain top” experiences because we know what it feels like to be Peter standing on that mountain with Jesus some two thousand years ago. Have you, like Peter, tried to stake yourself in these moments? Do you try to return to them when God feels far off and faith feels stagnant? It is the transience of these moments that causes our hearts to realize that we still exist in the world and that the best is yet to come. As Christians, we are called to come down off of the mountain. We must be in the world and not of it, so as to paint a clear picture of the gospel to a world that is so desperately in need. We might seek after mountain top experiences, but the reality of Jesus is far greater than any one earthly experience could dictate. Each day we are on this earth, we must remind our hearts to live in the reality that Jesus is the Christ. That he has done the work. It is his sacrifice that makes us irreproachable in the eyes of the Father; it is about nothing in us and everything in him. In his divine pursuit of us, he does not only give us his perfection, but he writes his words on our hearts as continual affirmation of his love for us. These words are his law. This law is the law that brings freedom because when that law is physically manifested in our lives, we know that we are his. His law makes us markedly different from the world. He claims us as his own. Our obedience to his word is nothing short of divine mercy, because it is less about our work and more about his sacrifice. May you always chase after the radical joy and peace that is offered each and every day through the knowledge that the God who counts the stars and calls them by name has chosen to claim you as His own.
E MILY TOMSOVI C , Junior Nursing Major
· 19 ·
S U N D AY, M A R C H 4 Psalm 19 | Exodus 20:1–17 | 1 Corinthians 1:18–25 | John 2:13-22
Third Sunday of Lent
Eugene Peterson has urged that in reading the Bible we should seek to cultivate a poet’s attentiveness to words and a lover’s responsiveness to words. When we look at this story in John 2, we should note that this event provoked questions at the time, important questions. In verse 18 the Jewish leaders ask Jesus to prove his authority to do what he had just done. Note that he had driven everyone out with a whip made of reeds or rushes, not leather cords (as the Greek reveals). They had felt the intensity of his presence, but now they wondered, “What just happened?” In essence they said, “What gives you the right to storm in here like you own the place?” Jesus responds by saying, “I don’t own the place, I AM the place!” Even the disciples were confused at the time. This story (like all the stories of Jesus) needs the rest of the story to reveal what is really going on. The temple was to be a place where thoughtful, prayerful pondering could take place, and Jesus’ zeal for that purpose drives him. Religious activity was never about just going through the motions. It was always to be reflective, a time to ponder and refocus. Woody Allen was once asked what he believed in. He responded, “I believe in the power of distraction.” I don’t think he is alone in that. And it is understandable. There are many things that overwhelm and confuse us. Life is broken and messy. Maybe filling our lives and hearts with distraction is the best way to muddle through. But instead, Jesus invites us to pause, to reflect and to ponder. John 2 includes two stories of the authority of Jesus. In the first he uses his authority to keep the party going and to bring comfort in a crisis. In this second story, he uses his authority in a way that upsets and brings demands for an explanation. But perhaps we should ponder who is this Jesus, rather than demanding an immediate answer. In this Lenten season, perhaps we should ask Jesus to help us not jump to hasty conclusions about who he is and what he is doing. Lord Jesus, help us to ponder rather than demand today. Show us the places where we believe in the power of distraction rather than your love.
K EVIN TWIT, Minister Reformed University Fellowship
· 20 ·
M O N D AY, M A R C H 5 Psalm 84 | 1 Kings 6:1–4, 21–22 | 1 Corinthians 3:10–23 “How lovely is your dwelling place, LORD Almighty! My soul yearns, even faints, for the courts of the LORD; my heart and my flesh cry out for the living God.” Psalm 84 connects the heart of the believer to the presence of God. David had desired to build a temple worthy of God’s presence, but because of failure and sin in his life, was denied the opportunity. His son, Solomon, was chosen to do so. Solomon understood that before “he covered the inside of the temple with pure gold” he must lay a firm foundation. This foundation allowed for building to occur, turmoil to be withstood, storms to be endured and provided a place where worship could occur. Whereas Solomon built a temple for God, we now have become His dwelling place. This means our priority must be to have a firm foundation in order to build upon. Paul declared, “you yourselves are God’s temple and that God’s Spirit dwells in your midst.” He adds, “If anyone builds on this foundation using gold, silver, costly stones, wood, hay or straw, their work will be shown for what it is, because the Day will bring it to light. It will be revealed with fire, and the fire will test the quality of each person’s work. If what has been built survives, the builder will receive a reward. If it is burned up, the builder will suffer loss but yet will be saved—even though only as one escaping through the flames.” While this text may seem difficult, the challenge is clear: we need to build our relationship with our Heavenly Father on a good foundation. Lent is a time for all believers to ensure that our foundation is solid. We do this through reflection, prayer, repentance and self-denial. When we create a quiet time of reflection, the Holy Spirit speaks to our hearts about how we’ve been building. This allows us to see what will provide a reward or will be burned up. Self-denial and repentance allows us to ensure that we are building correctly. My prayer through this Lenten season is that our foundations are true, and that we are building things that are eternal and impact our world with God’s love and grace.
K EN CORBIT, Assistant Professor of Public Relations College of Liberal Arts and Social Sciences
· 21 ·
T U E S D AY, M A R C H 6 Psalm 84 | 2 Chronicles 29:1–11, 16–19 | Hebrews 9:23–28 We often think of sin as very individualized concept; I find myself often praying for God to remove my sin, and this is a very valid way of thinking of sin. However, sin is not all about the person; one of the consequences for sin as told in the poetry of Genesis is systemic: patriarchy, as the text says to Eve, “And he shall rule over you.” Sin goes far beyond the person, and shapes our lives in insidious and evil ways. Original sin can be thought of as the systems we are born into: racism, sexism, transantagonism, homophobia and nationalism. This concept of sin magnifies the depth of the Hebrews text; rather than Christ’s death being a substitutionary mercykilling from God herself, it places Christ’s life as a sacrifice to reorder creation. The crucifixion of Christ becomes a cataclysmic event that will be followed by the resurrection—the power of God over systemic sin. Hebrews immediately follows the crucifixion with resurrection, saying Christ “will appear a second time…to save those who are eagerly waiting for him.” The religious nationalism that murdered Christ becomes powerless, for God herself has entered the text as a deus ex machina. As we look towards the final events in Christ’s life on earth, let us find ways to honor his mission, crucifixion and resurrection. May we make the systems of the world powerless; to resurrect love, hope, belief and resist the world’s homophobia, cynicism and unbelief in the Christ of the gospels. As we often focus on “right belief” or our internal convictions, let us remember the words found in the gnostic Gospel of Thomas: “The Kingdom of God is inside you and outside you.” This season of Lent provides us opportunities to take up the disciplines of peacemaking and outward action; this season gives us the imperative to follow in the steps of Christ, not the orders of the state or our religious political elites. The crucifixion was a violent, immoral act on behalf of the religious leaders and the state. But our God is working to remove systemic sin: to destroy the pillars of racism, sexism, homophobia and greed, while resurrecting the spirits of love, peace, joy and economic equality through Christ’s sacrifice and the mission and life of Her Church.
