RELEVANT U - Issue 05 - 2013/2014

IT’S TIME TO FIND YOUR CALLING PRACTICAL STEPS

THE COLLEGE GUIDE FROM RELEVANT MAGAZINE

5

UNDERGRAD DEGREES IN DEMAND

TO FIND THE RIGHT PATH FOR YOU

HOW TO CHOOSE

THE RIGHT GRAD SCHOOL IS SEMINARY RIGHT FOR YOU?

+

COMPARE MORE THAN

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CHRISTIAN UNIVERSITIES, GRAD SCHOOLS AND SEMINARIES AT RELE VANTU.COM

Preparation for the race is as unique as the race itself. That is why we offer you multiple opportunities to prepare you to run your course in ministry. Start your training today—asbury.to/apply.

To help you become the servant-leader God has called you to be, we offer a number of academic and professional degrees through our campuses in Kentucky, Florida, and EXL (our online learning environment). EXL allows you to pursue your degree without uprooting your life. Some of our degrees are Spiritual Formation, Church Planting, Pastoral Counseling, Christian Leadership, and a Master of Divinity with specializations.

Call. 800.2ASBURY Click. asbury.to/degrees Visit. asbury.to/visit

CONTENTS

72 WHY FURTHER YOUR EDUCATION? Where do want to end up? How do you get there? Some ideas of how to think through your future career path while still in school.

58 HOW TO FIND GOD’S WILL FOR YOUR LIFE Wondering what to do with your life can be exhausting, and maybe you’re not asking the right questions. Jon Acuff offers a few practical steps to finding your version of awesome.

WHEN TO GO BACK TO GRAD SCHOOL

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Is grad school the best decision for you right now? A look at bad reasons for going back and four important areas to think through when making the decision.

5 WAYS TO PREPARE TO CHANGE THE WORLD 62 We often view world change as something we will do in the future, but here are 5 ways we can prepare ourselves to change the world around us right now.

7 IDEAS TO EFFECTIVELY START A SEMESTER 66 Tips to help you balance school, friendships and your spiritual life.

78 4 PRINCIPLES FOR SOUL CARE IN SEMINARY Even though you’re regularly studying God’s Word, seminary can be a time of spiritual dryness. Here’s how to keep your spiritual life healthy throughout the process.

ARE YOU CALLED TO MINISTRY?

“What does it mean to be called to ministry?” “What can I do to prepare?” and 4 more questions to help discern God’s calling for your life.

68 5 WAYS TO KNOW WHICH GRAD SCHOOL IS RIGHT FOR YOU You’ve decided to pursue more education, but where should you go? Here’s how to find the right place for you.

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28 How to Create—And Stick

36 What You Need to Know

to—A College Budget

32

54 7 Podcasts That Can Make You a

How To Pull an All-Nighter

About Loans Better Seminary Student

SEMINARY, FAMILY OR BEING DEBT FREE: PICK TWO Why you can’t have it all. And how to weigh your options.

COLLEGE DIRECTORY

92 Information on more than

35 universities. Find more at RELEVANTU.com

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WHEREVER YOU ARE. SOUTHWESTERN IS THERE. In a fast-paced, ever-changing world, you need quality theological education to support the demands of ministry.

Southwestern stands ready to partner with you, providing theological training and practical tools wherever you are in ministry. Our five fully accredited, fully-online degree options—which now include the Master of Divinity and Master of Arts in Christian Education—give you access to our world-class faculty as you fulfill God’s call on your life.

Start a degree or complete a degree while you continue in your current ministry context. Either way, we’re there.

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2013-2014, Issue 05 PUBLISHER & CEO Cameron Strang > cameron@relevantmediagroup.com Associate Publisher | Jeff Rojas > jeff@relevantmediagroup.com Account Manager | Wayne Thompson > wayne@relevantmediagroup.com Managing Editor | Tyler Huckabee > tyler@relevantmediagroup.com Contributing Editor | Jesse Carey > jesse@relevantmediagroup.com Copy Editor | Dargan Thompson> dargan@relevantmediagroup.com CONTRIBUTING WRITERS: Jon Acuff, John Bryson, Jeff Cook, Dharius Daniels, Peter Englert, Tom Grosh, Reggie McNeal, Sharon Hodde Miller, Diana Pattinson Contributing Design Director | Chaz Russo > chaz@relevantmediagroup.com Designer | Evan Travelstead > evan@relevantmediagroup.com Designer | Lindsey Weigley > lindsey@relevantmediagroup.com Designer | Lauren Harvill> lauren@relevantmediagroup.com Contributing Designer | John David Harris > johndavid@relevantmediagroup.com Director of Audio & Video | Chad Michael Snavely > chad@relevantmediagroup.com Photographer & Videographer | Mark Kammel > mark@relevantmediagroup.com CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHERS: Julia Cox

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MOODY DISTANCE LEARNING Learn from anywhere in the world Whether you want to finish a campus program through online courses or fit coursework around your work and family commitments, you can take online courses toward any of Moody’s degree programs. You can also earn the following degrees entirely online: B.S. in Biblical Studies, B.S. in Ministry Leadership, or M.A. in Applied Biblical Studies.

Please visit www.moody.edu/relevant or call 800-588-8344 for more information.

You have the passion

TO CHANGE THE WORLD.

We’ll prepare you to lead the way.

At Bethel University, we’re committed to equipping leaders. But here, leadership means something more.

It’s about being gracious servants and compassionate friends who challenge each other just as much as we support each other. It’s about being thoughtful scholars who are confident in our abilities and humble in our beliefs. It’s about developing our God-given talents so that, together, we can make a real difference in our communities and our world.

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“That’s the most exciting thing - Liberty is the training ground for anyone who wants to be obedient to the Lord.”

In 2006, Megan Chapman stirred national attention when, as a high school senior, she stood up to the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) to uphold her constitutional rights to pray at her graduation. Convinced that life demands action, Megan graduated with her Juris Doctorate from Liberty University School of Law in 2013.

At Liberty Law, students learn through: • An unrivaled six-semester Lawyering Skills program.

• Mission-oriented faculty experienced in various specialties of law.

• A curriculum taught from a Christian worldview.

If you are interested in a superior legal education, please email LawAdmissions@liberty.edu, call (434) 592-5300, or visit Law.Liberty.edu.

EDITOR’S NOTE

LEARNING TO LEARN ltimately, nothing can really prepare you for college.

It’s true. For all the thousands of blog posts, classes, seminars and handbooks that claim to be your college prep guide, higher education is an experience that, like most experiences, has to be lived to be understood. And, frankly, even after you live it, you still might not be entirely sure what happened to you.

Heading off to school—whether it’s college, grad school or seminary—is, of course, a big change.

You are going to interact with people who have extremely different beliefs and values than you do, and you’re going to come out different on the other side. But it’s up to you whether you fight that change or learn from it.

There’s an old story about a Christian student at a secular university who takes his professor to task for an anti-God lecture. Maybe you’ve read it. No one can quite confirm where exactly it came from, but the general consensus is that it’s very loosely based on an actual event.

The general thrust is that an aggressively atheist professor delivers a blustering speech about how God’s existence can’t be proven, and therefore shouldn’t be assumed. In the wake of this philosophical knockout, a Christian student raises his hand and delivers a sterling defense of God’s existence, calmly breaking down the professor’s arguments and sending him packing with his clean, studied apologetic. For his final trick, the student

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SCHOOL IS REALLY LEARNING ABOUT HOW TO CONTEXTUALIZE YOUR BELIEFS AS PART OF A BIGGER WORLD. IT’S ABOUT LEARNING HOW TO LEARN.

uses the much lauded scientific process to reveal that the professor must have no brain, since his brain can’t be observed with any of the five senses. The professor relents. The class is in uproar. Game, set, match.

As a theological treatise, it’s passable. As a example of what college is supposed to be, it leaves a bit to be desired.

The problem with the story is that it sets up the big, evil forces of “learning” against the gentle, stately Christian. In this narrative, college professors are bent on destroying faith, and Christians must ever be on the defense against learning anything that disrupts the worldview they started with their freshman year.

Obviously, believers should be cautious about college courses that run contrary to their beliefs, and there’s no denying the sobering studies about how many students give up their faith in college. But we get into trouble when we start looking at knowledge as the enemy.

As if learning is something to be feared, and any new information is inherently suspicious and all debates should be a mutually one-way exchange of mantras.

You know what might have made for a more interesting story? If the college student had raised his hand and, instead of decimating his professor’s arguments, had simply asked, “Where can I learn more?”

Who knows what would have happened if this fictitious student, instead of rushing into an argument, had instead demonstrated an eagerness to listen and a willingness to exchange ideas. Who knows what might have happened to that professor and his classroom if this student had, instead of lacing up his boxing gloves, put on a pot of coffee. Who knows what relationships might have been made. Who knows what transformations might have taken place.

Because no matter what sort of higher education you’re bracing for, there’s a lot more to it than just holding onto your beliefs. It’s really learning about how to contextualize your beliefs as part of a bigger world. It’s about learning how to express your beliefs in a knowledgeable and charitable way. Really, it’s about learning how to learn.

In this issue of RELEVANT U, you’ll find lots of thoughts on how to manage your education experience, some tips for what to expect from your degree, what classes to take and even just some basics of being on a campus.

We certainly hope these tips make your experience more rewarding or, at the very least, easier than it might have been.

But with something as big as college, the best advice of all might be this: Learn how to learn. Come ready to talk to people who think differently than you do, and understand that you can hold onto your own beliefs without attacking theirs. Remember one of Jesus’ favorite methods of apologetics was asking questions.

See if you can’t borrow a few pages out of His book.

And once you’ve done that, feel free to borrow a few pages out of this magazine, as well. Because with RELEVANT U, like with most learning experiences, it’s not really what you bring to it that matters. It’s what you take away from it.

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BUDGETING [ 1 0 1 ] HOW TO CREATE (AND STICK TO) A COLLEGE BUDGET ith all the newfound freedoms that come with college—a flexible schedule, no curfew, being able to eat whatever you want—you are also now responsible for your own finances. Chances are, they’re pretty limited.

How can you eat well and have fun in college without going broke? It’s called a budget.

You’ve definitely heard of it. Now it’s time to live by it.

Creating a budget is actually pretty simple. Start by identifying all your sources of income. Then look at all your fixed monthly expenses—tuition, rent, phone bill—as well as what you normally spend on everything else, including food, gas, entertainment, etc.

The math is simple: if you spend more than you earn, you’ve got an issue. Here are a few tips to help you cut back:

KICK YOUR COFFEE HABIT

PLAN YOUR MEALS

GET A (PART-TIME) JOB

If you don’t want to survive on just pasta (which, hint: you really shouldn’t), food will probably be your biggest expense. Planning out your meals for the week, rather than just grabbing whatever looks good at the grocery store, can keep you from ending up with a shelf full of snacks but no main dishes. Learn what goes on sale regularly and plan your meals around those items. And try to eat in as much as possible. If your friends want to eat out, tag along and just get a drink or dessert.

Even working just a few hours a week will provide you with a little more discretionary income. You’ll be busy, but you’ll also be able to do more in your free time. And chances are, you won’t be the only one of your friends working. In 2011, 71 percent of American undergraduates had jobs. If you make anything above your budgetary needs, put it aside for unexpected expenses or save it to buy a ticket to that music festival this summer.

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If you take a good, hard look at what you spend, you might be surprised by how much all the little things like coffee add up. Do you really need that Starbucks coffee every morning? If you have to get your daily dose of caffeine, invest in your own coffee maker instead. And rethink other small impulse buys like grabbing a candy bar every time you go through the checkout line.

GET CREATIVE WITH ENTERTAINMENT Limiting your entertainment budget doesn’t mean you have to stay in every night. Look out for student discounts around town, and don’t hesitate to ask about them. Have a picnic in the park instead of going out to eat. Check out the free trivia night on campus instead of going out to a movie. (As a bonus, there’s a good chance of free food at campus events.)

CREDIT TIPS FOR COLLEGE STUDENTS College is actually a great time to take out a credit card, as long you’re using it to build your credit instead of detonating it. Just follow these tips, and you’ll find yourself ahead of the credit curve.

SHOP AROUND Not all credit cards are created equal, and some bring perks like cash back or other rewards. Do some research and pick the right one.

DON’T CHARGE UNLESS YOU CAN PAY This is a big one. Credit cards aren’t free money, and, especially at this point in your life, you never want a charge that you won’t be able to pay when the bill arrives.

Also, get in the habit of paying your balance in full every month.

That way, you’ll only be paying off what you paid for, and not the interest and fees that come with keeping a negative balance.

B E T H E O N LY O N E W H O U S E S YOUR CARD Don’t mix friendship and finance.

It’s your name on the card, and if something goes amiss with your credit, you’ll be the one responsible.

COOKING FOR ONE 4 MEALS EVERY FRESHMAN SHOULD KNOW HOW TO MAKE here’s no need to go hungry during latenight cram sessions and mid-afternoon study breaks. Here are four (budgetfriendly) meals every freshman (and beyond) should know how to make.

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1

2

3

4

TRAIL MIX OK, technically not a “meal,” but all you need is some nuts, M&Ms and raisins, and you’ve got a (kind of) healthy snack that’s also easy to sneak into class. The great thing about trail mix is it also allows you to get creative and put your own twist on the timeless snack—dried fruit, sun-flower seeds and yogurt-covered Craisins can all add a healthy flare to this grab-and-go staple.

A REAL PB&J Forget everything you thought you knew about a peanut butter and jelly sandwich. Adding banana, honey, raisins or apple slices and using whole wheat instead of Wonder Bread turns a childhood snack into a vitamin-packed super meal on the cheap.

BREAKFAST BURRITO If you have a fridge to store eggs, cheese, tortillas and salsa and access to a microwave, you’ve got a quick, easy breakfast that takes under five minutes to make. Just scramble eggs in a microwave, roll them into a tortilla with some melted cheese and salsa, and breakfast is served.

PASTA Want an alternative to a sodium-packed Cup-of-Noodles from a vending machine? Use your hot pot to boil some water, add some wheat pasta, a can of your favorite spaghetti sauce and even get creative by adding some frozen vegetables or some microwaveable sausages.

3 KITCHEN ITEMS NO COLLEGE STUDENT SHOULD BE WITHOUT 1

Cast Iron Skillet

Go ahead and splurge for a nice one. Treat it right and you’ll never have to buy another.

2

Hot Pot

Generally used to make cheap noodle dishes, but be creative.

This can work for a lot of water heating needs.

3

Slow Cooker

Google ‘slow cooker recipes’ and prepare for your mind to be blown. You can make anything in one of these.

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PACK THIS, NOT THAT A GUIDE TO CREATING THE ESSENTIAL (AND NONESSENTIAL) DORM ROOM CHECKLIST PACK

1

2

3

4

TH I S

LAPTOP

HEADLAMP

HOT POT

SHOWER CADDIE

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[NOT THAT]

R E A SO N

W H Y

[ XBOX ]

There’s nothing wrong with some video games here and there, but only one of these devices can be used to kill some time playing games and can also help you study and write research papers.

[ LAVA LAMP ]

Every dorm has at least one room where someone thought they were being original by trying to bring back the lava lamp. Take our advice and get a headlamp instead—they’re a great hands-free tool for late-night study sessions when your roommate’s asleep. And (bonus) your room won’t look like it’s from the set of a low-budget ‘80s college comedy.

[ POTTED PLANTS ]

With their ability to safely heat water in just minutes and be a source of all manner of Ramen, macaroni and Campbell’s canned meals, hot pots are an essential key to late-night nourishment. So skip spending money on elaborate decorations (especially something like a potted plant that needs any sort of upkeep), and buy things you can actually use.

[ ROBE ]

When you’re making trips to and from a shared bathroom area, one of those multi-compartmental shower caddies to hold your hygiene gear is a lifesaver. But whatever you do, avoid wearing a robe in the dorm. Remember, you’re a college student, not a billionaire villain on vacation.

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HOW TO PULL AN

ALL-NIGHTER hether the result of a busy schedule, a serious workload or just good ‘ole fashioned procrastination, at some point during your undergrad years, you’re going to be faced with an all-nighter. But before you go and try to tackle a semester’s worth of work on a project in one night, you need to be prepared.

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GO WITH TEA Sure, a cup of strong coffee and those carbonated energy drinks offer a quick jolt, but if you’re wanting to fuel an all-night study session, tea is the better choice. Not only does tea also contain natural caffeine, but according to a study in the European Journal of Applied Physiology, certain types of tea can actually calm your nerves, which is a valuable trait during those stressful late-night hours.

TURN OFF THE TV Listening to SportsCenter reruns or keeping on a season of Arrested Development in the background may help keep you stimulated

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and awake, but eliminating distractions has its benefits. When it comes to an allnight study session, remember quality over quantity: A few solid, distraction-free hours may be better than a full night filled with attention-grabbing noise.

SNACK RIGHT Instead of just grabbing a two-pound bag of M&Ms or a box of gummy bears, go with a choice that won’t lead to a sugar crash.

Fruit, oatmeal, protein bars or nuts give you sustained energy, not just a single chocolate-fueled surge.

GO ALL NIGHT ONLY WHEN YOU ABSOLUTELY HAVE TO The best all-nighter advice? Try to avoid the all-nighter. Sure there are times you do what you have to do, but students who rely on all-night sessions end up paying the price. Associate professor of psychology at St. Lawrence University Pamela Thatcher told The Wall Street Journal that she found students had impaired memory for up to four days after pulling an all-nighter.

THEN AGAIN... MAYBE YOU SHOULD SLEEP Here’s the thing. Whatever the benefits of an all-nighter, the costs are almost certain to be higher. When it comes to getting a good grade, approaching that test or paper wellrested will be of at least as much use to you as getting plenty of studying done, and probably more. When we sleep, our minds are actually consolidating information—packing it away in easily accessible locations on the brain. That means that no matter how little you might feel you remember from class, you’ll actually remember it better if you sleep on it. And, of course, a lack of sleep wreaks havoc on your attention span and your ability to concentrate. All of this means that if you approach a big test after studying for it all night, your ability to focus has already been severely compromised.

There will be times when you’ll have to stay up late, pounding the books.

But it should always be a last resort.

Never a default.

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6 MYTHS

EVERYONE BELIEVES ABOUT COLLEGE AND THE FACTS THAT WILL GET YOU AHEAD

1

THE “FRESHMAN 15” IS UNAVOIDABLE

2

COLLEGE LIFE IS ONE CONSTANT PARTY

There’s nothing wrong with fluctuating weight now and then—and putting on an extra 15 or 20 pounds does happen to a lot of new college students. But don’t let the “freshman 15” be an excuse to live an unhealthy lifestyle.

And don’t let the fear of it run your life, either. Try to exercise and get enough sleep. And trust us, eating too much Ramen is never a good decision.

The movies have done a pretty good job of depicting college as one big, four-year-long toga party. There’s nothing wrong with having some fun—you are in college after all— but don’t get too carried away. Don’t get so caught up in trying to have the endless party that you forget there a few other things (like earning a degree, for example) that you need to accomplish while you’re in school.

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MAINTAINING A PERFECT GPA IS ESSENTIAL IF YOU WANT A GOOD JOB

Many times, employers aren’t looking too closely at your college GPA. Sure, good grades are important, but so is experiencing a lot of new things and being involved in activities you enjoy. If the pressure to maintain a certain GPA is preventing you from having a well-rounded college experience, cut yourself some slack.

In college, only a small amount of what you really learn can be found in books.

4

WHAT YOU DECIDE TO STUDY YOUR FRESHMAN YEAR WILL DICTATE THE REST OF YOUR LIFE

What? You haven’t decided what profession you would like to be in for the rest of your life by the time you turned 18? Don’t worry, most people haven’t. Take a variety of classes, and see what’s out there. It’s not about deciding what you want to do; it’s about finding out what you like.

5

YOU’VE FAILED IF YOU DON’T GRADUATE IN 4 YEARS

6

YOU HAVE TO FIND YOUR SPOUSE OR ELSE YOU’LL END UP ALONE

Ideally, college takes four years. But in reality, less than 40 percent of students graduate within four years, while almost 60 percent take six years. It’s possible to do it in four, but life happens—you change your major, you have to take time off or take fewer classes each semester for financial reasons. Don’t worry if it takes you a little longer than you thought.

There are plenty of couples who dated in college, got married and ended up on the road to happily ever after.

But guess what? There are also plenty who didn’t. College isn’t about finding the perfect spouse—it’s about getting an education, having an amazing experience and relying on God to show you what to do with your life.

Focus on those things, not just finding a date.

TRUETT SEMINARY

In Ghana, a minister organizes basketball camps to spread the Gospel to schoolchildren. In Southeast Asia, a missionary uses music to break down cultural barriers and build Christ-centered relationships. In Dallas, Texas, a pastor has discovered that the Lord’s Supper is a worship experience that transcends language and culture. Truett graduates respond in mighty ways to Christ’s command to proclaim the Gospel.

VINCENT ASAMOAH MDIV ‘08 SERVING IN GHANA

Living the Great Commission.

Built on a strong biblical foundation, George W. Truett Theological Seminary equips the next generation of congregational leaders and ministry professionals to reach people in an ever-changing global community.

LEARN MORE baylor.edu/truett

PHOTO // ANDREW BOWLES

Our Graduates.

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THE NUMBERS As you may know, college debt is rough. It has grown exponentially over the past decade, making college much more financially intimidating than it once was. Here are a few stats you should know:

WHAT TO KNOW ABOUT

COLLEGE LOANS

60% of A M E R I C A N C O L L E G E STUDENTS TAKE OUT LOANS to help pay for school

MAKING YOUR DEBT AS PAINLESS AS POSSIBLE ith a weak economy and ballooning education costs, college requires more students to take out loans than ever. It’s a daunting prospect, and the whole process can be pretty confusing, but never fear. Here are a few tips to get you started.

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EXHAUST ALL OTHER OPTIONS Chances are, you’ll have to take out at least some college loans—around twothirds of college students do. But make sure you’re not taking out more than you absolutely must. Look into grants and scholarships, and make sure you’re using all resources at your disposal.

RESEARCH DIFFERENT TYPES OF LOANS Odds are, you qualify for several different types of loans, and you should have a good understanding of what those are. Know the characteristics of different loans, and pick the one that works best for you.

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KNOW WHAT YOU CAN EXPECT TO MAKE ONCE YOU GRADUATE You might not have a major yet, and that’s fine, but you probably have a rough idea of what you’d like to do, and that should be taken into account. If you’re chasing an English degree, you probably shouldn’t expect to have a lot of expendable income right out of college. Often, you’ll have to start paying off your loans after you have been out of school for a year, and you want to make sure you are going to have enough to live off while beginning to pay off your debts. Take your loans according.

AVERAGE AMOUNT OWED per borrower:

$

26, 600

SET A LIMIT AND STICK TO IT Taking out college loans may be unavoidable, but you don’t have to be excessive. Determine how much debt you’re willing to take on, and then find alternative means to cover the rest. Take on a part-time job, or maybe even consider a brief stint in the military. It feels like a huge sacrifice now, but the payoff will last your entire life.

standard time it takes to PAY OFF STUDENT LOANS:

10 YEARS

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APP-LY YOURSELF S

ure, it’s tempting to spend hours attempting to beat level 97 of Candy Crush Saga, but trust us, your four years of college go by way too fast to spend them playing games on your smartphone. Instead of time-killers, check out these apps that make college easier.

BILLMINDER With classes, campus life, intramural sports and late-night study sessions, it’s easy to forget about paying your cell phone bill. BillMinder organizes all of your bills in one place, reminds you when they’re due and helps you stay on top of all of your financial obligations.

CLEAR Create to do lists, make schedules, organize a rundown of places to send your resume. Clear’s simple design lets you quickly and clearly organize and keep track of everything that’s going on in your busy life.

DUOLINGO Perfect for giving you the edge on those foreign language credits. This little wonder is a second (or third, or whatever) language class all by itself, with short, daily exercises, pronunciation assistance and rewards for hard work. And best of all, it’s free.

NIKE+ Avoid the freshman 15 and explore your new campus at the same time. The Nike+ app uses your phone’s GPS to track and map your runs, keep track of times and even let you know how many calories you’re burning along the way.

SUPER NOTE Take notes, record lectures and make study guides all in one app. Super Note also organizes all of your notes and recordings by color-coding categories and times.

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YOUR COLLEGE MOVIE QUEUE Get your popcorn ready. Here are six classic college flicks that will get you ready for second semester.

BLUE LIKE JAZZ Based on Don Miller’s book about attending Portland’s Reed College, Blue Like Jazz is a look at what it’s like to grapple with faith, new worldviews and different value systems— while also making new friends.

THE FRESHMAN This 1990 comedy about a freshman who accidentally gets involved with a bumbling mobster is not a typical “college” movie, but it captures the scary, funny and ultimately coming-of-age experience of being a freshman.

THE GREAT DEBATERS Denzel Washington stars in this moving biopic about a debate team coach at Wiley College who helps his students overcome prejudice and racial discrimination in their efforts to become national champions.

MONSTERS UNIVERSITY For an animated movie about monsters attending a college that teaches students to be scarier, Monsters University is a surprisingly heartfelt look at the friendship that can develop between roommates.

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HOW TO BE A BAD ROOMMATE A FIELD GUIDE FOR THE EXTREMELY LOUD AND INCREDIBLY ANNOYING ot only can a good college roommate turn into a lifelong friend, they can also help dorm life and your college years be a better experience. But sometimes, the key to learning what makes a good roommate is making sure you’re not doing the things to become a bad one.

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BEING MESSY If any of the following items are sitting around the room, and belong (or at one time belonged) to you, then you are most likely a bad roommate: Old Ramen noodle cups, dirty socks, disregarded pieces of paper, remnants of pizza or Chinese food. Do your current and all future roommates a favor and clean up after yourself. The foundation of any cohabitation relationship revolves around basic cleanliness.

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BEING LOUD If learning how to use a vacuum cleaner, dish soap and a laundry hamper are cornerstones of a good roommate relationship, a solid pair of headphones is the next step. Even if you and your roommate have the same taste in music and video game sound effects tolerance level, no one wants to listen to you play Call of Duty while they’re cramming for an exam. When it comes to maintaining roommate-living sanity, a little volume control can go a long way.

BEING OVERLY COMFORTABLE WITH BORROWING STUFF Sure, your roomie may have casually offered to let you use his laptop or borrow her favorite pair of jeans, but that doesn’t mean you have to take them up on it.

Nothing causes subtle, passive aggressive

tension like “borrowed” stuff going missing, getting broken or being taken without asking. A good rule of thumb: Unless it’s an emergency, it’s probably better to not use your roommate’s things. Steer clear of eating their food without asking first, as well. It might seem OK to use the last of their milk on your cereal when you run out, but you do not want to have to face a roommate who is angry and hungry.

BEING WEIRD Look, we all have our unique tendencies.

Maybe you like to sing loudly in the shower, to eat overly fragrant foods right before bed or to stay up late into the night engaged in fantasy computer games. But college is a great time to kick your more “distinctive” habits and start to grow up a little. No one wants to live with the person who is known for clipping their toenails four times a day.

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OKAY. YOU’VE DECIDED. NOW WHERE?

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two ways about it. Picking the right graduate school is a very big deal. It’s an important decision that will have dramatic repercussions on your career. The ultimate decision will come down to a lot of different factors— many of them intangible—but here are a few things you can do to help you pick the right grad school for you.

GIVE YOURSELF TIME

It’s never fun to have to make a last-minute decision about something as important as grad school. If you’re sending in your application a couple days before the deadline, you’re almost guaranteeing a very lackluster grad school experience. If possible, you should apply months or even a year before the deadline hits, to allow yourself plenty of time to do your research, talk to the faculty, and make sure that you’re a good fit for the school and it’s a good fit for you.

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STUDY YOUR CAREER

Perhaps the most important thing you can do to determine the right grad school for you is to determine where you want to end up afterward. Become an expert on the realities of your profession—how much you expect to make, where you want to live and what you need to know. Different grad schools provide very different educations and experiences. Some are more geared toward strictly academic professions while others may provide more opportunities for networking. If you know what you want your finish line to look like, you’ll know how to run the race.

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TALK TO THE FACULTY Once you’ve narrowed down the pool a little, don’t be afraid to send a few emails to

your potential future instructors. Make these brief and professional—and don’t necessarily expect responses. However, any resulting conversations could provide you with a good contact before you even arrive on campus, and they will tell you more about the school than any campus visit ever could. Oh, speaking of ...

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VISIT THE CAMPUS

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LOOK BEYOND YOUR CAREER

Wherever you end up going, you’ll be there almost every day for the next couple years. Deciding to go there sight unseen is like buying a house before scheduling a walk-through. Make sure you like the environment. A school that doesn’t take care of its facilities may not be a place you want to trust with your education.

Consider the geographic location, too. If you absolutely hate cold weather, you may want to reconsider going to that school in Maine.

It’s important to remember that your career isn’t everything, and no graduate program is worth a few years of misery. Think about the place you’ll be living, your potential community, the distance from your family and your own spiritual walk. Grad school isn’t just a destination—it’s a journey.

Take the time to ensure it’s a journey you’ll enjoy.

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WORK SMARTER NOT HARDER

HOW TO MAXIMIZE PRODUCTIVITY WITH MINIMAL TIME AND EFFORT

ork smarter not harder” is one of those things that sounds true, but it’s actually hard to do right. What does it mean to work smarter? Well, there are a few ways, but one of them is knowing when you’re at your best for what task. Everyone’s a little different, so there’s no simple rule— but once you know how to break down the different things college is going to require of you, you can start paying attention to your mind’s rhythms, and you can attack your schedule strategically. It’s smart and— that’s right—not all that hard.

your mind up to think without boundaries.