MI CHA EL CUP P ET T, Senior Music Composition, Music Theory and Piano Pedagogy Major
· 22 ·
W E D N E S D AY, M A R C H 7 Psalm 84 | Ezra 6:1–16 | Mark 11:15–19 As I understand it, the temple was a central location in Jewish life, a social hub, place of learning and focal point of the community. But above all else, as the psalm for today reminds us, it is the dwelling place of the Lord. I love how the psalmist proclaims, “Better is one day in your courts than a thousand elsewhere;” better is a moment in your presence than a whole lifetime without it. It is clear the author of this psalm just wants to be near to the Lord, he craves the presence of God. I would guess that this is part of the reason Jesus, in our reading in Mark, forcefully clears out the temple of all the things that seem to have taken it away from its original purpose of connecting people with God. Jesus overturns the tables of distractions and bluntly calls out the selfish motives that have embedded themselves in the dwelling place of the Lord. Isn’t it remarkable that we are temples of the presence of God now because of Jesus’ death and resurrection? In preparing our hearts for Easter, we can celebrate the fact that God’s dwelling place is now within each of us through the Holy Spirit, as Paul says in 1 Corinthians 6:19, “Do you not know that your bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God?” This is a truth I personally take for granted. It seems there are days when I run around from task to task, place to place, and never once acknowledge the ever present presence of God. Other days, I strive and seek God’s presence but never feel like I actually get there, never experience a true connection with God despite all of my trying in my own strength to do the “right things.” And yet, God is there always. I have been chosen as God’s temple, God’s dwelling place, a place for others to meet the presence of God and for me to meet the presence of God. I think I need Jesus to come in and clear out the temple of the Lord that is my body and soul; I need him to overturn the tables of distractions that clutter my life, and bluntly call out the selfish motives of my actions. I need him to restore this temple to its original intention: a house of prayer, a place for the presence of God to reside. I know that Jesus will come in and sweep out the junk that has taken over his temple, and will do so with love, over and over again, as many times as it takes. In preparing the temple of our bodies for Easter, we can proclaim with the psalmist, “How lovely is your dwelling place, Lord Almighty!” and we can rest assured that the presence of God is ever dwelling with us.
H UN TER WADE, Senior Faith and Social Justice Major
· 23 ·
T H U R S D AY, M A R C H 8 Psalm 107:1–3, 17–22 | Genesis 9:8–17 | Ephesians 1:3–6 “O give thanks to the LORD, for He is good; for His steadfast love endures forever. Let the redeemed of the LORD say so, those He redeemed from trouble and gathered in from the lands, from the east and from the west, from the north and from the south” (Psalm 107:1–3). We find the psalmist beginning this psalm calling all peoples to gather, from east and west, north and south. He calls them to speak out praise of God who redeemed us all. We come together during the Lenten season from all points of the world preparing our hearts, through prayer, repentance, almsgiving and self-denial, to recognize and pay respect to the death and resurrection of Jesus during Holy Week. As a Church we become one during this Lenten season, giving thanks for the sacrifice of God’s son. We join together from all around to give praise and thanks for the steadfast love of our God. During this season we can prepare our hearts in a way that strengthens our relationship with the Lord. For many, Lent is a time to give up something in their life that may be separating them from God or distracting them in some way. In many ways, we are putting our trust in God by giving up. We are able to recognize our distraction and focus on what the Spirit can do within us. Though every church may not recognize Lent, my hope for this Lenten season is that we take the time to allow the Spirit to work within us. At the very least, we come together to prepare for and celebrate Easter. My hope is that we can become one church giving thanks and praise for God’s steadfast love.
NOAH QUINTON, Alumni College of Theology and Christian Ministry
· 24 ·
F R I D AY, M A R C H 9 Psalm 107:1–3, 17–22 | Daniel 12:5–13 | Ephesians 1:7–14 This opportunity I was offered, to write a Lenten devotional, is actually my first real experience with Lent. I was raised in a church-going Christian family, but we never practiced Lent. This will actually be my first time participating and what a blessing it is to know that in experiencing my first Lent, I am also able to contribute to other’s experience through this devotional. When I received the texts that I was to write on I was rather confused on how they could relate. The passage from Daniel is a prophecy depicting the end of time, Ephesians talks of redemption and welcoming into the family of God and the psalm is a poem of praise to God’s love. While I still am yet to find the correlation, I do see how all these scriptures relate to the season of Lent and the growth and rebirth we associate with Easter. We’ll begin with the end: Daniel 12 gives a brief description of a prophecy Daniel had of the end of time, otherwise known as tribulation. You might wonder how tribulation can be seen as something positive to anticipate, but for Christians it is the final step before the ultimate time of growth and rebirth in God’s plan. We then take a massive jump into the New Testament, to a letter of Paul. As we look at Ephesians 1, let’s not start in verse 7, but rather read from verse 3 to 14. Unfortunately, I feel that many miss the point of this passage because they get hung up on verse 11 and the debate of predestination. I ask you rather to put aside the wording of verse 11 and look more deeply at these few verses; Paul is trying to convey the point that our Heavenly Father has welcomed us as children into His eternal family and that He has a plan for our lives. Finally, as we read Psalm 107 we see that it is a meticulously well composed poem praising the Lord’s unfailing love and mercy. I encourage you to read all of Psalm 107 as a prayer of praise at the beginning of your day, and then set about your work thanking our Heavenly Father for the many blessings He gives every day.
MI CHA EL SNOW, Sophomore Music Business Major
· 25 ·
S AT U R D AY, M A R C H 1 0 Numbers 20:22–29 | Psalm 107:1–3, 17–22 | John 3:1–13 Early Christians observed the Lenten season in order to prepare themselves to celebrate that the Messiah had come. Unfortunately, the practice of confession, celebration and worship are easily lost in our screen-saturated society. Before reading these passages, take a moment right now and ask God to fill you with His Holy Spirit and illuminate your mind and heart to His Word. Read Numbers 20:22–19 I wish my sin didn’t have consequences. Aaron, the brother of Moses, was Moses’s spokesperson and was Israel’s first high priest. He was side-by-side with Moses during the plagues in Egypt, the exodus and the years wandering in the desert. There is no doubt that Aaron was a great godly leader. However, he did not enter the promised land. Why? Aaron and Moses failed to model trust and obedience to the entire nation of Israel at the waters of Meribah. Pray and ask God to reveal any area of your life that isn’t obedient. Read John 3:1–13 Confused is a very frustrating place to be in life, isn’t it? When I work hard and pray harder I expect life to make some sort of sense. The perplexities of my own life enables me to imagine the look of confusion that Nicodemus had on his face when Jesus stated emphatically, “…unless one is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God.” Nicodemus, unlike his Pharisee comrades, was genuinely curious as to whether Jesus was the anticipated Messiah. A combination of confusion, curiosity and wonder may have permeated this religious leader’s mind and heart upon hearing, “That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of Spirit is Spirit.” Pray and celebrate that Jesus has given you salvation and a new spiritual rebirth. Read Psalm 107:1–3, 17–22 Being needy isn’t very attractive to most people, but it is to God. The psalmist is likely writing during Israel’s captivity in Babylon. God loves to rescue desperate and needy people who cry out to Him for help. When I feel discouraged and needy I tend to reach out to friends who will empathize, encourage me and whose character I trust. This is why the psalmist starts by declaring the true essence of God’s character, “…for He is good.” Re-read these verses aloud declaring the truth of God’s faithfulness and goodness.