If you’re a morning person, try scheduling your brainstorming late at night. If you’re an evening person, do your creative work when you get up. The results will surprise you.

CREATIVE WORK

MINDLESS WORK

Contrary to popular opinion, studies show that you’re at your most creative when you’re at your groggiest. Being sleepy opens

You’re going to do some work that will require the mental energy and engagement of a pack mule. Copying and

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ANALYTICAL WORK Reading and studying are focus-oriented tasks, and you should save them for your peak time of day. The time of day you’re feeling your most alert and driven is when you should be consuming and processing the most information. Study your behavior for a few weeks, and find what time of day you feel most motivated. Then, set that time aside for the books. Your test scores will thank you.

pasting, sourcing information, organizing information—the sort of stuff that has to be done, but doesn’t seem to have a lot of purpose. It’s not fun, so don’t spend your peak creative or analytical times on it. Find the time of day you hit a slump and, instead of spending that on YouTube, use it to knock out the boring stuff.

NOT WORK Your scholastic energy is a gas tank, and it will run empty if you don’t fuel it with off time. If you’re not careful to schedule times to relax, you’ll end up spending your free time on black holes like Facebook. Instead, schedule some time to not work, and then do something actually relaxing with it.

Take a walk. Call a friend. Watch a great television show. Do something you actually love to do, and you’ll find yourself more prepared to do what you have to do.

COME FOR THE NEXT 3 YEARS, PREPARE FOR THE NEXT 30.

MIDWESTERN BAPTIST THEOLOGICAL SEMINARY exists for the Church. mbts.edu 800-944-MBTS Kansas City, MO

From start to finish, Midwestern Seminary strives to dramatically transform students by renewing their minds with biblical truth, igniting their hearts with ministry passion, and enriching their souls with deepened Christ-likeness.

We are growing the future leaders of the church who are whole-heartedly dedicated to fulfilling the Great Commission as they go forth into all the world.

Complete your degree online or on campus.

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THE PEOPLE’S CHOICE FOR

BEST SEMINARY BOOKS

HERE’S A LOOK AT THE TOP SIX SEMINARY BOOKS, AS RANKED BY GOODREADS CRITICS 1

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SYSTEMATIC THEOLOGY: AN INTRODUCTION TO BIBLICAL DOCTRINE

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Wayne A. Grudem

John M. Frame

Theology professor Wayne A. Grudem’s 1995 book tackles the complexity of systematic theology with academic-level depth and a readable, engaging style.

A contemporary look at timeless theological truths, Frame’s apologetics guide provides insight and clarity into the authority of scripture.

MERE CHRISTIANITY C.S. Lewis

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Even though it was published back in 1952 (after being adapted from a series of BBC radio shows in the ‘40s) Lewis’ legendary apologetics trilogy (the book is divided into three parts) has become one of the most popular theology books in modern evangelicalism.

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INSTITUTES OF THE CHRISTIAN RELIGION John Calvin Considering it was first written almost 500 years ago, John Calvin’s famous volume has held up pretty well. His explanation and defense of Protestant theology is still a major influence on Western Christianity.

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APOLOGETICS TO THE GLORY OF GOD: AN INTRODUCTION

CHRISTIANITY AND LIBERALISM J. Gresham Machen Machen’s overall defense of Christian doctrine in the face of theological and cultural “liberalism” applies just as much in the 21st century as it did in the early 20th when it was written.

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KNOWING GOD J.I. Packer

The 2006 best-seller from theologian J.I. Packer not only examines the character and nature of God, but also explores how Christians can experience His love through a deep relationship with Him.

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WHAT I WISH GRAD

STUDENTS KNEW

ONE PROFESSOR ON WHAT STUDENTS SHOULD KNOW he hard thing about grad school is how, well, unknown it is. You go in expecting it to be more or less like your undergraduate experience, only to quickly learn that you have entered a very different, very daunting game. We spoke with Dr. Michael Joseph, a graduate professor in Nebraska, about the most common misconceptions graduate students have about their grad school experience.

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THEY EXPECT INSTRUCTORS TO HOLD THEIR HAND Approach your grad school education more like a new job than a set of instructions. Your professors will give you guidance, but they’re expecting you to take initiative and make the experience your own.

THEY’RE LOOKING TO PASS TESTS INSTEAD OF GAIN KNOWLEDGE It’s important to pass tests, but grad school is really about mastering material.

Making the grade is all for nothing if you’re not learning the material and, more importantly, learning how to learn the material.

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THEY’RE TOO DEPENDENT ON TEXTBOOKS In grad school, instructors expect grad students to stay current on things being published now instead of textbooks that might be dated. Don’t rely too heavily on the material provided, and stay hungry for the most relevant data available.

THEY SEE EDUCATION AS SOMETHING INSTRUCTORS PROVIDE Most graduate instructors feel their job is to facilitate a great education that the student provides for themselves. It’s not something that’s simply passed down from teacher to student. Think of your instructors less as coaches and more as counselors.

THEY’RE TOO DEPENDENT ON WHAT HAPPENS IN THE CLASSROOM A lecture is not where a grad student should expect all the information to come from. The lecture is foundational, but the student is expected to find other sources.

Great grad students will go outside the classroom to identify sources of knowledge that they like, and then bring that to their classroom experience.

GRAD SCHOOL VS. UNDERGRAD Yes, you’re going back to school.

You’ll still make new friends, pull all-nighters and appreciate free food, but grad school is different than college in a lot of ways. Here are a few of the big ones:

FELLOW STUDENTS UNDERGRAD: Almost all your classmates were your age except that one strange nontraditional student.

GRAD: Your classmates range from early twenties to people who have kids your age.

CAMPUS LIFE UNDERGRAD: You attended every football game, often decked out in elaborate body paint.

GRAD: You forgot your school had a football team until you ran into game day traffic on your way to the library.

HOMEWORK Undergrad: You stressed about your 15 page research paper.

Grad: 100 pages of reading? All in a night’s work.

FINANCES UNDERGRAD: You were constantly on the hunt for everything free—food, T-shirts, you name it.

Grad: Nothing has changed, except you now know the secrets of doing everything as cheaply as possible.

Renewing MINDS Excellence-driven higher education begins with stellar faculty

U

nion University faculty members excel as scholars, authors and national speakers. They invest in their students through award-winning classroom teaching, mentoring and collaboration on research.

In a close-knit learning community our students are challenged to grow intellectually and integrate their faith in every program of study.

As a result, Union graduates excel in top graduate schools and in careers around the world.

To learn more about Union’s Christ-centered academic excellence, visit uu.edu.

uu.edu Jackson, TN EXCELLENCE-DRIVEN | CHRIST-CENTERED | PEOPLE-FOCUSED | FUTURE-DIRECTED

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DEGREES IN DEMAND

WHAT DEGREES ARE MOST LIKELY TO GET YOU A JOB? raduating college is quite an accomplishment, but after you’ve made it through all the lengthy papers, all-nighters and class projects, your next challenge will be securing a job.

The job market hasn’t been pleasant for graduates in the last few years, but things are looking up. According to the 2013 Job Outlook report from the National Association of Colleges and Employers (NACE), employers expected to hire 13

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percent more new college grads from the class of 2013 than from the class of 2012.

So what degrees are employers looking for? While you shouldn’t choose your major solely on your potential future paycheck, it may be helpful to look at what degrees are in high demand.

BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION/MANAGEMENT A business degree provides training in a variety of areas, which gives you many options when it comes to choosing a career.

According to CareerBuilder’s 2012 list of most in-demand college degrees, 39 percent of hiring managers said business administration was their most sought-after major for college graduates. Business majors are always in demand, but they are also numerous, so competition is fierce.

COMPUTER AND INFORMATION SCIENCES REGISTERED NURSE: Careers in health care are always in high demand.

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With workplaces becoming increasingly dependent on technology, the job market for computer science is

continuing to grow. U.S. News predicts that openings for IT professionals will increase by over 25 percent by 2020.

ACCOUNTING/FINANCE Almost 70 percent of the more than 244 employers surveyed for the NACE Job Outlook Report said they had plans to hire an applicant that majored in Finance in the near future. Because of the degree’s versatility, jobs in financial positions are almost always available.

MARKETING Marketing and public relations degrees can open doors in a variety of fields, which makes entry-level positions easier to find. According to data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics, employment in marketing fields is expected to increase by 13 percent through 2018.

NURSING As the Baby Boomer generation ages, the demand for health care professionals is increasing. The Bureau of Labor estimates there will be 5.7 million new jobs in health care by 2020, and jobs for registered nurses will increase the most.

WHO GOT WHAT DEGREE? CAN YOU MATCH THE CELEBRITY WITH THEIR MASTER’S OR DOCTORATE? C ELEBRITIES:

D E G R E E S :

1. W A R R E N B U F F E T

2. J A M E S F R A N C O

3. M A R I S S A M A Y E R

4. R O B B E L L

5. S H A Q U I L L E O ’ N E A L

6. B I L L C O S B Y

7. K E N J E O N G

8. D O L P H L U N D G R E N

M. Div., Fuller Theological Seminary

M.S. Economics, Columbia

Ph.D., UNC Chapel Hill

Doctor of Education, Barry University

M.S. Computer Science, Stanford

Ph.D., MIT

Doctor of Education, Temple University

M.F.A. Writing, Columbia University

7. Ken Jeong (Ph.D., UNC Chapel Hill), 8. Dolph Lundgren (Ph.D., MIT) Education, Barry University), 6. Bill Cosby (Doctor of Education, Temple University), 4. Rob Bell (M. Div., Fuller Theological Seminary), 5. Shaquille O’Neal (Doctor of Writing, Columbia University), 3. Marissa Mayer (M.S. Computer Science, Stanford), Answers: 1. Warren Buffett (M.S. Economics, Columbia), 2. James Franco (M.F.A.

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WISDOM ON THE GO 7 PODCASTS THAT CAN MAKE YOU A BETTER SEMINARY STUDENT e’re already assuming you are a weekly listener to The RELEVANT Podcast, but for seminary students looking for a regular dose of spiritual insight, church leadership teaching and practical ministry advice on the go, there are plenty of other shows that should make it into your podcast rotation.

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monthly podcast equips listeners with practical skills to become a better leader.

LET MY PEOPLE THINK In his weekly podcast, evangelical theologian and apologist Ravi Zacharias presents teachings on Biblical issues and a defense of the Christian faith in the face of contemporary arguments against it.

UNSEMINARY

1 YEAR DAILY AUDIO BIBLE

With a focus on practical ministry advice— like using social media for outreach purposes, navigating change in your ministry, utilizing email to connect with visitors to your church—this weekly podcast focuses on the things they don’t always cover in seminary.

Even in seminary, it’s easy to not make time for your own personal Bible reading.

The 1 Year Daily Audio Bible with Brian Hardin breaks down all of scripture into 365 episodes that you can download straight to your iPhone.

SERMONSMITH

Taken from Dr. William Lane Craig’s weekly Sunday school class, each episode contains a half-hour of the teacher’s intellectual approach to apologetics and doctrine.

“Dedicated to the craft of sermon preparation,” the SermonSmith podcast gives listeners the opportunity to hear real conversations between church leaders about the process of creating meaningful sermons and teachings.

THE ANDY STANLEY LEADERSHIP PODCAST From North Point Community Church pastor and best-selling author Andy Stanley, this

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DEFENDERS

LIFECHURCH.TV WITH CRAIG GROESCHEL From one of the most innovative churches in the country, the LifeChurch.tv podcast features weekly teachings from pastor and author Craig Groeschel that are moving, funny and always Biblically insightful.

FINDING REST IN SEMINARY Even when you are studying God’s Word, it can be hard to find peace in the midst of papers, tests and hundreds of pages of reading.

Here are a few practices to keep your pursuit of knowledge from running you into the ground.

FIND A MENTOR While seminary will provide you with plenty of spiritual leaders in terms of professors, you need to seek out someone who will challenge you to grow not only in knowledge, but also in your personal walk with Christ.

TAKE TIME OFF During seminary, the whole idea of a day of rest might look different than it does at other times. Set aside times to rest from your theology books and connect with God in other ways. Read the Bible without studying it. Go for a walk. Pray.

STAY QUIET You don’t always have to have something profound to say during class discussions. Sometimes, especially early on, it’s better to just soak in the teaching. After all, you’re there to learn, not to impress your classmates with your mastery of theological principles.

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FOLLOW THE LEADERS TWITTER ACCOUNTS YOU WON’T WANT TO GO THROUGH SEMINARY WITHOUT

W JOHN PIPER @johnpiper The Twitter account of theologian, pastor and author John Piper is at times controversial, often polarizing, but always thought-provoking.

EXAMPLE TWEETS: When all your favorite preachers are gone and all their books forgotten, you will have your Bible. Master it.

Master it.

The reason God seeks our praise is not that He won’t be fully God till He gets it, but that we won’t be fully glad till we give it.

LEONARD SWEET @lensweet The Twitter feed of college professor, minister, theologian and author Leonard Sweet is a constant mix of spiritual wisdom and unique observations about Christianity in contemporary culture.

EXAMPLE TWEETS: The price of discipleship is sacrifice; the prize of discipleship is the Pearl of Great Price, the Kingdom of God The faith of Jesus is one where the heart, the head and the hand go together and are inseparable.

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e’ve compiled a list of some of the most influential church leaders, writers, theologians and pastors that every seminarian and future minister should follow on Twitter.

RACHEL HELD EVANS

JOSHUA DUBOIS

@rachelheldevans

@joshuadubois

With her combination of wit, humor and insight into American Christian culture, Rachel Held Evans is quickly becoming one of evangelicalism’s most influential voices.

EXAMPLE TWEETS: Pope seems to be offending all the same people Jesus offended and loving all the same people Jesus loved. May his posture lead to change.

Those who shut the door of the Kingdom in other people’s faces are saying: “I’ve earned my place here.

You haven’t.” It starts with pride.

MARGARET FEINBERG @mafeinberg Author and speaker Margaret Feinberg is one of the leading voices shaping the evangelical Church, creating resources used by thousands of “small groups” around the country.

EXAMPLE TWEETS: The truth is that you inherently glorify God when you are yourself.

God wants to fill us with love, empower us with strength and infuse us with hope. #hungryforgod

Former head of the Office of Faith Based and Neighborhood Partnerships, personal spiritual adviser to President Obama and current Daily Beast columnist, Joshua DuBois remains an important Christian voice with his finger on the pulse of the intersection of faith, current events, social issues and politics.

EXAMPLE TWEETS: Praying for the President as he makes tough decisions with no easy answers available. #Syria Sincerity is like 1,000 times tougher to pull off than smugness. It’s heroic to be genuine; cynicism is for wimps.

RICK WARREN @rickwarren One of America’s most influential pastors, Rick Warren’s Twitter is a constant stream of Biblical teaching, pastoral advice and updates about humanitarian projects.

EXAMPLE TWEETS: People are not interruptions to your ministry. They ARE your ministry, I forgive for 3 reasons: 1) I have been forgiven much, 2) Unforgiveness makes me miserable, 3) I will need more forgiveness in the future

g BECAUSE FAITH AND TRUTH

Do Matter With over 60 academic programs, NCAA DIII Athletics, and a strong commitment to the Arts, Cairn offers a dynamic university experience centered on Christ and His Word.

Learn more at cairn.edu

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PRACTICAL STEPS TO FINDING YOUR VERSION OF AWESOME

BY JON ACUFF

B

y the time you’re approaching your twenties, you no doubt have some dreams. In fact, you probably have a lot of them— and big ones. Dreaming is the easy part. But what you have to do next is start editing.

In the land of Editing, you’re going to take the 15 or 15,000 things you learned and see which ones seem to stick to you.

What passions, dreams, hopes and callings will you be carrying deeper into this journey with you?

Editing is the phase of your journey where Michelangelo stands in front of the meticulously selected block of marble.

Out of an entire quarry, this is the one he has chosen. And now, with a chisel and a hammer, he will remove the pieces that do not belong so that David is finally revealed.

THE BIGGEST QUESTION YOU CAN ASK One morning, some bakery owners asked me to help them figure out their path to awesome.

They didn’t have big, floppy baker hats on or any artisan breads with them, which was disappointing, but I got over it. They stopped me in the hall of a hotel at a business event. They were married and told me their story: “We’re sick of Texas. We want seasons again. And hills and trees. We’ve got a little bakery in town that people love. We make different breads and sandwiches. It’s growing and we’ve started to build up a local following. But now we want to move

to Idaho. And we don’t know what we should do when we get there. Should we open another bakery? Should we focus on wholesale? Should we do catering? Should we have a little restaurant?”

As we talked, it became clear that they had gone through a long list of questions as they journeyed through the land of Editing:

• W hat would make the most money?

• W hat did the town in Idaho need?

• W hat type of business could they grow the fastest?

• W hat type of business would have the lowest overhead?

• W hich idea would take the least amount of equipment?

They had run through the laundry list of questions but had failed to ask the most important question there is in the land of Editing. So there in the hall, I said to them, “Well, what gives you the most joy?”

You would have thought I’d thrown a cat at them. For weeks, they had been debating the move to Idaho. They had worked hard on the challenge of moving.

They had studied and debated. They were attending an exclusive business event for high-performing entrepreneurs when I met them. They had looked at the problem from every possible angle, except one: joy.

Most of us never get there. We never ask the question, “What gives me the most joy?”

I think some of us feel guilty even saying those words out loud. As if perhaps it’s a selfish thing to think, What gives me joy? As if perhaps joy is acceptable for rare moments on the weekend or surprising glimpses of sunsets while on vacation, but it has no real purpose in the real world.

It would be selfish to think we could have more joy. (The truth is that real life-change and the joy of being who you are designed to be always results in selflessness, not selfishness.)

Some of my Christian friends would push back at this idea as a matter of principle.

We’ve been so overwhelmed with the prosperity gospel, or “name it and claim it,” that we’ve swung the pendulum the other direction and think that perhaps the only way to serve God is to make sure we’re miserable.

In the prodigal son parable, a young son demands his inheritance from his father, spends it all in wild living, and then returns home expecting to be turned into a servant by his greatly disappointed father. Instead, he is thrown a wild, lavish, joyful party.

Some Christians in that moment would have refused the party, saying, “No, no, this is too much. Is there somewhere I can serve on the farm instead? A foot-washing station perhaps? This party is giving me way too much joy.”

But whether or not you’re a Christian, the point is we have an uncomfortable relationship with joy when

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it comes to figuring out our lives.

So instead of asking, “What gives me the most joy?” we ask easier questions, like, “What will make me the most money?”

That’s not a bad question. It’s a great question to ask eventually. I have no issue with making money. I wrote this on a laptop I bought with money. I am a fan of money.

But money isn’t a calling. It’s a consequence. That’s the problem; most of us ask results questions:

• W hat will make money?

• W hat jobs are available in the market right now?

• What industry is growing?

• What do I have the most experience doing?

Those are great questions, but they’re not the right questions to ask first, because they don’t reveal your awesome.

There are a million things that will make you money but leave you miserable. That’s not awesome.

Your diploma may say “Merchant Marine” and your greatest joy says “Counselor.”

If steel mills are hiring in your town and the job market is tough, that doesn’t mean steel is your awesome.

You may have spent 30 years being a pastor, and your awesome still says, “Let’s be a beekeeper too.”

Those aren’t fictional examples. Those are real people I know who all dared to ask that question, “What gives me the most joy?”

I dare you to ask it too.

THE PROBLEM OF MULTIPLE PASSIONS My friend Matt is a pastor. One day he and his wife wrote a book. Well, it took longer than one day, but that’s how fast you assume other writers are able to finish their books.

He was excited about the book releasing but had a bit of a dilemma. Churches across the country were asking him to speak about his book, but he couldn’t go because he worked on Sundays. (My dad was a pastor, and if you’re wondering what pastors do the rest of the week, the answer is Frisbee. It’s essentially a one-day-a-week profession. Cush.)

Matt asked me if he should take a sixmonth sabbatical from the church when the book came out so that he could go speak about it. I told him in a rambling way what I thought and then came home.

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I shared the challenge with my wife. I described it as a real pickle. Jenny listened for 30 seconds and then solved the dilemma with a single question.

“Is he trying to be a pastor or an author?

If his long-term goal is to be an author who writes books and travels around the country speaking at 100 different churches, then he should take the sabbatical. If his goal is to be a pastor of a church, then he shouldn’t take the sabbatical. He’s already accomplishing his goal. Being away from his own church for six months would be failure.”

Dang it, Jenny and her succinct wisdom!

She was right. The answer to Matt’s dilemma was pretty simple. What did success look like? If he were to go inside the observatory tower that is along the path through Editing, what would he see in the distance?

If there were two paths in the woods— two passions from which he could choose

one to follow—which one ended the way he wanted it to end? From the observatory tower, which path led to the destination he was most excited about?

Those are the same questions I’d ask you if we were having cinnamon dulce lattes.

If you’ve got a pile of possibilities in front of you right now and the idea of editing is overwhelming, step up into the observatory tower and gaze into the land of Harvesting.

Which destination feels like success? Which one feels good, but not great? Which one feels OK, but not awesome?

When I did this exercise, it forced me to realize that to progress as a copywriter in the company I worked for, I would probably need to become a creative director. I would manage projects and people, which would mean I’d spend less time actually writing.

That pretty quickly became a destination I wasn’t eager to arrive at.

If you’ve got 10 paths, this simple

exercise will help you eliminate a few pretty quickly. Especially the ones you’re just good at. Just because you’re good at something doesn’t mean it’s the road to awesome for you.

You may be an amazing dentist. You are able to fix people’s teeth by just gazing at them with your eyes. But if you were honest, if you didn’t have the practice, if people didn’t constantly tell you how great you are at dentistry, if you hadn’t already invested so much of your life down that path, would you admit, “I don’t love being a dentist”?

That’s what happened to a friend of mine who wrote me this email: I am 28 years old and recently graduated from dental school. I am currently working as a dentist for a chain of dental offices. This may seem well and good, especially financially, but about halfway through school, I discovered that I really have no passion for the dental profession. I have no hopes and dreams for the future. I don’t want my own practice or anything like that. I am not happy practicing dentistry and basically just tolerate each day. Each day seems to get worse as I move along, and given that I’ve only been doing it for about eight months, I don’t know what will happen a few years from now...

Basically, I am listless and bored at work.

I just feel like I’m drifting and that I’m missing bigger and better opportunities out there. Don’t get me wrong, I have a very good job—it pays well and I have good benefits—but I’m not happy at all. I have no intentions of quitting at the time, but I would if I didn’t have a massive loan debt from school and a degree that only offers me the luxury of practicing dentistry.

Can you imagine the pressure that guy is feeling? Can you imagine waking up at 28 with $200,000 in student loans and realizing you’re in the wrong career?

Everything you’ve worked so hard for, all the decisions you made, all the classes you took, everything you aimed at, brought you to a “How did I get here?” moment— question mark, not exclamation point.

He knew in dental school that the destination on the horizon wasn’t where he wanted to end up. Why didn’t he stop? Why didn’t he quit right then and not become a dentist? The same reason you and I end up in places we never intended to be.

MOST OF US NEVER GET THERE. WE NEVER ASK THE QUESTION, “WHAT GIVES ME THE MOST JOY?” With a thousand small steps. With a pre-med class in college. With a loan application one summer. With the first class and second class and third class of dental school. Until one day you wake up and you realize you don’t want to be a dentist or a lawyer or an anything. And fear gets loud in that moment. Fear tells you, “It’s too late.”

• It’s too late to change now.

You’ve made so many decisions already—it’s too late to fix them or change directions.

• It’s too late to be a good parent.

• It’s too late to go back to school.

• It’s too late to start a new profession.

• It’s too late to be anything but what you already are.

In those moments, fear and doubt and shame cripple us. We’re so frustrated at ourselves that we give up. We finish the second half of dental school, double our debt and give fear a few more years of our lives.

I’m not sure what brought you to this moment. I don’t know what passions you brought into the observatory and saw through that telescope. I don’t know how many obstacles you have in your path. But I do know this: It’s not too late.

It’s never too late to start.

“It’s too late” is a lie that will stay with you if you let it. So don’t.

Look through the telescope and see what awesome really looks like for you. Chances are, it’s closer and a lot more possible than you think.

Does that mean if we’ve accrued some bills or amassed some responsibilities that we’re going to ignore them and just “go for it”? No. Never. That mindset is a dream killer.

There’s nothing awesome about kicking off your dream on a foundation of broken promises and ignored responsibilities.

We’re going to pay off our debts.

We’re going to edit the unnecessary

pieces of marble around us and then hustle in the right direction.

We’re going to work harder than we’ve ever worked.

If the telescope reveals a definition of awesome we’re not excited about, we’re going to leave that dream in the observatory tower, even if that seems very costly.

AWESOME ISN’T A JOB TITLE Once I edited my life and realized that what I really cared about was sharing ideas, suddenly there were a million dream jobs available. I could become a blogger, an author, a podcast host, a public speaker, a radio show host, a counselor, a consultant or a copywriter.

The world of dream jobs opened up when I got to the core of what I love to do—when I chiseled away that chunk of marble and discovered the David statue inside of me.

Once I found that, my job was just another way I could apply my discovery.

Most of us get it backward. We never take the time to walk through the land of Editing. Instead, we spend a little time in Learning and then say, “Now I need to find the perfect job.” But we rarely know what we love doing at that stage, so it’s impossible to find the right job. We usually end up frustrated and resolve to let work just pay the bills.

My last job title was “insight architect.” I admit, that’s a little pretentious sounding.

Even typing it kind of made me think, I wonder if that guy is a jerk? (The answer is yes, but that’s a whole other story.) But can you imagine if, upon leaving the land of Learning, I said, “Instead of finding the awesome inside me, I’m just going to search for a company hiring insight architects.

How hard can that be? The country has to be crawling with open positions for that.”

Don’t just search for a job title.

Search for awesome.

Jon Acuff is The New York Times bestselling author of four books, including his new one, Start, from which this article is adapted with permission. You can follow him on Twitter @JonAcuff and read his blog at StuffChristiansLike.net.

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WE ALL WANT TO CHANGE THE WORLD, BUT ARE WE READY?

BY REGGIE MCNEAL

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very spring and summer, thousands of graduation ceremonies are held across the country. Graduation speakers hand out millions of words of advice along fairly predictable themes, one of the more frequently struck chords being “You can change the world.”

I speak millions of words myself each year to assembled crowds. When I ask the question of my audiences, “Who here wants to change the world?” almost every hand in the room goes up. When I ask the followup question, “So who here is changing the world?” almost all the hands go down.

Why is this? Why is there such a disconnect between our dreams and aspirations and our sense that we can make a difference in the world? And since almost all of my audiences are composed of professing Jesus-followers—many of them spiritual leaders—this discrepancy between wish and reality is even more alarming.

I mean, if these crowds don’t feel like world-changers, then maybe we should quit praying the Lord’s Prayer, at least the part where we ask for the Kingdom of God to show up on Earth! Apparently, most of my listeners don’t plan to participate in such Kingdom activity, which always changes the world.

I have observed that people who can keep their hand up through both of my questions are not planning to change the world; they are preparing to do it.

How are they doing this? By working through five key issues. They have asked themselves the following five questions: Why am I here? What do I believe? What am I good at? What is my scorecard? What do I need to learn?

Let’s take a look at what’s involved in each of these questions and why knowing the answers to them prepares you to make the world a better place:

As you reflect on your life experiences to date, ask yourself: “What did I enjoy about that experience? What did I enjoy the least? What do I want to do or never do again?” No matter what inspirational speakers tell you, just because you can believe it does not mean you can achieve it. Talent matters. Discovering what you are actually good at is crucial to figuring out your life mission.

WHY AM I HERE? Of course, this is the biggie. And this question terrifies people because they think they need to invent their life purpose.

But you don’t need to invent it, you need to discover it. Since you are an intentionally created human being, God had something in mind for you to do when He made you. The pursuit of life is the pursuit of that agenda.

You have not been left clueless about this. Your passions, your personality, your life experiences, your talent—all these pieces of information carry important implications for life mission. Connecting the dots between them can point you in the right direction.

For instance, are you drawn to work with young children or senior adults? Do issues of social justice fire you up or do you prefer entrepreneurial business ventures? These are clues to your life passions. Do you enjoy being in front of people or do you prefer behind-the-scenes assignments? These are just a few ways your personality can influence your life mission.

WHAT DO I BELIEVE? I am not talking about what you say you believe. I’m talking about what you actually believe. What you do is what you believe; everything else is just religious talk.

Core values are behaviorally examined, so a good starting point in figuring out the answer to what you believe is found in your family, friends or co-workers. You might ask them, “What two or three things do you think are most important to me?” Follow up by getting feedback from them about why they identified these particular items. What leads them to this conclusion?

They can tell you exactly what you believe because you telegraph this to them every single day through your actions. Your beliefs color how you want to change the world. If a person’s core values include mercy and empathy, they will adopt a very different posture than a person who is moved by justice, even if they both are working in the same arena.

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Of course, you are not stuck with the values you have cultivated so far. Behaviors and beliefs can be changed. But the beginning point is to be honest about your current values. Then, if you want to change them, you might want to talk with a life coach, a spiritual adviser or mentor, your parents or trusted friends to get ideas of how you could better match your behaviors to the set of values you want to reflect. God has some pretty good suggestions, too!

WHAT AM I GOOD AT? Your best shot at making your best contribution is for you to get better at what you are already good at. As I have said before: Talent matters. I can dream all day about being an NBA guard, but it’s not going to happen, even if I go to NBA guard school, get mentored by NBA guards or join an NBA guard peer cohort. I simply don’t have the talent.