MI TCH MASK, Leader Belmont CRU
· 26 ·
S U N D AY, M A R C H 1 1 Numbers 21:4–9 | Psalm 107:1–3, 17–22 | Ephesians 2:1–10 | John 3:14–21
Fourth Sunday of Lent
Today’s readings excite me because of the familiar scripture that most of us can recite in our sleep, “For God so loved the world, that He gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life” (John 3:16, KJV). What a love! What a Savior! What a God! However, a couple of verses above this, Jesus references the Israelites’ experience with the poisonous snakes and how those bitten were saved by the serpent Moses, were instructed to create so they can see it and be saved. I wonder why Jesus would bring up the snakes again. They are scary, dangerous and life-threatening—not the things I want to be reminded of before the discussion of God’s amazing love. It seems Jesus isn’t concerned with instilling fear and highlighting mortality. He wants us to remember this significant moment because those snake bites led people to “see and then believe” (John 3:14, MSG)—a lesson of faith. With those snake bites, the Israelites were people headed towards death. Reminded of their mortality, they needed a savior. God already knew his ultimate plan to save all who believe, but He in this moment gives them a taste of what He had in store with Christ Jesus. Lent provides us an opportunity to truly come to terms with our own “snake bites.” That’s why we’re asked to remove our distractions or overindulgences in things like food, gossip, shopping and social media and instead fill the spaces they occupy with reflection and prayer to “see and believe” our Savior. When we commit to remove those things that distract us from our mortality and our need for a Savior, we feel the “bites.” Those “bites” can then be used to direct us to see and believe our Savior—to build a stronger faith and relationship. Then mortality does not become the focus, but the promise of everlasting life. Lord, thank you for being rich in mercy, kindness and love. Help us always turn to see You and believe.
H EATHER FINCH, Faculty Fellow Department of English College of Liberal Arts and Social Sciences
· 27 ·
M O N D AY, M A R C H 1 2 Psalm 107:1–16 | Exodus 15:22–27 | Hebrews 3:1–6 There is almost nothing worse, it seems, than being so desperate for something, only to realize that when you’ve found it, it is not what you expected or needed at all. In Exodus 15, the Israelites have wandered through the desert for three days without water. Then, all of a sudden, it is there. Beautiful, refreshing, life giving water. Except it is not beautiful or refreshing or life-giving at all. It is bitter. It is not fit to drink. Of course, the Israelites will not have this, so they cry out to Moses, who subsequently cries out to God. The situation is remedied when Moses throws a piece of wood into the water and there is a miraculous change in it—it is, in fact, beautiful, refreshing and life giving. As we approach Easter, we have hope that what we will receive will be all of those things the Israelites hoped their water would be. However, it is easy to be taken aback by the bitterness and disappointment of the Lenten season. Because in this season of Lent, we are called to look within ourselves at the filthy brokenness we find there. With the coming of Easter, we expect to be forgiven, restored and joyful; but we are stopped dead in our tracks, because there is business that must be attended to before that glorious time. That filthy brokenness within is what we find instead, and because of that we find ourselves crying out to God in prayer, repentance and self-denial. It is bitter. This crying out to God, this throwing the wood into the water is a form of redemption. It is how we are reconciled. Once we have done that, once we have cried out to God, we experience the hope that is found in Hebrews 3—that “Christ is faithful as the Son over God’s house,” and we are His house. Just as Moses was faithful to the Israelites, Jesus has been, and continues to be, faithful to us “if indeed we hold firmly to our confidence and the hope in which we glory.” That, dear friends, is beautiful. It is refreshing. It is the ultimate hope we have at the end of a long Lenten season. It is life-giving.
SARAH GA RRET T, Alumna College of Theology and Christian Ministry
· 28 ·
T U E S D AY, M A R C H 1 3 Psalm 107:1–16 | Numbers 20:1–13 | 1 Corinthians 10:6–13 Nearly one month into your Lenten journey, it seems time to ask yourself how you are finding it. Are you feeling strong and renewed? Or like the Israelites wandering through the wilderness, are you feeling confused, tempted or slipping in the faith of your commitments this season? This Numbers passage finds God’s people starting to question their own journey. Moses, in striking the rock with his staff instead of speaking to it, himself seems to waver in following God’s commands to him. The staff was a crutch for Moses, a proven instrument used to do miraculous things in the past, and in relying on it, Moses shows God he is more confident in his old habits than God’s commands. These stories in the Old Testament sometimes confuse us, yet how much do you feel like Moses, right now? Are you starting to waver in your faith during Lent? Do you feel yourself trending back to old habits and coping strategies and losing sight of what God has called you to this season? Paul understands the wisdom of looking at the stories of the past in his letter to the Corinthians. The examples of God interacting with his people allow us perspective to keep our hearts looking forward instead of back. The temptations, the worries, the stressors, the failures you feel: what you are going through is no different than those beside you, nor at any age in human history. Take comfort in the story of Numbers; God’s people have been struggling in the same way you currently are for millennia. What is important to remember, aside from God’s warnings to His people, is His provision. God provides water for his people through the rock, which Paul aptly shows is Christ. Jesus died for you, empowering you with the Spirit of God to fight all battles and conquer all temptations. Will you, like Moses, ignore Christ and use your crutch? Or will you learn from the stories of our past, acknowledge Christ’s presence in your midst and speak to him, as God suggests? Reflect on Psalm 107 with everything in mind. Despite the stubbornness of His people, always wanting to do things their own way, God remained faithful. In your Lenten journey, now, how are you acknowledging God’s provision?
T IM SCHOENFIE L D, Assistant Professor of Psychology College of Sciences and Mathematics
· 29 ·
W E D N E S D AY, M A R C H 1 4 Psalm 107:1–16 | Isaiah 60:15–22 | John 8:12–20 “No longer will your sun set, or your moon wane; For the Lord will be your light forever, and the days of your grieving will be over” (Isaiah 60:20). I don’t like the dark. The dark conceals things—I can’t make out figures or faces. I feel alone in the dark. I have recently gone through a period of grief in my life, after the loss of my grandfather and a severe brain injury to a friend’s child. While grieving, I feel as if I am in the dark. I can’t see when the grief will end, and sometimes it feels as if it never will. Then, passages like this come into my life and remind me who God is and who I am as His beloved child. Is God afraid of the dark or grief? Of course not. Who better to lean on in our fears and insecurities than God, who is afraid of nothing and powerful over all? I know this is easier said than done, but that does not diminish its truth. God is capable of anything and everything. Even if it seems impossible to us, God could accomplish whatever it is we have imagined. Whether or not what we want is a part of God’s plan is a different topic, but it fills me with so much hope to know God can accomplish miracles. And He is willing to bestow those miracles on us. How great would a life be with no darkness, no valleys, no grief? It would probably be more joyous than we can imagine. This is what God promises us; this is something we can attain, and this thought fills me with even more hope! How wonderful is the life promised to us in the next. But, this was only made possible by Jesus’s suffering on the cross. Remember today how much Jesus wants us to experience eternal happiness with him. You are loved, unconditionally.
O LIVIA A DAMS, Senior Entertainment Industries Studies Major
· 30 ·
T H U R S D AY, M A R C H 1 5 Psalm 51:1–12 | Isaiah 30:15–18 | John 8:12–20 Again Jesus spoke to them, saying, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life” (John 8:12, ESV). It has been proven that you can’t have a dark room and then enter it with darkness and expect the room to light up. However, if you enter that dark room with some form of light, then that dark room would light up. In the passage above, Jesus cautions us as if our lives were a dark room. I believe that when life begins for us, it is like a dark room. Then Jesus being the light of the world starts to add light to our dark rooms in the form of himself, ministry, family and every person that impacts our lives. We maneuver through life growing in Christ as our light gets brighter and brighter, enjoying the blessings that our Savior has bestowed upon us. But sometimes that light tends to dim and there are even times when we feel that the light is no longer in us. These are the times when the adversary is busiest trying to keep the light dimmed or completely turned off. These are the times that God reminds us that we are not perfect and that our lives, though full of light, are still subject to deceit. This is when our faith takes over and starts to navigate and guide us back into the fullness of His wonderful light so that we can continue to strive to be a beacon of hope and light to a lost and dying world. No more wandering aimlessly in the desert, being provided with everything that we need and much more. So let us be encouraged during this Lenten season to concentrate and meditate on the things of God. You can’t light up darkness with darkness or defeat hate with hate. It is going to take love to defeat hate and the light of the world who sacrificed so much to combat the darkness and allow us to find our true purpose and serve others with praise, joy and happiness.
G ARY HUN TER, Telecommunications Service Manager Infrastructure Network Services
· 31 ·
F R I D AY, M A R C H 1 6 Psalm 51:1–12 | Exodus 30:1–10 | Hebrews 4:14–5:4 David begins his desperate plea to God in Psalm 51: “Have mercy on me, O God, according to your unfailing love.” In this passage we find the verse, “create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me.” Oftentimes in our culture, we can gloss over our sins and either have an inflated view of ourselves or a diminished view of God. During this season of Lent, I pray that we all can renew a right perspective of ourselves and God, that we may feel the fullness of joy as a result of our salvation in Jesus Christ. In Exodus, we find God’s specifications to the Israelites on how to properly atone for sin. These procedures are a pain to go through, especially at the rate that we sin against God and one another. But the purpose of these atonement rituals given in Exodus was so that the Israelites would feel the weight of their sin and take it seriously. Because we don’t have to make such sacrifices today, it can be easy for us to forget how serious and costly sin is. As we approach Easter, let us examine ourselves and feel the full weight of our sin that we may approach our Heavenly Father with this same spirit of repentance that David had in Psalm 51. However, there’s a reason the story of Jesus is called “the Good News.” Unlike in the Old Testament, we have a high priest who is a perfect and righteous judge, yet who has been tempted in every way we have and has successfully resisted. He knows exactly how it feels to live in this world full of temptations. Paul writes that we can approach the throne of grace with confidence knowing that we will receive mercy and grace to help us in our time of need. In order to feel the full weight of the Easter story, you must understand the weight of their sin that nailed Jesus to the cross, then let our Father cleanse you and lift that weight off you so that you may be filled with joy at the knowledge of your salvation and of God’s grace. David finishes Psalm 51 with “restore to me the joy of your salvation and grant me a willing spirit, to sustain me.” Our salvation is nothing short of a miracle and that should fill us with unending joy.
AUTUMN JOHNS ON , Sophomore Music Business Major
· 32 ·
S AT U R D AY, M A R C H 1 7 Psalm 51:1–12 | Habakkuk 3:2–13 | John 12:1–11 My friend Mary has a tradition of giving away items of worth when she’s wearing them. One time, I asked her about a watch she was wearing. She took it off, and gave it to me, “I’m glad you like it, it’s yours.” “No, no,” I said, “I don’t want your watch. I was just commenting how lovely it is.” “It’s yours,” she said, “every now and then I promised the Lord that I’d give my things away when people asked about them, and today is one of those days.” “What? ANYTHING?” “Yep, pretty much, just know when someone comments on the watch, give it away. Use it as a reminder that God provides for all your needs, an act of gratitude.” After the shock of being given a VERY expensive watch died down, this new idea and my friend’s generosity lingered. I felt weird wearing the watch, an expensive gift unearned. I kept wanting someone to ask about it, to get rid of the uncomfortable feeling of wearing it. As time went on, the watch became familiar. Months went by, no one asking about it. After some time the day came that someone noticed, “What a beautiful watch, is that an antique?” A passing along of a gift that God provides. I’ve always loved the story of Mary anointing Jesus. The generosity, intimacy and Jesus’s acceptance of her are moving. The perfume’s price, a year’s salary, is a lavish response to Christ’s mercy. A washing with her hair—a scandalous event since women didn’t take their hair down in public—shocked the disciples, causing a stir, skepticism and marvel around the occasion. Jesus took up Mary, accepting the gift and her generous heart. What an extravagant response to Christ’s mercy, and a loving response towards Mary’s actions! This selfless responding to God’s mercy, challenges me. How do I respond to God’s mercy, and what are my actions of outpouring spirit towards my Lord? “Lord have mercy on me, according to your lovingkindness, according to your great compassion ...” “Lord, I have heard of your fame; I stand in awe of your deeds ...” As I consider Mary’s actions, both my friend, Mary and Mary in Bethany—how do I respond to God’s lovingkindness? Who would I be in the story—a shocked disciple, or on my knees pouring out a year’s salary? I admire my friend Mary’s radical thankfulness, giving away; and I’m compelled by Mary at Bethany radically pouring out generosity. Both acts remind me of God’s graciousness, mercy and generosity towards me. Rock of Ages, when in want or rest,
Rock of Ages, “It is done!” you cried.
My desperate need for such a Savior I confess
The curtain’s torn and I see justice satisfied
Pull these idols out from my heart embrace.
Now write your mercy, on my heart and hands.
Rock of Ages, I need your grace.
Rock of ages, in faith I stand.
Rock of Ages, broken scorned for me.
Excerpts from Rock Of Ages (When The Day Seems Long)
Who am I that you would die to make me free?
by Sandra McCracken and Kevin Twit
To give me glory, (you) took the death and pain. Rock of Ages, my Offering. JILL ROBIN SON, Director of External Relations & Executive Learning Networks College of Business Administration · 33 ·
S U N D AY, M A R C H 1 8 Jeremiah 31:31–34 | Psalm 51:1–12 | Hebrews 5:5–10 | John 12:20–33
Fifth Sunday of Lent
What’s the worst thing you’ve done in your life? Seriously, what’s something truly terrible that you regret and hope no one ever finds out about? Do you have anything so bad in your past that if others were to find out you would simply leave campus, go to the airport, buy a ticket and board a plane to Burkina Faso (where you are fairly sure no one would ever find you)? Let me tell you, quite possibly, the worst thing anyone has ever done. There was a guy who had the hots for a girl. He wanted her so badly that he totally ignored the fact that she was already married, and he committed adultery with her (in a way that would likely be considered rape). Then, she got pregnant. The baby was definitely not her husband’s because he was in the army in battle. The guy who got her pregnant tried to cover the whole thing up. When that didn’t work, he had her husband killed. Whoa! It’s the kind of horrible story you would see recreated on “Law and Order: SVU,” right? You might be shocked to find out that this story is in the Bible. It happens in 2 Samuel 11. And the guy who did all these despicable things is none other than King David, who is generally considered the greatest king of Israel. Psalm 51 represents the words of David after the prophet Nathan confronts him about the awful things David had done. Of course, this Psalm fits perfectly within the season of Lent which is a time of penitence and reflection on our sin. We believe David was truly sorry for what he did as he asks God to create in him a clean heart and a renewed spirit. David wants to be truly forgiven for his actions and made into a new person. It seems that God does indeed give David a new heart and spirit, and later, in Jeremiah, promises to do the same for all of Israel. Hopefully, during Lent, we remember that God forgives the worst thing we’ve ever done. We are reminded that Jesus, our great high priest, forgave even those who were putting him to death. This kind of forgiveness shows us a difficult truth: God forgives even those who have done the worst things to us.
DAVID BREN T HOL L I S, Campus Minister Belmont Wesley Fellowship
· 34 ·
M O N D AY, M A R C H 1 9 Psalm 119:9–16 | Isaiah 43:8–13 | 2 Corinthians 3:4–11 Paul’s Second Epistle to the Corinthians contains some of my favorite passages, and that is where we find ourselves today. Paul’s forwardness with the church at Corinth is inspiring as he proclaims the life-giving nature of the Holy Spirit. Paul’s proclamation of finding our confidence before God through Christ is moving combined with those words. In this season of Lent, our confidence cannot come from material things or earthly possessions. Our confidence must come from our faith in Christ. Christ is the source of our confidence and ultimately the source of our life. Through Christ is where we can find more than any earthly possession could ever provide: courage, diversity, radical hospitality, love, grace and understanding. Paul’s message to the Corinthians is one of understanding: God provides in times of need. In this new season of hope, let us prepare ourselves by being confident in who we are and what we believe. One of the main reasons Paul was writing to the Corinthians was to assure them and encourage confidence in themselves and in the New Covenant with God. As we progress through spring and this season of Lent, let us take this advice from Paul. May our confidence grow and blossom into a vibrant and healthy bloom. May we plant new seeds of understanding that will harbor gardens of hope and understanding in the year to come. This season of Lent is representative of our new garden. Let us take the time and space to choose our seeds carefully and wisely. Our garden this year has the potential to be more bountiful than ever before, but in planting our garden, we won’t have room for everything. Let us take Paul’s advice in carefully and wisely choosing our seeds: do so confidently. “We are confident of all this because of our great trust in God through Christ. It is not that we think we are qualified to do anything on our own. Our qualification comes from God” (2 Corinthians 3:4–5, NLT). May the God of peace, hope and confidence bless you in this new season.