A sober assessment of what you really bring to the table can help you avoid a lot of disappointments as well as help you calibrate your potential contributions to whatever efforts you join. Again, asking those around you for feedback can yield great insight. Also, don’t neglect talent surveys like the Gallup StrengthsFinder.

You are looking for accurate readings, not just wishful thinking.

It would be just like God to put into your backpack the appropriate skills for the mission He has in mind for you. If you know what you bring to the table, you have substantial clues to your life contribution.

WHAT IS MY SCORECARD? People who are changing the world have the courage to keep score. By that I mean they hold themselves accountable for the results they are after. They have figured

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out what these scorecards are and how they line up with their life’s purpose, beliefs and capacities.

If your scorecard is at cross-purposes with your life mission, the resulting misalignment can create a lot of frustration.

Going into social work to make a lot of money, for instance, is a recipe for lifelong tension. That one is obvious. But wanting to have deep and stable roots while choosing a career that has built-in itinerancy might leave one feeling perpetually lost without knowing why.

PEOPLE PREPARED TO LIVE A LIFE OF IMPACT ALWAYS HAVE ONE OR TWO “GREEN EDGES” OF INQUIRY WHERE THEY ARE PURSUING NEW GROWTH, NEW IDEAS, NEW INSIGHTS. The tip-off to our scorecards is found in what we celebrate. Said another way, we all have certain things we count as evidence that we are “winning” with our lives. These can include the size of our bank account, our street address or our job title. But it can also involve enjoying close relationships, discovering a life soul mate or raising kids who have good relationships with us and contribute to the world.

Another scorecard measure could center around a contribution you want to make in a particular field of endeavor.

These scorecard elements reflect our life mission and values. Each requires intentional goal-setting and strategic allocation of life resources (time, energy, money, talent, etc.). Sometimes we realize we need to shift our scorecards in order to bring them more in line with what we really want to accomplish with our lives.

The key to shifting scorecards is to build in rewards that celebrate different results than the ones you now focus on. One guy I know changed jobs so he could have more time at home. His bank account took a hit,

but he was much happier winning the game that most interested him.

Up to now in life you’ve been playing a lot by other peoples’ scorecards—what they considered important for you to win at. Now it’s your turn to decide what game you want to play and to fashion a scorecard that will help support a “win” for you.

WHAT DO I NEED TO LEARN? The surest way to die before you’re dead is to stop learning. But lifelong learning requires lifelong unlearning, and often the unlearning curve is steeper than the learning curve itself. We sometimes need to unlearn behavior, attitudes, biases and prejudices that have been formulated and nurtured for years in order to make room for new thinking.

People prepared to live a life of impact always have one or two “green edges” of inquiry where they are pursuing new growth, new ideas, new insights. Highoctane change agents also give careful consideration to whom they are learning from—mentors, teachers, coaches, consultants, as well as peers and people of wisdom.

These five questions are not answered in a hurry, nor are they approached linearly.

A person may become aware of their talent way before they understand their belief system. Or they might take a clue from their scorecard to help them figure out their life mission. But the pursuit of these questions is relentless for people who are making great contributions with their lives.

It’s graduation time. Not from school; from wistfulness to intentionality. So raise your hand if you want to change the world.

Prepare to keep it up!

Reggie McNeal is a popular speaker and author of several books, including Get Off Your Donkey! Help Somebody and Help Yourself, recently released with Baker Books. Find more info at www.getoffyourdonkey.net.

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7 IDEAS TO EFFECTIVELY START A SEMESTER

free time. Envision the end of the semester.

How do you want to cross the finish line?

BY PETER ENGLERT ack to school. Those three words conjure up a host of emotions. Whether you are stepping onto a campus for the first time or returning after time off, there is most likely a mix of anxiety of the unknown and anticipation for a fresh start.

This new semester holds the potential for a transformation in your life. So in this time of beginnings, take an inventory of your life to define the success you seek for your educational process.

Great basketball players go to the free throw line with a routine. Why? Because no matter the score or the time left, they have a sense of security in their preparedness. Part of pursuing education involves setting up routines at the beginning of the semester so you are prepared for the unexpected during the rest of the semester.

Here are seven ideas for an effective start to a semester:

B

1

CHART OUT YOUR SEMESTER

Syllabi! Syllabi! Syllabi! I cannot tell you how important it is to plan out your calendar with assignments and personal events. Look over what your professors have outlined so you know when your life could get hectic. Will you have to adjust in the middle of the semester? Most likely, but this allows you to be intentional about your

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2

REFRAME YOUR VIEW OF ORIENTATION

There are some students who revel in skipping orientation. Let’s be honest: It has never easy being new or restarting. If you have a difficult time with team-building group activities, think of orientation like this: Who can I help adjust to a new semester?

3

NOTICE STAFF AND PROFESSORS’ OFFICE HOURS

One of the best ways to make a good impression with campus leadership is to respect their time. If you ever need to meet with staff or faculty, look for their office hours. Then, if you need to see them during the semester, contact them 24-48 hours in advance and meet them within their window. This communicates your sensitivity to their role and gives them time to prepare for your meeting.

4

SAY “YES” TO INVITATIONS

Many students tend to think of reasons they can’t do something rather than just doing it. When one of your classmates invites you to go out with a group, look for reasons to go. If it legitimately does not fit into your schedule, then try to go next time. A note to extroverts: You may need to learn to say “no.” Consider social outings as rewards for finishing tasks. Also, make sure your “yes” is an actual “yes.”

You can squander potential friendships by consistently backing out.

5

PREPARE YOUR HOMEWORK AND STUDY MATERIALS FOR MOBILE USE

What could you do with a spare half hour?

If you have a smartphone or tablet, you could easily save all your notes to an app like Dropbox. Those spare moments become investments in looking over your material. Or you could use old fashioned 3x5 notecards for on-the-go studying.

Also, look for apps associated with your textbooks.

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CREATE SPACE TO DISCONNECT

7

SEEK GOD’S GUIDANCE FOR AREAS OF CHANGE IN YOUR LIFE

Mobile applications provide us with instant convenient connection, yet they also create challenges for needed disconnection in the midst of studying. Take time to turn off the phone, TV and tablet. Refresh your soul by walking outside. Find a place to sit in silence. Return to listen to the quiet in that place throughout the semester.

James 1:5 gives us a prayer God always answers—the prayer for wisdom. In the midst of preparing for your semester, take time to reflect on areas of your life that God might transform. Write them down. There is a certain power in what we write. When we take a closer look, God has a way of integrating our growth with our education, friendships, career, family and community of faith. Our spiritual formation involves developing awareness to God’s subtle and overt direction in our lives. Look for godly mentors and listen to what they have to say.

SHE HAS A BRAIN. SHE HAS A SOUL. WE ENGAGE THEM BOTH. Most universities see you as a brain to be filled. At NU, we take a more holistic approach to education. Yes, we challenge your intellect with excellence and rigor. But we also connect you more deeply to Jesus Christ. We don’t ignore your spiritual life.

Instead, we celebrate it. We nurture it. We want to educate all of you.

Interested in learning more?

Call us at 425.889.5231 or go online at northwestu.edu.

• • • • • • •

Over 70 majors and programs Small class sizes for personalized learning Highest accreditation possible U.S. News & World Report Best Value Real world internships provide career experience Minutes from Seattle—voted top location to find a job Live in a recreational destination

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BY TOM GROSH

P

resumably, you have thought long and hard about your decision to attend graduate school. Perhaps you reached your conclusion after considering Frederick Buechner’s advice in Wishful Thinking: A Theological ABC, “The place God calls you to is the place where your deep gladness and the world’s deep hunger meet.”

Now that you have decided to pursue grad school, how do you go about finding the school and program that is right for you? Allow me to share five tips I found helpful when I was in your shoes.

1

PRAY

Hopefully, prayer is not your last resort.

Let’s assume you’ve been conversing with God about your future for a while now. Continue to seek God’s heart as you evaluate the choices before you.

You may find, as I did, that a direction that seemed obvious initially turns out not to be a good match. Be open to the leading of the Holy Spirit. God may be nudging you down a different path than you had originally assumed.

In my case, as an undergrad, all indications were that I would pursue a Ph.D. degree in History and Philosophy of Science. God’s plan was different, and one and a half graduate degrees later, I have yet to enroll in that particular program.

2

SEEK WISE COUNSEL

Ask trusted friends and mentors for recommendations on what they think are the best matches for you with regard to discipline and school. Despite a circuitous route, I finally did find the

recommendations from others helpful.

Weigh the pros and cons of their advice carefully, however. Don’t base your decision solely on the opinion of one reputable scholar. Many people recommended I attend seminary right out of college, but it turned out waiting several years and actively engaging in ministry during that time meant I was more focused on a course of study when I finally did enroll in seminary. Nonetheless, the advice and opinions of others helped me navigate my path.

3

RESEARCH

Look at how closely the recommended programs, along with departmental professors, overlap with your sense of vocational direction. That is, be mindful of your end goal. Will the program truly position you to reach those goals?

Consider your life situation. If you are married and/or have children, location may be of greater importance to you than to a single student. If you need to work and go to school, can you take advantage of online learning?

4 VISIT Visit the campuses to make sure there is a comfortable match. Take in a few classes and drop in on students’ social time. Observing the campus life on my first set of visits raised the question of whether graduate school, and even seminary, was the right decision for me at that time in my life. I chose to postpone graduate school and instead devote myself full time to campus ministry among undergraduates, graduate students and faculty.

5

BE MINDFUL OF YOUR CALLING

Os Guinness writes in The Call: “Our primary calling as followers of Christ is by Him, to Him and for Him. First and foremost we are called to Someone (God), not to something (such as motherhood, politics or teaching) or to somewhere (such as the inner city or Outer Mongolia) ... Our secondary calling, considering who God is as sovereign, is that everyone, everywhere and in everything should think, speak, live and act entirely for Him.” Does the program and location you are considering respect both your primary and secondary calling?

Since a large part of my ministry is among individuals currently in higher education, I asked a few of these scholars who once sat in your seat what advice they would offer someone trying to determine which grad school is right for them.

Dave, a professor of philosophy, says: “For me, one of the most important things was collegiality. I wanted to make sure the people I’d be studying with (both students and faculty) would be my collaborators, not my competitors. I also think Christians should be asking whole-life questions about what kind of person this school will make you. We are taught that we should ask about prestige, about funding, about placement after graduation and about mentors during and after grad school.

Those things really do matter, but we should also ask what it will cost us in terms of our families and communities and how it will benefit us, our families and our communities for us to give ourselves over to grad school.”

Hannah, who recently earned her

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BE OPEN TO THE LEADING OF THE HOLY SPIRIT. GOD MAY BE NUDGING YOU DOWN A DIFFERENT PATH THAN YOU HAD ORIGINALLY ASSUMED. Ph.D. in English Literature, believes the campus visit is of utmost importance.

She says, “An academic told me early in the process, ‘The place matters as much as the program.’ There’s a lot of truth in that—you want to live somewhere you’re comfortable living and where you can find a good community. Choose somewhere where you’re likely to find a good church.”

Kelly, a postdoc, concurs that location is key. “Select a location and environment where you will feel comfortable living for the next five to seven years,” she says.

Andy, a Ph.D. in Molecular Microbiology and Immunology, offers advice to those who may feel paralyzed out of fear of making the “wrong” decision. He says, “It

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is probably healthier to consider that there are likely multiple good choices, each with tradeoffs, but all of which can lead to a positive experience. That doesn’t mean one shouldn’t use any discernment. Just because there may be more than one good choice doesn’t mean there aren’t plenty of bad ones.”

Andy also gives a caveat to students who may be planning to work closely with one specific faculty member. “I think it is a good idea to choose a program where there are multiple advisers or research programs that would be of interest. If you go somewhere because of that one great faculty member, there is the risk you will be frustrated when they don’t have funding for a student, or they are hard to

work with/for or everyone else wants to work with them, too. Or you might just find that what you thought was your dream project/topic doesn’t interest you as much once you really get down in the trenches of it. For those reasons, you’ll be better off if you go into grad school with at least some amount of flexibility when it comes to the nature of your thesis work.”

There is no doubt that choosing a graduate school is a daunting task. But it is manageable if you take the time to pray, think through the details of the program and location and, most importantly, remember to keep your primary calling in first place.

Thomas Grosh IV lives in Lancaster County, Pa., where he serves as Associate Director of InterVarsity Christian Fellowship’s Emerging Scholars Network (emergingscholars.org).

He is also an associate staff member with Christian Medical and Dental Associations. In that capacity, he ministers to medical students at Penn State Hershey Medical Center. He is married to his high school sweetheart and together they have four young daughters.

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WHY FURTHER YOUR EDUCATION? PLANNING YOUR WORK FUTURE NOW B Y D I A N A PAT T I N S O N here are you headed?

Maybe you’re already on track for your “dream job,” or maybe you don’t even know what it looks like yet. At this point in your life, it’s okay not to have everything figured out. But the sooner you start thinking critically about your professional future, the more you can do to point yourself in the right direction while you’re still in school.

First things first, you need to know yourself.

This isn’t actually as easy as it sounds.

Sure, you are yourself, but how often have you really focused on critically understanding your strengths, values and limitations from a professional perspective?

To really do this well, you’ll need to invest in some serious (and honest) selfevaluation, and you may want to consider some psychological tests such as the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator personality test. Tests can help you see yourself in a different way and may identify areas of importance you haven’t considered.

In addition to strengths and values, you also need to recognize your limitations.

One of the devotionals I read recently drew from Romans 12:3 and was right on topic: “For I say, through the grace given unto me, to every man that is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think; but to think soberly, according as God hath dealt to every man the measure of faith.”

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The author, Pastor Rick Renner, explained the word “soberly” is the Greek word sophroneo, which means to think sensibly, to think reasonably, to think realistically, to think rationally, to think practically, to keep in proper measure or not to think beyond the set boundaries.

In other words, don’t pretend to be more than you are. Recognize your God-given abilities and use them. But when you come to the edge of your limitations, be willing to say, “This is too much for me.”

Taking your strengths, values, and limitations into account, you need to shape your goals. Ultimately, you’ll want to create a list of at least 10 key workplace characteristics.

Think beyond the type of work you want to do to include the culture of a company, the work team and the elements of the job that best fit you. Are you naturally competitive? It might be crucial to have some element of “pay for performance” in your ideal compensation structure. Do you have (or plan to have) a family? Work flexibility and family-friendly culture may factor high on your list.

Grad school is the perfect place to conduct your research. Professors are a valuable, but often untapped resource in this regard, especially the adjunct ones, because they tend to have the most recent practical experience in professional fields. Show up to office hours. Ask to hear about their career path and what they value in a workplace. Ask their advice for figuring out your path.

Also be sure to ask what classes they feel best prepared them for their professional experience. You might not want to follow their particular path, but the more you talk to them, the better sense you’ll get for what you need to do.

Finally, you need to think strategically.

You have a limited amount of time in school, so you need to make the most of it.

Make early and ample use of your school’s career services office. Push yourself academically—focus first and foremost on mastering the material you need to succeed in your chosen field.