JORDA N HOWES, Graduate Intern University Ministries
· 35 ·
T U E S D AY, M A R C H 2 0 Psalm 119:9–16 | Isaiah 44:1–8 | Acts 2:14–24 As a kid growing up in a Christian family, Pentecost was a feast very familiar to me. I remember wearing red to church because it was a day to celebrate. To a child, Pentecost seemed like a very neat science fiction story in which tongues of fire appeared above all those present as a result of the Holy Spirit coming upon them. It was through this story that I realized the symbolism and meaning that was demonstrated through the speaking of many languages. Having different languages was not an obstacle for people to be able to communicate because the Holy Spirit was a unifying force demonstrating equality in the eyes of God. Born and raised in Puerto Rico, I was not aware of the meaning of the word “minority.” I heard the word for the first time during an exchange program orientation for students going to study abroad. I remember thinking that being a minority was going to make me feel welcomed and special. It did not take long for me to understand that being labeled a minority meant that I had a different culture, and even though I spoke English, it was not sufficient because I had an accent. And for the first time I realized that no matter how hard I tried, others would look for those things that make us different as a way to judge my character. It was a hard lesson to learn. Being a minority meant that most of those characteristics and attributes that I was either born with or that I acquired during my upbringing were nothing but obstacles to being able to communicate with one another. Pentecost came to mind and I affirm that our society is able to recognize the unifying nature of God that makes us equal if we ask for guidance. It is my prayer that others will look for ways to replace the language example with a quality that they possess that makes them different. Consider our skin color, ethnicity, level of education, sexual orientation, gender, socioeconomic status, age, disabilities, chronic health issues, political views or even religious beliefs. I constantly look for ways to shape the future of our society and share through my testimony that we all have a common denominator. I am aware that we have been taught to identify our differences before our similarities. I have come to accept that perhaps pointing out our differences is not a bad thing after all. But I refuse to accept the idea of using them to alienate one another. I believe that Lent is the right time to relive Pentecost. Let’s not be just satisfied with celebrating our differences, but strive to honor and learn from them. Let’s pause and remember that the fruit of the Holy Spirit is love, joy, peace, tolerance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control (Galatians 5:22–23). Let’s remind ourselves that we can all use our talents to shape our future and that the Holy Spirit should be our common denominator.
E DGA R DIA Z- CRU Z , Associate Professor of Pharmaceutical Sciences College of Pharmacy
· 36 ·
W E D N E S D AY, M A R C H 2 1 Psalm 119:9–16 | Haggai 2:1–9, 20–23 | John 12:34–50 We, by nature, crave belonging. We were created for belonging. Studies show that sense of belonging is a key indicator of persistence, achievement and overall flourishing. In today’s reading, the verse that I found most convicting was in John 12:42–43: “Nevertheless even among the rulers many believed in [Jesus], but because of the Pharisees they did not confess him, lest they should be put out of the synagogue; for they loved the praise of men more than the praise of God.” It’s alluring, isn’t it? To be celebrated, to be accepted, to be considered an insider. We are so often drawn to the immediacy of our circumstances and emotions that we can miss the confounding goodness of God before us. It feels reminiscent of C.S. Lewis’s remarks in “The Weight of Glory” in which he writes, “It would seem that Our Lord finds our desires not too strong, but too weak. We are half-hearted creatures, fooling about with drink and sex and ambition when infinite joy is offered us, like an ignorant child who wants to go on making mud pies in a slum because he cannot imagine what is meant by the offer of a holiday at the sea. We are far too easily pleased.” In the reading from Haggai for today, we hear the Lord declare, “‘The glory of this latter temple shall be greater than the former,’ says the Lord of hosts. ‘And in this place I will give peace.’” In John, Jesus cries out that he did not come to judge the world but to save it. He declares that the Father sent him and gave him a command, and that command is everlasting life. This prophetic message alludes that this salvific hope is holistic—the Prince of Peace comes to restore shalom peace, an all-encompassing wholeness that entails justice and healing emotionally, spiritually, physically, socially, politically, economically and in every other facet of our embodied existence. We, who so often love the praises of others more than the praise of God, who mismanage our desires for belonging, are invited into the unfailing, irrevocable and unfathomable love of God. Though the fullness of this hope is not yet realized, we are beckoned into both the accomplished and yet, unfolding victory and work of Christ risen from the cross. We are chosen and we are welcomed into both this Kingdom and a relationship with the King. In this Lenten season, as we reflect on the life, ministry, suffering and resurrection of Jesus, may we release our self-prescribed efforts for belonging. May we reflect on what it means to love the praise of God more than the praise of others, because we are secure in God’s steadfast lovingkindness. May we more tangibly know the unwavering belonging we have through Christ. “And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the Lord’s holy people, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge—that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God” (Ephesians 3:17–18).
MEGAN MCNEES E, Student Support Specialist Bridges to Belmont · 37 ·
T H U R S D AY, M A R C H 2 2 Psalm 118:1–2, 19–29 | Deuteronomy 16:1–8 | Philippians 2:1–11 Lent is the season of preparation in which the world is preparing for the central mystery of the Christian faith: the Paschal mystery. This is the death, resurrection and ascension into heaven that the church celebrates starting on Good Friday. As a kid, my brother and I were always encouraged to forego enjoying a common desire (i.e. sweets, coffee, etc.) or focus on not falling victim to a troublesome vice (i.e. swearing, comparing to others, etc.) for the Lenten season. We always gave up “Coke”—side note, we grew up in the south so “Coke” here is interchangeable for actual Coca-Cola, Pepsi, Dr. Pepper, Sprite and so on. To me, as I cannot speak for him, this was never more than the status quo. It was “the thing” to do during Lent. As I grow in my faith journey and reflect on where I have been, I find that my perspective on this subtractive behavior was all out of sorts. I find that I wasn’t giving up Coke to PREPARE myself, I was giving up Coke to COMPARE myself to the “sacrifice” of others—at the time, these were my peers and classmates. I know now, that I should have been looking at this season as a time to clear out some of the secular clutter that was in my life, and focus on the death and resurrection of Jesus. I will continue to give something up during this time, but going forward, I will focus not on what I am giving up; rather, I will focus on the clarity I am gaining and the opportunity I am being presented with when I choose to focus on God. Whether you decide to do the same is up to you. Please note that this is not a necessity in order to celebrate this season. My hope, however, for you—the reader—is that you use this time to prepare your world for the coming of this great mystery. I hope that when you read the passages, you see them as blessings to add to your life rather than burdens because of what you might give up.
JOE MA N KOWSK I , Assistant Director Department of Fitness and Recreation
· 38 ·
F R I D AY, M A R C H 2 3 Psalm 118:1–2, 19–29 | Jeremiah 33:1–9 | Philippians 2:12–18 One of my very favorite things I learned in seminary was that often when the Old Testament “says something” about God, it’s also “saying the opposite.” Long story short, quick summary, literally, this is because there were a lot of god options back then ... So, it’s possible when this psalm was written, saying “God is good” was the same as saying all other gods are not good. When this person says she will thank the Lord, she could also be saying she won’t thank her good grades or her pitiful checking account or even her nice boyfriend. She’ll thank the Lord. It’s an interesting concept to ponder during this season when we try to repent … When we try to turn and return to God. And it makes this psalm so ironic, since so many of the beautiful and haunting images in it are exactly what will be said to God incarnate shortly before he is killed. But this is the Lord’s doing and it is marvelous in our eyes. His steadfast love endures forever. This is the day that the Lord has made, the Lord, and no one else ... Let us rejoice and be glad. Save us, O Lord, we call on You, in repentance, to save us. You are our God. And we love You. Amen.
L IN DSEY GROVE S, Campus Minister UKirk Nashville
· 39 ·
S AT U R D AY, M A R C H 2 4 Psalm 118:1–2, 19–29 | Jeremiah 33:10–16 | Mark 10:32–34, 46–52 Baseball Hall of Famer Yogi Berra said, “It’s déjà vu all over again,” and this Yogi-ism has never been truer. Today’s marketers spend thousands of dollars creating auditory and visual stimuli—slogans, jingles, hashtags—that accost us with shocking regularity, a playlist set on repeat until we begin to hum their jingles and post their hashtags. Today’s readings present us with holy déjà vu as the psalmist creates his own playlist, reminding himself, and us, of God’s power and provision. From mountaintops to valleys, the psalmist offers an insider-perspective to the highs and lows of his psyche. He recounts the goodness of God’s laws (Psalm 19) and God’s power (Psalm 29), and invites us to join his joyful refrain, “His faithful love endures forever” (Psalm 117:2). During hard times, the psalmist does not abandon his repetitive practice. As the writer wrestles with fear, he recites God’s previous provisions: “Our ancestors trusted in you, and you rescued them. They cried out to you and were saved. They trusted in you and were never disgraced,” and then more personal, “You brought me safely from my mother’s womb” (Psalm 22). Such repetition provides the psalmist a reminder of God’s previous faithfulness and offers assurance of His continued provision, ultimately leading the psalmist to conclude, “Wait patiently for the Lord ... yes, wait patiently for the Lord” (Psalm 27:14). The psalmist was not the only one to understand the power of repetition. Bartimaeus, a blind beggar, had only one thing to say as Jesus passed by, “Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me.” Despite the crowd’s attempts to silence him, Bartimaeus repeated the phrase again and again, “Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me.” The Orthodox Church recites a similar prayer called The Jesus Prayer, Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on me, the sinner. Reminiscent of Bartimaeus’s call to Jesus, the prayer is meant to be repeated, first verbally, then mentally, until it becomes a prayer of the heart. In this season of Lent, we are encouraged to follow the example of the psalmist and the blind beggar. We are invited to recount God’s power, remember His faithful provision, and recite our realization of His unfailing mercy on us, sinners. In doing so, may we create a holy playlist that moves God’s truth from our mouths to our minds, until it resonates in our hearts.
CHRISTIE KLEINM A N N , Associate Professor of Public Relations College of Liberal Arts and Social Sciences
· 40 ·
Palm Sunday
S U N D AY, M A R C H 2 5 Psalm 118:1–2, 19–29 | Mark 11:1–11
There is a way of putting Jesus on a sacred pedestal so distant from our everyday wheeling and dealing that we can honor him with our lips by calling him “Christ,” while mocking the witness of his life with all that we are. Today’s reading can come to our aid in overcoming this tendency as we’re made to consider a particular psalm as perhaps crucial to his own self-understanding. If we’re to see the world as Jesus sees the world, it’s sometimes helpful to think of him as a student of the prophets and the psalms. Consider the psalmist’s meditation on lived righteousness and the culture of salvation. Jesus’s tradition spied a pattern: “The stone that the builders rejected has become the chief cornerstone.” Just as many a saint is deemed a despised outsider (or even a heretic) within her lifetime, it’s the true prophets who are often regarded with popular contempt by their contemporaries only to be seen as truly inspired following their death (or execution). In this, Jesus knew the score. So his insistence on modest means and the stark opposite of pomp and circumstance upon entering Jerusalem was par for the prophetic course. The kingdom to come, which he embodied and which he sought to inaugurate through imagery and actions of radical hospitality even unto alleged enemies, is not one that confuses “impact” for righteousness or a high turn-out for success. In our day, this path of downward mobility, of emptying oneself for love of others is radically countercultural, especially when those in power would divide the world up between winners and losers, influencers and failures. But the God made known in Jesus relentlessly overturns our standards. Humble and riding on a donkey, Jesus appears before us as one whose divinity can’t be made separate from his status as a pioneer of human seriousness and open-handed honesty. Do we want to follow him down this path? If this is what salvation consists of, are we interested in being saved? The temptation to mistake the big deal for the real deal is ever before us. May the industrial-strength realism of Jesus be our primary guide through this season of contemplation.
DAVID DARK, Assistant Professor of Religion and the Arts College of Theology and Ministry
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M O N D AY, M A R C H 2 6 Psalm 36:5–11 | Isaiah 42:1–9 | Hebrews 9:11–15 | John 12:1–11
Monday of Holy Week
In Isaiah 42:1–9, we are called to serve as the hands and feet of God. In Isaiah 42:6–8, the Lord says he has called us to righteousness and that He will hold our hand, keep us and allow others to see Him through us. I was reminded of the importance of living out this call to be God’s hands and feet while serving at a halfway house for women and children coming out of sex trafficking in San Pedro, Dominican Republic. The first day we went to the halfway house, I didn’t realize non-school-aged children went to work with their mothers, so I only brought snacks and waters for my three and a half year old twins. When we arrived and five children under the age of six years old greeted us at the door, I knew I had made a big mistake. When my girls later asked for their snacks, I explained we didn’t have enough to share. And much to my surprise, they turned around without response and went back outside to play with the dirty makeshift tire swing. The next morning as I was gathering shoes and supplies for a second day in the safe house, I overheard Mary Preston urging her twin sister Charlotte: “Let’s get a big bag so we can puts lots of snacks in to share with our new friends.” Charlotte responded, “And lots of drinks, too.” Just like Isaiah reminds us in the Old Testament and the story of Mary and Martha reminds us the New Testament, it is important to live each day with a giving heart. What can we give away today? How can we serve as a light instead of a stumbling block? Where can we act as the hands and feet of Jesus? After reflecting on our readings for today, my prayer is that we may always look for others less fortunate to share with, people to set free from prison and strangers to encourage.
AMY HODGES HA M I LTON , Professor of English College of Liberal Arts and Social Sciences
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T U E S D AY, M A R C H 2 7 Psalm 71:1–14 | Isaiah 49:1–7 | 1 Corinthians 1:18–31 | John 12:20–36
Tuesday of Holy Week
How many miles did Jesus walk to bring him to Tuesday of Holy Week? What words of Isaiah encouraged him? How did the psalms inspire him? What of his own sense of calling urged him step by step into this fateful week? The text from Isaiah for today hearkens back to God bringing the exiles home. The image captures a moment where people long marginalized hide for safety and they are told to “come out” of darkness and to “show yourselves” so they can be led home to Jerusalem (Isaiah 49:9). Jesus knew all along he had to walk in the light and be seen as he moved toward Jerusalem, gathering courage from the assurance that God was his refuge. Maybe, he even had these words on his lips, “I will hope continually and will praise You yet more and more” (Psalm 71:14). The Gospel of John gives us a glimpse into the moment surrounding these final footsteps of Jesus. Jesus has entered Jerusalem and all of his ministry raced toward history. His words are cryptic in a way as he speaks of being lifted up— John suggests to indicate the way he would die—and in the way he speaks of himself as light, a kind of light that overcomes the darkness. Maybe there, on that day early in Holy Week, as the cross loomed before him he remembered the prophet Isaiah and the centuries old longing of his people to come out of the darkness of exile and home to Jerusalem once and for all. He believed himself to be the light that would lead them all home finally and forever. Here we are in Holy Week, too. We have been following Jesus as he made his way toward Jerusalem and we have been thinking about all the things that keep us from the light. It is decision time. We need to decide if we will keep walking with him all the way to the cross. As Paul was to write later, we must consider our own call to decide if we shall follow Jesus to the foolishness of the cross (1 Corinthians 1:26). It is there in the darkest moment of human history that the light shines brightest. We are called to it. Can we follow these last few footsteps of Jesus to the cross and into the light of the world? Can we continue on the path to Easter?