Good grades are a definite plus in the job market, but there are other ways to distinguish yourself, too. The best “extracurriculars” are things you enjoy, but that also help develop skills or relationships that will benefit you down the line. So if you’re in law school and you’re not a great test-taker but you love public speaking, try out for the moot court team. Most business schools offer a variety of clubs and activities that can help you shape your goals and put you in touch with alumni who share your interests.

As you move forward, don’t feel like you have to have it all figured out at once.

This is a process, one that may take many years. That has been the truth for nearly everyone I know. If it is for you, then start today to learn about yourself, shape your goals and think strategically about where you want to go in your career. The sooner you start the process, the more likely you are to get there.

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YOUR FAITH • YOUR MINISTRY • GOD’S CALL

Anabaptist Mennonite Biblical Seminary centers on radical discipleship—worship, witness, peace and justice.

Join our learning community for the Master of Divinity Campus and Master of Arts programs. Or study in your own context with the Master of Divinity Connect.

We welcome all who are ready to grow from learners into leaders for God’s reconciling mission in the world.

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4 AREAS TO PRAY THROUGH BEFORE MAKING THE DECISION

BY JOHN BRYSON

or most of us, the thought of going back to graduate school stirs up all kinds of questions. What school am I going to attend? What degree am I going to pursue? Can I even afford to go back to school? Just the thought can quickly become overwhelming.

We sit down to think through all of our options, pondering the countless possibilities. The idea seems so big, and there are so many different options out there, so many factors to consider.

We pray for God to make it evidently clear what we are to do. Sometimes He does, but, more often, He asks us to rely on His promises and step out in faith through whatever door He might open.

Everyone’s situation is unique. That is the beauty of this wonderful, crazy thing we call life. No two individuals’ paths will ever look the same, because God has designed each of us with a specific purpose and vision in mind.

There is no formula that tells us the best time to go back to school. Therefore, my aim is not to offer you the answers to your most pressing questions but to simply help you ask the right ones.

In our consumeristic, idealistic society, there are any number of misguided reasons to go back to graduate school and any number of well-meaning but misguided people who would push us there because of them.

Here are a few of the more ill-advised motivations:

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YOU DON’T KNOW WHAT YOU WANT TO DO This seems to be one of the most prevailing reasons to go back to school among people today. Many of us find our current jobs unfulfilling and so far removed from the dreams and desires we had years ago. It does not take long to become disillusioned with our current positions and long for something else.

However, few of us can actually name a reasonable and attainable “dream job.” Instead, we have things we “wish we had time to do.” We all have a specific set of gifts and abilities God has given us and intended for us to use. They are gifts that, when put to work, make us feel alive and full.

Find ways to incorporate those gifts and abilities into the job you currently have, and ask your boss to allow you to do more of that. See the eternal significance in your current position and work heartily unto the Lord.

No matter your job, every day in the workplace is a chance for Christians to share in the work that God is doing all across this planet. Even if you don’t think there is meaning in your work, understand our sovereign and good God has placed you there for His purposes. Our work is significant because the Creator of the universe says so.

YOU CAN’T GET A JOB If there is one word every American has come to loathe in recent years, it’s the word “recession.” While the current economic and job market may be at least somewhat looking up, the past few years have been bleak, to say the least.

Job shortages and economic decline have become regular topics of conversation. It has become increasingly difficult for recent college graduates to find a job in their field of study, leading many to consider the prospect of more education.

However, while this may be a legitimate option for some, going back to graduate school will not get you the increasingly infamous “2-3 years of experience” so many employers seem to require for entry-level positions.

The reality is now, more than ever, college graduates may not be able to hold out for the position of their dreams. Instead, most just need a job.

Don’t believe the lie that you can’t get a job. There are jobs out there. They just may not be in your area of interest or field of study. Use your time at positions like these to learn and grow.

Develop your skills. Become more marketable. Network.

Be humble and take every opportunity given to you. You may never understand how God is sanctifying and refining you into the person He made you to be, but trust in His promise that He is indeed doing something through you and in you.

YOU HAVE STUDENT LOANS, AND YOU WANT A BETTER, HIGHERPAYING JOB THAT WILL HELP YOU GET OUT OF DEBT FASTER This rationale sounds good in theory. If you are making more money, you will be able to pay off those looming student loans more quickly.

That much is true, but you must remember there is no guarantee a graduate degree will immediately get you a higherpaying job than the one you currently have.

While it does significantly increase your overall earning potential over time, the added weight of graduate school debt on top of your existing student loans can make for a serious financial crisis.

Instead, it may be wiser to focus your time and efforts on your current position. Often, the best way to get a raise is to work hard at the job you already have.

Tighten up your finances for a season and put the savings toward your student loans, focusing on getting out of your current debt. Once that is taken care of, reassess if graduate school is right for you.

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GRAD

YOU WANT THE PRAISE AND RECOGNITION THAT COME FROM HAVING A GRADUATE DEGREE Getting a graduate degree definitely carries the benefits of personal growth, fulfillment and recognition, but, depending on your life situation, these may not be the right reasons to go back to graduate school.

We must be sure we do not allow our own desires for praise and fulfillment to cloud our judgment when it comes to determining if now is the time to go back to school.

Education and knowledge can become idols in our lives just like anything else.

It’s easy for those of us who would pursue a graduate degree, those of us who are well-read and knowledgeable, those of us who have been blessed with the gift of a good education, to become puffed up and conceited over the knowledge we have. We must be careful to search our hearts and uncover any misguided motivations.

Our hearts are fickle things. They are “more deceitful than all else ... Who can understand them?” (Jeremiah 17:9). When making the decision to go to graduate school, we must pray God would give us His heart. We must pray God would allow us to see the situation as He sees it, understanding that our Creator is not distant but intimately involved in whatever decision we make.

Ultimately, we need His wisdom and motivations in four distinct areas:

CALLING First and foremost, anyone considering going back to school must assess their calling. What are your motivations for wanting to go? Why do you feel now is a good time? Do you truly feel God is leading you in that direction, or is it something or someone else?

Amidst all of the stress about money and time constraints, degree programs and school selection, the reality is God gets pushed to the back burner. There seem to be more pressing matters at hand.

The whole God thing is important, but we have to be practical, right? There are decisions to be made, loans to be applied for and applications to be completed. We rush around making all of these decisions without ever stopping to think about what our Creator would have us do.

What proportion of your time in the decision-making process have you spent

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talking compared to listening? Have you covered the decision in prayer? Have you sought wise counsel from those God has graciously placed in your life?

We Americans are notoriously bad at just sitting on something for a while. Sure, some decisions can be made in an instant, but the decision to go back to graduate school is not one to be rushed. It requires time and attention. It requires not only an openness with God, but with those around us, too.

Decisions like these are not meant to be made alone. Sit with your Creator, spend time in prayer, seek His will and let those closest to you speak into the decision.

Sometimes, by the grace of God, they may even bring us the very insight we so desperately long to hear.

CASH Without a doubt, you are way ahead of me on this one. For most, money is the first thing considered. Very few of us need to be asked, “How are you going to pay for graduate school?”

Some of us are fortunate enough to have saved enough money to be able to pay out of pocket for our graduate studies, others work for institutions that will foot the bill.

However, the majority of us just don’t have those luxuries.

With graduate school tuition rates

rising every year, most graduate school attendees will need to take out a substantial loan to cover the cost of their studies, sometimes deepening the hole left from undergraduate student loans or other debt incurred early in life.

The lure of a higher-paying job must not obscure our view of the costs of pursuing a graduate degree.

Is going back to graduate school a wise decision in your current financial state?

Are you in a place where you can afford to go to graduate school? Can you “safely” go into debt, or do you have other debt that should be paid off first? These are all questions only you can answer.

Statistically, the benefits of a graduate degree are indisputable. Sources differ on the exact number, but those with a master’s degree earn close to 30 percent more per year than those with a bachelor’s degree.

There will rarely be a case where a graduate degree will not benefit its owner, so the question is not “will this be helpful?” but rather “can I afford the incurred costs and risk of pursuing a graduate degree at this stage of my life?”

Do your homework. Get a solid view of your current financial situation and the effect going back to graduate school would have on your finances. Above all, be patient. Often, the best things come to those who wait.

WHEN MAKING THE DECISION TO GO TO GRADUATE SCHOOL, WE MUST PRAY GOD WOULD GIVE US HIS HEART. CAREER Graduate degrees are quickly becoming the minimum requirement for jobs in some fields, and they are almost always the difference between the general workforce and elite-level jobs.

There is no question that going back to school will increase your job options.

A graduate degree makes you more marketable and more mobile. It opens you up to a world of possibilities.

However, with these possibilities comes the added stress and responsibility of high-level jobs. Everyone wants to be paid like a CEO, but the reality is we were not all created to be one.

Where do your gifts and abilities lie?

How has God specifically wired you? Could you handle the stress, the longer hours, the business trips? Do you have a desire to lead?

Sometimes, the best thing for many of us to do is embrace the roles our Creator has given us, and this may not include the pursuit of a master’s degree. Maybe your role is to continue in the position you are in, to faithfully work hard as a picture of the Gospel of Jesus Christ in your workplace here and now.

Not pursuing a graduate degree or higher-level positions is not a lesser calling. It takes bravery and steadfastness to be faithful with what we have been given, however much that may be.

In the Parable of the Talents Jesus tells in the book of Matthew, the two faithful servants are given different amounts of money to steward and invest. Yet, after they have shown their faithfulness, they receive the same commendation.

God does not measure success in dollars. A high profile does not equal a high reward. Sometimes, faithfulness with what we already have is exactly what God desires from us.

CLAN Too often, we see the decision to go to graduate school as an individual decision.

We must understand the full effect it has on many individuals around us. As the English poet John Donne aptly wrote, “No man is an island.”

Sadly, this is often the most overlooked area of consideration when we think of going back to graduate school. We get lost in the facts and figures, the financial benefits and access to higher-paying, higher-level jobs. We forget those closest to us. Often, those who pay the highest price for our education are our spouses and children.

The dad who is gone at work each day, has class two nights a week and is responsible for 1,000 pages of reading for his next research paper has little time left in his busy schedule for date night with his wife or playtime with the kids. The newly married wife who is stressed by a full load of graduate-level courses cannot give much attention and focus toward building a marriage with her new husband.

When deciding whether you should go back to graduate school, don’t forget many of the costs that come with it have very little to do with money.

At the end of the day, are you AND your family in a place where you can handle the added stress of you going back to school? What do your spouse, kids and friends think? Are they excited for you?

Are they on board with your hopes, dreams and desires?

Not only will that make things easier on them, but their added support during this strenuous time of study will make the days when you are overwhelmed much easier to handle. What life stage are you in? How is your family doing? Are you in a place where you are willing and able to balance all of your commitments?

Remember your commitments lie in this order: Christian, spouse, parent, employee.

Your first commitment is toward your Savior. Will graduate school bring you closer to Him, or will it pull you away?

Your second is to your spouse. What does he or she think about it? Your spouse

is your best friend and your biggest fan.

Make sure whatever you decide honors him or her.

Third, if you have been given the gift of children, God expects you to raise them and love them well. What effect will going back to graduate school have on your ability to fulfill your role as a parent?

Then, lastly, comes your career.

Make sure your priorities remain in the right place as you contemplate the decision of going to grad school. Commit that order to memory. Honor it. Live by it. Just like with all of the other factors at play, there is rarely a clear right or wrong decision. It requires wisdom to navigate the gray areas of life.

MY HOPE In the 15 years I invested on a college campus, I met only a handful of students who were positive graduate school was right for them. The rest of them spent many days seeking God’s will, weighing all the options and using the wisdom He had given them to make the best possible decision they could. The rest was simply in God’s hands.

That’s all He asks from us: wisdom, faith and obedience. Making the decision of whether you should go to grad school is usually an exercise in all three.

May we take a step back and truthfully examine our lives. May we lay aside the selfish desires and misguided ideals that plague so many in our culture today. And may we seek the wisdom that can only come from above.

John Bryson is the Teaching Pastor at Fellowship Memphis in Memphis, Tenn., an Executive Board Member of the Acts 29 Network and co-creator of 33:The Series. Connect with him at www.authenticmanhood.com or on Twitter @johnwbryson.

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SEMINARY 78 / RE L E VA N T U_ 2 013

BY SHARON HODDE MILLER

IN

his wonderful, tiny book A Little Exercise for Young Theologians, Helmut Thielicke describes young seminarians this way: “The study of theology often produces overgrown youths whose internal organs have not correspondingly developed. This is a characteristic of adolescence. There is actually something like theological puberty.”

Theological puberty. I can’t think of a better term to describe the growth and awkwardness that characterized my seminary experience.

Although I entered the program expecting every class to awe and inspire me and to produce in me a bearing of holy sophistication, I was about as sophisticated as the cast of Jersey Shore. Think bold lack of self-awareness—minus the fake tan.

Like human adolescence, my time in seminary was marked by growth without understanding. That is to say, I acquired a lot of information, but the knowledge was not tempered by maturity. The seed of my learning required the soil of ministry experience before it could bloom into true, heart understanding.

In the meantime, my handle on theology was rather unwieldy.

Of course, I didn’t recognize my theological clumsiness at the time. Like any other adolescent, I thought I knew it all. Only in hindsight can I look back and recognize the truth of my spiritual development.

In addition to the stage of theological development seminary signifies, seminary was like adolescence in a second way. Plain and simple: It was hard. It was disorienting, sometimes confusing and at other times exhausting.

Don’t get me wrong—I loved seminary, and I am grateful for my time there, but

some days were more like a slog than a spiritual uplift. Rather than soar to new spiritual heights, my soul sometimes floundered.

As strange as it sounds, seminary can take a toll on one’s faith. Despite the fact that you are immersed in God’s Word all day every day, seminary can launch you into a season of spiritual wandering and dryness.

This dynamic is due in part to the reality that you are being graded. It’s hard to read the Old Testament in a worshipful manner when you know you will be tested on the geography of Israel the following day.

For that reason and many more, seminary requires a special kind of intentionality.

Unlike other spiritual seasons, seminary confronts students with distinct challenges to their growth. This means something more is required than carving out consistent quiet times or retreating to one’s “prayer closet.”

It’s not that the disciplines of prayer and time in the Word are not essential to one’s spiritual health—they are. But as one enters the unique environment of the Christian seminary, the following four principles are indispensable for seminary soul care.

MAINTAIN A SPIRIT OF TEACHABILITY...

IN YOUR LOCAL CHURCH Whenever I think back on my seminary self, I am reminded of the year I learned to drive.

I don’t know if every 15 year old has the same experience, but after completing my driver’s ed class, I thought I had driving down. Like a pro, I knew all the rules of the road, such as holding your hands at 10 and 2 o’clock, checking your blind spot before changing lanes and maintaining a safe following distance.

However, I was soon horrified to discover

that my parents did NOT do these things.

At least, not consistently. Instead, they held their hands at arbitrary positions like 9 and 3, or 12 and 6 or, most scandalously of all, they drove with only one hand on the wheel!