DA RRELL GWA LT N EY, Dean College of Theology and Christian Ministry
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W E D N E S D AY, M A R C H 2 8 Psalm 70 | Isaiah 50:4–9a | Hebrews 12:1–3 | John 13:21–32
Wednesday of Holy Week
At the age of 22, I determined that I wanted to learn how to fly. I wanted to possess a Private Pilot’s License. I set my mind and opened by wallet and began the process. I can still vividly remember the day that I “soloed” for the first time. I slowly taxied out to the runway, obtained clearance for takeoff, took a deep breath and shoved the throttle all the way to the firewall. Within seconds the engine roared to life as I sped down the runway. With an iron grip on the yoke, and with a little nervous sweat on my brow, I pulled the eager Cessna into the sky. I had determined to make that day happen and would not be deterred until it did. Sometimes, to accomplish the things that matter, we have to “set our face like a stone” and move forward with all the determination we can muster. As we celebrate this Wednesday of Holy Week, my mind races back to the first century and to thoughts of Jesus. He knew the ominous clouds were gathering. He knew the path had been cleared. He knew that the suffering of the cross was just a day or so away. It was God’s will. It was God’s plan from the beginning. It was God’s answer for our sinful disobedience. And the suffering required would be Jesus’s role to play. And rather than cower in fear, or find an excuse not to be fully obedient, he set his face like a stone, determined to do the Father’s will. The Call of God is no small or insignificant voice in our lives. To be fully obedient is to be fully compliant. It is to step forward with the resolve that nothing else matters. It is to reflect these often-quoted words: “Nothing more, nothing less and nothing else.” I have no way of knowing what obedient faith may require of you this day. You may be called upon to perform some noble deed, offer a life-changing word or give sacrificially of yourself. Faith will make its demand. Your response to God’s prompting in your life is to set your face like a stone, determined to do His will.
JON ROEBUCK, Executive Director Institute for Innovative Faith-Based Leadership
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T H U R S D AY, M A R C H 2 9 Psalm 116:1–2, 12–19 | Exodus 12:1–14 | 1 Corinthians 11:23–26 | John 13:1–17, 31b–35
Maundy Thursday
Lent calls us to look at ourselves clearly. Looking into today’s scriptural texts as a mirror of sorts, we see passages full of action words. Exodus speaks of what God has done, and what those who follow God are called to do. A more ancient memorial day is named as a day of remembering death everywhere and being spared this death. The psalmist reports that God hears the cry of the helpless, and the grateful acts of response are to raise a glass, to stand with others at death’s door, to complete the task of service promised. Our reading from John describes suppertime and Jesus putting on a servant’s apron, filling a basin, bowing to wash the feet of his disciples. The patterns of master and servant, teacher and learner, boss and employee are turned sideways. In 1 Corinthians it is suppertime again, bread is taken, broken, prayed over and handed out. We are invited to drink from the cup, poured by Jesus, to re-enact his actions and remember. There is discomfort in some of what Jesus asks. We have spiritual and bodily discomfort over the physicality of Lent, of feet washed and foreheads touched, in worship no less. These actions invite us to see clearly, ourselves and what is around us, to release the illusions. We know we will die, but we rarely live with our own deaths before us. Lent asks us to walk with death before us. When we look into the mirror of God’s actions on our behalf, the mirror of our own responses, this reflection calls us to clear repentance. We tend to turn away from our mortality, just as we turn away from the clear sight of our own sinfulness. How do we know we’ve gazed in this mirror of repentance? We experience sorrow and gratitude. This repentance creates space in our lives, much as fasting and giving up things for lent is intended to do. It creates space in our lives for the voice of God, for the seeds that will in time bring new growth, for the work of God’s spirit of transformation in us to make us into the truest selves who bear the image of God. To turn toward our mortality, to look clearly at our reflection, is to release control, release illusion and choose to walk with the one who walked toward his own death for us.
JUDY SKEEN , Professor of Religion College of Theology and Christian Ministry
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F R I D AY, M A R C H 3 0 Psalm 22 | Isaiah 52:13–53:12 | Hebrews 10:16–25 | John 18:1–19:42
Good Friday
As I read the words that open Psalm 22, “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?” I immediately touch my lips, imagining the parched and broken lips of my Jesus in agony, praying this Word of God in the final hour of his death. I begin to weep. I sit. I sit and weep, for I know his thoughts and his despair. I have felt his suffering in my bones. It is the breaking of the human heart before God. Jesus is not alone in this. You and I—we are not alone in this. Whether it lasts for a moment, a day or a season, every human heart will at some point buckle under the weight of life’s suffering. In the final moments of his life, Jesus, the Word made flesh, descends into this darkest corner of human existence—despair. Despair is that which threatens our most intimate and far-reaching desires for love, meaning and fullness of life; the very things for which God created us. Despair tries to rob us of our faith that life is meaningful, that justice is possible and worth dying for, that there is more to life than suffering and that God is loving and strong enough to hold us and save us. In his body, in his being, Jesus knew this pain, the pain of the desperate. What we cannot hear from the Gospel stories alone is that Jesus’s words, the words of Psalm 22, do not however mark his loss of faith and hope in God. Quite to the contrary, Psalm 22 makes clear that the desperate are those who struggle for life, those who trust and cry out to their heavenly Father in the midst of their pain, though there is no longer any earthly reason to do so. In North American cultures, struggling is often taken as a sign of weakness. The one who struggles lacks the strength to overcome, and is thus “less than.” However, this is not the case in Latin American cultures. As a Puerto Rican, if you were to ask me the simple question, “Como estas? How are you?” it would not be uncommon for me to respond, “En la lucha! In the struggle!” To be in the struggle means that I may be down, but I am not out! It is a sober acknowledgement that life is hard, and it may beat the living stuffing out of you, but you have not given up. The desperate do not give up on life. They do not give up on God. No matter how battered their hearts, how hopeless their circumstances, the desperate, or as Jesus calls them the poor in spirit, cry out in agonizing faith for the coming of God’s life-giving power on earth. Jesus, the desperate one, learned from his ancestor David the meaning of desperate faith, what it means to be a man after God’s own heart, when the human heart has failed. On this Good Friday, let us pray and cry out the whole of Psalm 22, as I am certain Jesus did, though the witnesses to his passion may not have been able to hear the silent words of his heart: “For he has not despised or disdained the suffering of the afflicted one; he has not hidden his face from him but has listened to his cry for help.” Bring your tears and bring your faith to the one who gathers within his flesh every broken and faithful life, bringing them through the mystery of his death and resurrection into new and everlasting life.