Upon realizing my parents’ driving ineptitude, I pointed out their errors and judged them sternly. Rather than learning from their driving experience, I felt obligated to correct their errors.

Well, seminary is a lot like driver’s ed.

During seminary, one comes away with a lot of ideals and “non-negotiables” about how ministry “should” be, only to realize your pastor has violated a whole host of them. I used to sit in church and dissect my pastor’s sermons, critiquing all the things “I would never do” and how “problematic his exegesis of the Greek is.”

The problem with this critical spirit is it stifles spiritual growth. A posture of judgment is not open to the movement of the Holy Spirit.

DESPITE THE FACT THAT YOU ARE IMMERSED IN GOD’S WORD ALL DAY EVERY DAY, SEMINARY CAN LAUNCH YOU INTO A SEASON OF SPIRITUAL WANDERING AND DRYNESS. I suspect that is one reason seminarians wither spiritually. Rather than drink from the well of their local church, many seminarians turn their noses up at the source. And inevitably, their souls suffer.

To combat this danger, remember seminary is only the beginning of your ministry education. The real lessons come when you hit the field, and in that regard your pastors have a lot to teach you. So keep your spirit open, and humbly learn from them. They will feed your soul.

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SEMINARY

RESIST THE “I AM A SPIRITUAL LEADER” COMPLEX When I enrolled in seminary, something in me shifted.

I noticed it most in my interactions with others, and I can best summarize it this way: I thought being in seminary meant I had to act like it. I felt the need to put forth a “wise, spiritual leader” vibe. I thought I had to know all the answers to my friends’ questions about the Bible. At large family gatherings, I became the designated meal blesser. Around my friends, I was the resident Christian expert. And truth be told, I relished the status. It made me feel important.

There are two problems with this complex. The first is it encourages hiding and secrecy. Rather than forfeit your “expert” status by honestly sharing the good, the bad and the ugly of your spiritual walk, you are tempted to tuck those ugly parts away. You might even feel an increased sense of shame about your sins. After all, you’re in seminary! You shouldn’t be struggling with the same sins as non-seminary Christians, right?

This lie—which plagues many pastors as well— encourages hiding all the more, and without the accountability of an open and honest community, your struggles will only grow.

The second problem with the “I am a spiritual leader” complex is it gives birth to a second master that competes with the supremacy of God. Seminary may have started out as a means to serving God, but it can easily become a means to serving self. In the interest of personal glory, some seminarians frantically manage their exteriors, only to resemble theologically articulate whitewashed tombs.

Throughout your time in seminary, never forsake your first love for the shabby idol of self-glorification.

Labor to keep God primary—and it will be a labor.

When friends are impressed by your knowledge, it is easy to become puffed up and arrogant. But fight that temptation, and fight it hard. The only path to spiritual health is the one submitted to Christ’s exclusive Lordship.

TALK TO GOD, NOT SIMPLY ABOUT GOD As already mentioned, the looming threat of grades can suck the sense of God’s presence right out of the room.

However, there is another obstacle embedded in the academic study of God’s Word, and it is the belief that the study of God can be a substitute for time with God. Among his many powerful instructions to seminarians, Thielicke also describes the danger of only speaking about God: “Consider that the first time someone spoke of God in the third person and therefore no longer with God but about God was that very moment when the question resounded, ‘Did God really say?’ This fact ought to make us think.”

Thielicke’s words are a sobering reminder that spiritual fruitfulness does not spring from knowledge about the vine.

If we are to grow, we must remain directly connected

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to the one true vine, apart from whom we can bear no fruit (John 15). So make time for prayer and reading the Word.

And when you do, resist culling sermon points or teaching lessons from the passages you study. Instead, lay your soul bare before God and wait for the word He has for you.

KEEP YOUR GRADES IN PERSPECTIVE In case it wasn’t already obvious, grades can become a major stumbling block for seminarians. Rather subtly, grades can corrupt one’s motives with the promise of performance validation and a sense of self-worth.

But thanks be to God that He is a redeemer who can use the grading system to refine our hearts. He does so in two key ways: identifying ungodly motives and ridding us of our pride.

First, grades identify ungodly motives whenever they elicit fear, anxiety, competition or self-affirmation.

If grades evoke any of these emotions, they betray a battle for lordship in the seat of your heart.

To monitor this temptation, keep an eye on how your grades make you feel, and ask yourself why you desire to make good grades. Are you striving for excellence for the sake of honoring God or for the sake of selfish ambition? Are you bearing the heavy burden of self-justification or the light yoke of Christ, who has called you to prepare for ministry and nothing more? In short, is your spirit distressed, or is your spirit at rest?

These diagnostic questions can assess your relationship with grades and free you from the trap of giving grades undue weight. Rather than striving after an empty idol, you can run after the only prize that

has true worth.

The second way God uses grades to refine us is to dislodge our pride.

Seminary is easier for some than for others, and some students really struggle.

Students who consistently make poor grades, despite all their greatest efforts, can become incredibly discouraged. Some even question whether they are called to ministry.

If that is your experience, rest assured, my friend, that grades do not demonstrate calling. I knew plenty of strong students with poor pastoral skills and many weak students with an undeniable call. The ability to write an academic paper is no reflection of God’s anointing. Instead of doubting your call, embrace the lesson God has for you in the challenge, and make no more out of your grades than that.

If, on the other hand, good grades come easily, they can still become a destructive idol. For me, the idol of grades was apparent in the need to compare myself with others.

It was also evident in my response to professors who graded my work harshly.

If a teacher ever besmirched my sterling record with a less than satisfactory mark, I acted entitled. Rather than responding with grace and humility, I was indignant.

In those moments, I was forced to remember that seminary is not about grades. Seminary is a season of preparation, and God can use both good and bad grades to mold students into effective vessels.

Through the grading process, allow God to search your heart, crucify your pride and prune any motives that are not from Him. As He prunes, your soul will flourish all the more.

THE ENEMY: PRIDE To summarize, seminarians do well to keep the following principles in mind: Keep your grades in perspective, talk to God rather than about God, avoid the “I am a spiritual leader” complex and maintain a spirit of teachability at your local church.

By now you may have noticed a common thread that runs through all of them: pride.

Pride is a sin that afflicts us all, and it can take a special hold on seminarians.

Illusions of grandeur combine with divine calling and just enough education to produce insufferable, know-it-all punks.

Some seminarians are fortunate to escape this fate, but I confess to having been

TRUE TRANSFORMATION DOES NOT COME FROM A TEXTBOOK, AND EFFECTIVE MINISTRY IS NOT SELF-MADE. theologically snobbish myself.

Pride is one of the main reasons seminary is nicknamed “cemetery.” In my experience, and the experience of others, pride is the culprit when a seminary student’s faith goes dry.

Pride deceives students into believing they have matured out of the simple disciplines that once fed their souls. Pride leads a student to believe he or she can only learn from some teachers, but not all. And pride is a distraction that compels seminarians to chase after grades rather than God. Pride is a sickness that poisons you from the inside out. It is spiritually lethal, and that may be the reason so many seminarians struggle with it: By training to lead God’s church, seminarians place a target on their backs. The Enemy wants nothing more than to thwart

those preparing to defend the Kingdom of God. Pride is his weapon of choice.

How can seminary students resist the seductive power of pride? James 3:1 gives us a clue. It reads, “Not many of you should become teachers, my fellow believers, because you know that we who teach will be judged more strictly.”

Contrary to any notions of self-glory, this verse reminds seminarians the call to ministry is a fearful one. The call to follow Christ is already one of promised suffering and humiliation, but that of a teacher is even graver.

To teach and lead in the Church is to put oneself under a special degree of divine accountability, which is why the antidote to pride is not merely humility. The antidote is much deeper, at the root of all humility and wisdom: It is the fear of the Lord.

A NEED FOR HOLY FEAR Scripture tells seminary students two informative things about the fear of the Lord. The first is “the fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom” (Psalm 111:10, Proverbs 9:10).

The book of Proverbs repeatedly sings the praises of wisdom, but some seminarians misunderstand what wisdom truly is. Rather than seek wisdom, they assume they have already attained it. And as a result, these foolish men and women enter churches like bulls in a china shop.

Too arrogant to seek wisdom and understanding, these seminarians wind up hurting themselves and others.

In contrast, the fear of the Lord entails a posture of humility and lowliness. It acknowledges God’s proper position as the one and only source of wisdom, the only one deserving of glory.

Consequently, the one who

fears God is not threatened by appearing unimpressive or unlearned. Instead, the individual who fears the Lord is uninhibited in seeking counsel and is better positioned to learn and to grow. The one who fears the Lord humbly seeks wisdom and finds it, knowing he does not already possess it.

The second lesson Scripture teaches is “the fear of the Lord is a fountain of life” (Proverbs 14:27). Quite plainly, this verse teaches seminarians the fear of the Lord is the path out of spiritual atrophy.

The one who fears the Lord is open to the movement of the Holy Spirit, wherever it is to be found. By fearfully esteeming God’s primacy, we deconstruct the barriers pride has erected around our souls.

Through a healthy fear of the Lord, we can submit ourselves to God’s good work and be transformed.

James 3:1 is a sobering warning. It reminds teachers and leaders to approach their roles with fear and trembling. We will be held accountable for our stewardship over the Church, and that truth should chasten our hearts. For that reason, I encourage you to enter seminary with a spirit of humble surrender.

Seminary can indeed be difficult and sometimes awkward. Welcome the challenge. Let God deal with you. Rather than attempting to qualify yourself through personal merit, allow the God who saves by grace to equip you by grace, also.

On the hardest days, when you are tired or discouraged or even despairing, rest in the knowledge that God is Lord over those days, too. As Paul reassures us, God’s power is made perfect in weakness. Put another way, those challenging days might just give way for God to begin a mighty work in you.

After all, true transformation does not come from a textbook, and effective ministry is not self-made. Your greatest lessons, and your greatest resources for spiritual growth, are to be found in Christ alone.

Like any adolescent, the greatest challenge is simply getting out of your— and God’s—own way.

Sharon Hodde Miller is a writer and a doctoral student at Trinity Evangelical Divinity School. Before beginning her Ph.D. in Educational Studies, Sharon earned her Master of Divinity from Duke Divinity School. She currently lives in the Chicago area with her husband and son. She blogs at sheworships.com, and is a regular contributor at Her.meneutics.

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DO NOT ENTER Of course not. So why should anyone trust you as a Christian leader if you cut corners in ministry training? When it comes to ministry preparation, some offer tips and trends that may soon fall flat, or quick degrees that stop short of the skill and understanding you need. Western Seminary helps you to forge ministry tools for your context by reflecting deeply on the timeless truth of the Bible and the gospel it unveils. After all, when it comes to shepherding souls you can’t afford to be an accident waiting to happen. shortcuts. No regrets. Just trustworthy and accessible training for No sho gospel-centered transformation.

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Would you let your child on a bus that can’t promise safety?

SEMINARY 8 4 / RE L E VA N T U_ 2 012

6 QUESTIONS TO HELP CLARIFY YOUR CALLING

BY DHARIUS DANIELS

I being called to ministry? What does it mean to be called to ministry? What type of ministry am I being called to?

These are examples of questions believers often struggle to with. And rightfully so—they are extremely important and significant issues to sort through. What you decide to do with the life God has given you is one of the most important decisions you will make, and frankly, it’s one you don’t want to mismanage.

I can personally recall my sense of the significance of this decision when I wrestled with the reality of some of these questions during my time in college. I had charted a course for a career in law, but by God’s grace and through His providence, my plans were changed.

However, it was not a glorious or grand experience. Rather, it was, at times, an unsettling, unnerving and agitating process. There were times I felt absolutely, unequivocally, indisputably sure of the direction I should go, and there were times (often later the same day) I felt absolutely clueless. I’m sure many of you have felt the same.

The Bible is the most reliable resource available when it comes to discerning a call to ministry. Even when biblical texts don’t give us specific answers, they provide us with guidance by serving as a compass that at least puts us in the vicinity of the answer.

The Bible is inundated with examples of God calling individuals to serve His cause in a unique way. Abraham, Jacob, Moses, Gideon and Jeremiah are Old Testament examples, and Saul from Tarsus is one of many examples in the New Testament.

These instances of divine calling reveal an unsettling yet soothing reality: God’s call is not monolithic. Some callings were dramatic and instantaneous, and others were gradual and not dramatic. There is no “one way” or one specific experience we can look for.

However, there are seven questions you can ask to help sort through the mental rubble and gain a clearer picture of how God desires to use your life:

AM

WHAT IS A CALL TO MINISTRY? During my time in seminary I learned an interesting phrase that simply suggests orthopraxy is always the result of orthodoxy.

In other words, if one’s doctrine or information is off, his or her practice will be also.

This phrase applies to the concept of a call to ministry because if we aren’t clear on what it is, we won’t know when we are experiencing it.

One of the best ways to approach this question is to clarify what a call to ministry is not.

First of all, it is not necessarily a blueprint for what you will do with your entire life. God often gives us information incrementally, and therefore it’s important not to expect instantaneous information regarding what we will do forever. It’s possible to miss what God

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SEMINARY is calling us to right now because we are looking for what we should do forever.

Secondly, a call to ministry is not a call to intimacy. I am not saying intimacy with God is not important—clearly it is. It is our first and most important call.

However, people often confuse a call to greater commitment to God with a call to specific ministry for God. We are called to the Lord of the work before we do work for the Lord. However, being called to the Lord of the work isn’t the same as being called to work for Him. Thirdly, a call to ministry is not a simply a call to “full-time” vocational ministry. Bivocational ministry is often perceived and treated as the “minor leagues” of ministry. However, many New Testament leaders were bivocational, and it’s important that we understand some people’s mission field is the marketplace, and training to properly serve that field is equally important as it is for those who serve local churches.

Now you’re probably asking the quintessential question: What exactly is a call to ministry?

I don’t have the definition, but I do have a description: A call to ministry is a divine summons to use your gifts, talents and life at God’s discretion, according to God’s timetable and for God’s glory.

In other words, a call to ministry isn’t necessarily a call to do something—it’s a call to do anything. It is an invitation to use our gifts, talents and lives as God sees fit. It may look one way in one season and different in another.

At one point in my ministerial journey I was a youth pastor, at another I was an associate pastor, now I’m a senior pastor. All these titles were simply roles I played as God opened doors of opportunity at His discretion and for His glory.

I believe each role was not necessarily a stepping stone to the next, but each one was an extremely vital and important part of my spiritual formation.

Every step you take is part of the journey. Therefore I believe one appropriate way to think through the answer to this question is to see that being called to ministry is a lifetime of asking what God wants you to do next. As my grandmother would often say, take it one step at a time.

WHO IS RESPONSIBLE FOR WHAT? One of the many reasons discerning God’s call is complicated is because we aren’t clear on the answer to this question.

Subliminally, many of us operate with the idea our calling is something we are responsible for figuring out. As a consequence, we feel the pressure and weight that is associated with that role.