MAN UEL CRUZ, Assistant Professor of Theology College of Theology and Christian Ministry
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S AT U R D AY, M A R C H 3 1 Psalm 31:1–4, 15–16 | Job 14:1–14 | 1 Peter 4:1–8 | Matthew 27:57–66
Holy Saturday
“God speaks to each of us as he makes us, then walks with us silently out of the night.” From “Rilke’s Book of Hours: Love Poems to God,” Joanna Macy
These opening lines from the poet Rilke embody Holy Saturday for me. No matter how bad it gets, God is walking with me. Holy Saturday is a pretty tough day, falling as it does between the death of Christ on Good Friday and his resurrection on Easter. But when I think about it, I see how much I need a Holy Saturday, a pause. We all do. Just as with our Jewish ancestors, Holy Saturday is our Sabbath, our time apart to rest and reflect. We really cannot jump from one place to the other, from death to life, in one easy step. We live between the twin poles of death and rebirth every day of our lives and Lent has just given forty days to all God’s church for an extended “retreat” that calls us to see life, our very lives, as pure gift. As 21st century people, we know that resurrection is coming the next day in the church’s great Easter celebration, but in the midst of our lives, we often face struggles that do not offer such assurances. We don’t know if our job or our relationships are secure. We worry about a diagnosis, such as cancer, but we also worry about our seemingly smaller “deaths” like not making a team or having the “right” friends. On Holy Saturday, with our resurrections still uncertain and the image of death looming in our memories, we are invited to live every day with God. This unassuming day is most like the ones we usually live: the days where we can’t quite deal with the grief and can’t quite imagine that new life might find us. But this day calls us to step outside of time and listen for the Spirit’s nudging. Just as the Jewish people honored the rituals of their faith and kept the Sabbath holy by not burying Christ on this Saturday, we, too, are called to keep holy what this day represents—it’s the gift of life. God walks with us every day, not just on the days marked as “holy.” In Rilke’s poem, the narrator underscores this image in saying “Give me your hand.” As we walk out of the shadows of Good Friday and long for resurrection, we have the assurance of God walking with us, holding our hand.
ROBBIE P INTER , Professor of English College of Liberal Arts and Social Sciences
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S U N D AY, A P R I L 1 Psalm 118:1–2, 14–24 | Isaiah 25:6–9 | 1 Corinthians 15:1–11 | John 20:1–18
Easter Sunday
Winter is my least favorite season. It is cold outside. I hate it when the flowers die, the grass turns brown and the trees are bare. But, perhaps most of all I hate the isolation that comes with winter. We rush from our homes to our cars, to our destination and back again hoping to avoid the cold. It gets dark early and we hunker down inside waiting for the light to come again. There are few neighbors out in their yards or on a walk to say hello to, and our neighborhood parks are all but empty. All of this can isolate us from communities and people that we love. We often feel alone, longing for relationship. Winter weather is not the only thing that isolates us. We are isolated by sickness, pain, mental illness, failure, broken relationships or even a sense that no one understands what we are experiencing or would accept us if they did. Our texts today give us glimpses of people and communities that seem to feel the same way. A people who have been lost in exile, awaiting the restoration of identity and community. Disciples who have lost their leader, the one that they gave up everything to follow. A woman who had lost a teacher that had loved her and believed in her when no one else did. A community that struggled to know what the life of faith was really about. And all of these, though separated by time and space, were wondering where they belonged, what would come next, whom they could trust, and how they would live. These questions threatened to isolate them from one another and from God. Into this despair and isolation breaks the good news of the gospel—that in Christ, God has defeated death. That defeat encompassed all the things that we think should separate us from God. In Christ, we are assured that there is nothing— nothing!!—that can separate us from the love of God. All of those situations that seem as though they should result in isolation, loneliness and even death are being redeemed by God. Where there was hopelessness, pain and isolation, there is now joy and peace. Each spring, we begin to see signs of new life. The days become longer, the grass grows green again, barren branches bud with new leaves and the neighbors come out of their winter hiding. This changing of seasons can serve as a reminder to us that God is always at work bringing new life. Perhaps during this Lenten season you have experienced a “winter”—situations of brokenness and isolation. But, there is good news this Easter—in Jesus, spring has arrived. And no matter where you may find yourself, God is with you. God is at work redeeming, restoring and bringing new life to all things. On this Easter Sunday, we can proclaim the words of Isaiah: “Surely this is our God; we trusted in Him and He saved us. This is the Lord, we trusted in Him; let us rejoice and be glad in His salvation.” Gracious God, we give you thanks for your work in us during this Lenten season. Let us not see Easter Sunday as the end of a journey, but simply as the beginning. Continue your redemptive and restorative work in us that we may be your body for the world. In the name of our resurrected Lord, Jesus Christ, we pray. AMEN.
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THE MISSION OF THE OFFICE OF UNIVERSITY MINISTRIES The Office of University Ministries provides opportunities for students to:
• see God at work in their lives and in the lives of those around them.
• find a place to belong on campus and in the world.
• develop a sense of purpose in leadership and service.
Ways you can be involved WORSHIP
CONNECT GROUPS
Join us for Chapel every Monday, Wednesday and Friday
Each Spring semester faculty and staff lead Connect
at 10 a.m. in the JAAC Chapel (convocation credit offered). Groups for students engaging in a variety of topics including: vocation, leadership, faith & culture, Christian formation, justice & global engagement and relationships. S P I R I T U A L L I F E A S S I S TA N T S In partnership with Residence Life, SLAs engage first-year students in on-campus community within their residence halls through small group and service opportunities.
201 7– 201 8 FA I T H D E V E LOP M E N T OR G A N I Z AT I ON S , A FFI L I AT E D G R OUP S & G RA D UAT E FE L LOWS HI P S Baptist Collegiate Ministries (BCM), Belmont Bridge
SERVICE YEAR HOUSE
Builders, Belmont Catholic Community (BCC), Belmont
Service Year is a year-long program centered on
Wesley Fellowship (BWF), Chadasha Gospel Choir, CRU,
intentional community, service, spiritual formation and
Delight, Fellowship of Christian Athletes (FCA),
hospitality. The purpose of Service Year is to provide
InterVarsity, Navigators, Ukirk, Reformed University
space for a small group of students to grow in their
Fellowship (RUF), Young Life, Christian Legal Society
understanding of self, deepen their relationship with God
(CLS), Christian Pharmacy Fellowship International (CPFI) ,
and discern how they can uniquely love God and neighbor.
Nurses Christian Fellowship (NCF).
OUTREACH & MISSIONS
O F F I C E O F U N I V E R S I T Y M I N I S T R I E S S TA F F
Into.Nashville: A popular convo-credit based outreach
Heather Daugherty, University Minister
program that takes students into Nashville for education,
Christy Ridings, Associate University Minister,
service and reflection that happens on Saturdays
Director of Spiritual Formation & Discipleship
throughout the year.
Josh Riedel, Assistant Director of Spiritual Formation
Mission Immersions: Missions programming at Belmont is about discovering the work God is doing all over the world
LaReace Carr, University Ministries Assistant
and listening for our call to join that work.
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OFFICE OF UNIVERSITY MINISTRIES
615.460.6419 BELMONT.EDU/UNIVERSITYMINISTRIES
Belmont University is a Christian community. The university faculty, administration and staff uphold Jesus as the Christ and as the measure for all things. As a community seeking to uphold Christian standards of morality, ethics and conduct, Belmont University holds high expectations of each person who chooses to join the community. Belmont University does not discriminate on the basis of race, sex, color, national or ethnic origin, age, disability, military service or sexual orientation. Inquiries or complaints concerning the application of these policies to students should be directed to the Dean of Students, Beaman Student Life Center Suite 200, 1900 Belmont Blvd., Nashville, TN 37212, deanofstudents@belmont.edu or 615.460.6407. UMN-171373