And because we all lean toward works righteousness, we can also feel that, once discovered, the call is something we are to carry out ourselves.

Neither instance is biblically supported or expected. It’s God’s responsibility to make His calling clear, and He does a very good job

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of doing so. Abraham, Moses, Gideon, Jeremiah, Jonah, Jesus and Paul were clear. God will make sure we are, also.

It may take time, but God will do His job. It’s our job to discern it and, more importantly, to submit to it.

Submit is not a popular term, but it’s definitely a biblical one.

Jesus is the ultimate embodiment of submission, and those of us who follow in His footsteps are called to submit like He did.

Paul’s calling is an also an example of submission. God arranged circumstances in Paul’s life so his heart was amenable to God’s request. There are times when we aren’t clear because our heart may be hearing what it would rather not hear. In the words of one of my favorite childhood wrestlers, The Rock, “know your role.”

When we are ready to listen to what God has to say and ready to hear Him, God will get the message across.

WHERE AM I GIFTED? All of us are blessed with three categories of capability: natural ability, acquired skill and spiritual gifts.

Natural ability simply refers to the unique talent and ability we are born with. Acquired skill refers to the skill sets we have acquired throughout the course of our life. Spiritual gifts are grace-gifts distributed to us by the Holy Spirit.

God calls all of these capabilities into play when we are called to ministry. They are amazing indicators of how God may want to use us. If you can teach, you may be called to be a teacher.

The converse is also true—your gifts and your calling will never have two different addresses. Although we will always have to rely on God’s enabling grace, and we have to develop and mature our gifts, God won’t call us to do what He has not equipped us to accomplish.

WHAT GIVES ME THE MOST PASSION AND MOST FRUSTRATION? What are you passionate about, and what problems in the world or Church frustrate you the most?

I don’t believe passion alone is an accurate indicator of calling. If that were the case, I would be an NBA basketball player.

Passion is a horrible map, but it’s a good compass. It is an amazing tool that can point you in the direction of your calling, and it is also great fuel that energizes you to accomplish it. Passion should be taken into consideration, but only following passion makes the assumption that we are only called to do what we want to do.

Frustration should also be considered. Bill Hybels wrote an amazing book about this called Holy Discontent. Oftentimes, the problems that uniquely agitate us are those we are called to address.

For example, ignorance in Christianity is a problem that uniquely agitates me, whereas irrelevant and outdated expressions of Christianity are problems that resonate with others. Although both are areas all Christians should be concerned about, they uniquely frustrate some because they are called to help address them.

Here is a question you have probably never heard in church: What

gets on your nerves?

Who do you feel called to help and how to do you feel called to help them?

An experience in the life of the Apostle Paul clearly captures the essence of this. In Acts 16:6-10 (NIV) Paul and his companions travel throughout the region of Phrygia and Galatia, having been kept by the Holy Spirit from preaching the Word in the province of Asia.

When they come to the border of Mysia, they try to enter Bithynia, but the Spirit of Jesus will not allow them. So they pass by Mysia and go down to Troas. During the night Paul has a vision of a man of Macedonia standing and begging him, “Come over to Macedonia and help us.” After Paul sees the vision, his group gets ready at once to leave for Macedonia, concluding God has called them to preach the Gospel there.

This passage reveals that over time Paul had gained a sense of clarity regarding who he was supposed to help (those in Macedonia) and how he was supposed to help them (by preaching the Gospel to them).

Although our experience may not be as dramatic as Paul’s, we should also expect a sense of direction regarding who we are to help and how we are to help them.

For example, I feel a sense of call to the urban community, and I primarily feel called to help them through the tool of disciple making. I understand the impact and significance of systemic sin, economic and educational inequality and social injustice. I support and serve with those who address those causes and have a biblical responsibility to advocate for justice, but I am also clear on my “lane” and how I’ve been gifted and wired.

It’s important that everyone sensing a call to ministry thinks and prays through some of these issues. Do you feel called to serve the poor? If so, how? Do you need to raise resources for them, dig wells, teach classes, advocate for justice?

leading to one area and in another season you may sense a leading to another. Either way, it’s important to ask the question and think and pray through the answer.

WHAT DO I NEED TO DO TO GET READY? If one is sensing a call in whatever capacity, whether it is mission work, preaching, teaching youth or marketplace ministry, the first step is preparation. Jesus spent three years preparing His disciples for their ministry, and His activity is an indication of the importance of preparation.

Asking this question will hopefully provide guidance on whether one needs to attend seminary, what type of seminary they need to attend and what they need to focus on while there.

Allow me to be candid: All seminaries are not created equal. I am not suggesting one is better than another, but I am acknowledging they are all different and have different areas of focus and strengths and weakness. Some mentor great thinkers, others produce great practitioners, and some are able to do both.

You may discover seminary is not the route you are to take.

God has a number of ways of preparing us for our life’s calling. It may be through mentoring relationships, learning communities or other educational avenues.

For example, if one is going to provide medical care on the mission field, the best route is probably medical training as opposed to biblical exegesis. No matter what route we take, preparation is extremely important.

Now, with all this being said, it’s important to consider the God factor. You can answer all these questions to the best of your ability and have God end up taking you in a completely different direction.

After all, He is God and we aren’t.

However, it’s extremely important that we do all we can to be as thorough and prudent as possible. These questions help may be a way to help us do that.

Once you have asked all the questions you know to ask and prayed all the prayers you know to pray, place your trust in a loving shepherd who knows how to lead us even when we don’t know we are being led. You will get there, one step at a time.

A CALL TO MINISTRY ISN’T NECESSARILY A CALL TO DO SOMETHING—IT’S A CALL TO DO ANYTHING. IT IS AN INVITATION TO USE OUR GIFTS, TALENTS AND LIVES AS GOD SEES FIT.

WHERE DO I FEEL CALLED TO MINISTER? Acts 16:6-10 reveals Paul was restricted by the Holy Spirit from entering certain regions. Didn’t those areas need the Gospel?

Absolutely. But just because a need existed didn’t mean Paul was the one assigned to meet it. Paul’s background, intellect, and training served as amazing assets for him in certain areas, such as Corinth.

Like Paul, we too will thrive in certain environments. Do you feel called to other countries, the Bible Belt, the suburbs, the inner city?

These are questions we should ask ourselves even through we may not always get an answer and even though the answers may change with time. In one season of life you may sense a strong

Dharius Daniels is the senior pastor and founder of Kingdom Church in Ewing, N.J. He got his Master of Divinity from Princeton Theological Seminary and is currently pursuing a Doctorate of Ministry degree at Fuller Theological Seminary. Find out more at dhariusdaniels.com

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SEMINARY

SEMINARY, FAMILY OR BEING DEBT FREE: PICK TWO

BY JEFF COOK an you enjoy seminary, have a healthy family and stay out of debt?

The answer is usually no. You can only have two of the three.

Perhaps this hits us hard because we want to “have it all.” Or perhaps we don’t see having our studies, financial stability and a family as unreasonable at this point in our lives. Or perhaps other people may not be able to juggle those three balls, but certainly you and your spouse are the exception.

As you enter this new season of life, may I offer a word of caution? Unless you are independently wealthy, choosing debtfree seminary or grad school and family life is a very difficult road to travel. Kids are expensive, seminary is expensive and because they are so important to who we are and what we’ll become, it is worth pausing to ask if the two can fit together at this point.

A friend of mine leaving for seminary recently told me he and his wife were thinking about having children and starting a family. I said, “You know when you are ready to have kids? When you have about $30,000 saved up in a bank account.

Because it will all be gone in two years.”

His smile dropped, and I spoiled our meal together, but the figure is correct. I may

C

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not be very good with money, but it makes sense that if you lose one family income or begin paying $800 a month or so in child care (alongside diapers, new housing, health insurance, delivery fees, baby sitters, toys, etc.), your money will disappear quickly.

I write this as a conversation starter, knowing each of you is in a very different place. But choosing when to have children is as important as choosing whether to have kids at all.

The U.S. Census Bureau tells us 50 percent of children born today will see their parents divorce. Likewise, it tells us the most common time for a divorce is in the first year after the first child is born. That should give any prospective parent pause, for the reason is easy to see: The first year after having children is a year of massive life change and stress.

The Denver Post reported on a 2009 University of Denver study that found having a kid quickly puts drastic strain on a marriage. “For 90 percent of couples, marital bliss dives within a year after the birth of their first child,” the Post reported.

This feels discouraging, but the study also offers an important complementary truth. “But don’t assume staying childless is the secret to making a marriage happier over the long haul,” the article says. “The eight-year study of 218 Denver-area couples

found that while those who had a child experienced an immediate dip in marital satisfaction, couples who did not also became less happy—just gradually.”

Should you have children? Yes! My life is less selfish, more vibrant and multifaceted because of my kids. But it’s important to wait until you have a reasonable amount of time to care for your kids, love them, cherish them.

You have time to wait. Most likely, you will live longer than your folks. The only thing that is really ticking away for our families is our biological clocks, and for those in grad school, that may still be a long way off.

Some will see another easy out here. One might say, “If I simply take out $100,000 to $200,000 in debt, I will be able to get what I want out of this time in my life.”

Speaking for myself, this would be the last option I would choose (and yes, the figure will eventually be that high).

Securing a job after seminary with a salary that can adequately pay down your debt is not a given. And bouncing around jobs, moving, seeking interviews, starting a new career—all with a young child and a bag of debt is a painful road.

Don’t avoid the obvious here. Choosing to take on large amounts of debt is burdening yourself with a brutal saddle— one that may, at times, kill choices you would make regarding where you live and what kind of work you must do. In choosing to go into debt in order to afford both your education and the family you wish to start, you may be setting in place barriers to both your success as a professional and your emotional health that will last for decades.

If you already have kids, you may have to wait (as I am) to pursue a Ph.D. If you have not had kids, but deeply desire a new baby, I would suggest waiting until after seminary and a year or two into your new job.

Nothing is more stressful than the first two years of your first child’s life.

Yes, there are beautiful, soul-transforming experiences during that season. And that is all the more reason to mark a time period in your life when you can actually enjoy that time with your firstborn.

Seminary isn’t the time, starting a new career isn’t the time. A few years into your vocation when you can recognize the luxury time you have, the weekends that are free, the extra money you don’t know what to do with—that is when to have a child.

It’s really hard to wait. But self-restraint, especially when it involves a brand new human soul, is a great good.

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Explore these degrees | Master of Divinity, MA Marriage & Family Therapy, MA (Religion), Doctor of Ministry RE L E VA N T U.COM / 89

Bridging the Word and the World

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Our students serve Christ in both traditional churches and innovative ministries. They both deepen their theological views and learn from other traditions.

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Our graduates become both mission-minded pastor-theologians and creative leaders—both church planters and counselors, both lawyers and educators. They do both evangelism and social justice. They minister both nationally and globally, both at home and cross-culturally.

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COLLEGE DIRECTORY

GET MORE INFO ON THE SCHOOLS FEATURED IN THIS ISSUE Oral Roberts University (p. 18)

SPECIALTY SCHOOLS

oru.edu | Tulsa, OK

Hillsong International Leadership College (back cover)

Palm Beach Atlantic (p. 39) pba.edu | West Palm Beach, FL

hillsongcollege.com | Sydney, AUS

Neo Academy (p. 33)

Samford University (p. 73)

theneoacademy.com | Niles, OH

samford.edu | Birmingham, AL

Ocean’s Edge School of Worship (p. 3)

University of Northwestern St. Paul (p. 71)

oceansedgeschool.com | Fort Lauderdale, FL

UNDERGRADUATE

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unwsp.edu | St. Paul, MN

GRADUATE

Cairn University (p. 57)

Indiana Wesleyan University (p. 17)

cairn.edu | Langhorne, PA

indwes.edu | St. Marion, IN

Calvin College (p. 25)

Liberty University (pp. 47)

calvin.edu | Grand Rapids, MI

liberty.edu | Lynchburg, VA

Cedarville University (inside back cover)

Liberty University (p. 20)

cedarville.edu | Cedarville, OH

liberty.edu/law | Lynchburg, VA

Messiah College (p. 65)

Regent University (p. 94)

messiah.edu | Mechanicsburg, PA

regent.edu/divinity | Virginia Beach, VA

Northwest University (p. 67)

Union University (p. 51)

northwestu.edu | Kirkland, WA

uu.edu | Jackson, TN

Oklahoma Christian University (p. 1)

Wheaton College (p. 91)

oc.edu | Edmond, OK

wheaton.edu | Wheaton, IL

Golden Gate Baptist Theological Seminary (p. 27)

SEMINARY

ggbts.edu | Mill Valley, CA

Anabaptist Mennonite Biblical Seminary (p. 73) ambs.edu | Elkhart, IN

Asbury Theological Seminary (inside cover) asburyseminary.edu | Wilmore, KY

Ashland Seminary (p. 37) seminary.ashland.edu | Ashland, OH

Austin Presbyterian Theological Seminary (p. 82) austinseminary.edu | Austin, TX

Baylor Univ./Truett (p. 35) baylor.edu/truett | Waco, TX

Lancaster Bible College (p. 23) lbc.edu | Lancaster, PA

Louisville Seminary (p. 89) lpts.edu | Louisville, KY

Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary (p. 45) mbts.edu | Kansas City, MO

Moody Bible Institute (p. 11) moody.edu | Chicago, IL

Pittsburgh Theological Seminary (p. 90) pts.edu | Pittsburgh, PA

Bethel University (p. 12)

Seattle University (p. 22)

seminary.bethel.edu | St. Paul, MN

seattleu.edu | Seattle, WA

Calvin Theological Seminary (p. 16)

Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary (p. 5)

calvin.edu | Grand Rapids, MI

Dallas Theological Seminary (p. 95) dts.edu | Dallas, TX

swbts.edu | Fort Worth, TX

University of Dubuque Seminary (p. 96) dbq.edu | Dubuque, IA

Denver Seminary (p. 19)

Wesley Theological Seminary (p. 41)

denverseminary.edu | Littleton, CO

wesleyseminary.edu | Washington, DC

Fuller Theological Seminary (p. 9)

Western Seminary (p. 83)

fuller.edu | Pasadena, CA

westernseminary.edu | Portland, OR

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You’ll Meet the World at Regent—and Sometimes in Just One Person Regent University professor Clifton Clarke is a living example of missions and world Christianity.

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The School of Divinity is accredited by the Association of Theological Schools (ATS), with approval for a Comprehensive Distance Education Program. DIV130711

Dr. Clifton Clarke Associate Professor of Global Missions & World Christianity

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INSPIRING GREATNESS WITH CALLING AND CONVICTION. FOLLOW YOUR CALLING:

CEDARVILLE.EDU/RELEVANT Located in southwest Ohio, Cedarville University attracts 3,400 undergraduate, graduate, and online students to more than 100 programs of study. The University is a Christ-centered learning community recognized nationally for rigorous academic programs, strong graduation and retention rates, accredited professional and health science offerings, and leading student satisfaction R E L E V Aratings.

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