Since it’s getting close to High School graduation time, I am giving away 2 copies of Thriving in College: Make Great Friends, Keep Your Faith, and Get Ready for The Real World by Alex Chediak.
Click here for a quick review of the book.
Enter your info below between now and Friday at noon and 2 lucky names will be drawn.
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“College can be a wonderful and dangerous place,” writes Alex Chediak. And he should know. As the associate professor of engineering and physics at California Baptist University, he has worked with and taught students for several years. But even though college can be a difficult place, his desire is that students not just survive, but thrive. Therefore, he has written Thriving In College: Make Great Friends, Keep Your Faith, and Get Ready for The Real World, a book designed to help students make the most of their college days.
“The purpose of college,” writes Chediak, “ is to be a launching pad into all that goes with responsible Christian adulthood.” He comments how “it’s shameful that one in every three men of ages twenty-two to thirty-four is still living at home with Mom and Dad.” College is the place to begin to develop responsibility. But to do so takes intentionality. It requires a plan. And it involves being aware of a few dangers ahead.
Naturally, Thriving In College seeks to encourage its readers to grow closer to God during their college days. Chediak writes that “college is a season in which you can—and must—take ownership of your faith.” There will be moral and intellectual challenges to one’s faith in college, but one must not neglect his/her relationship with God. Chediak argues that “Christianity doesn’t just make sense; it provides a firm basis to build your college years and your entire adult life upon.”
As Chediak builds the case that Christianity should be the foundation for one’s days at college, he allows it to guide him to write about some practical advice a college student needs to excel. I really appreciate this aspect of the book. He does not compartmentalize Christianity but allows it to speak to how a student should do everything from taking notes in class to building new relationships.
The specific suggestions Chediak mentions throughout each chapter to help students “thrive in college” are practical, helpful and challenging. Below is a sampling of some of his advice…
You don’t want to assume that college is just like high school (p. 31).
It’s so important to have friends whose character you admire because, like it or not, as they go, you will go (p. 68).
Before you jump into a dating relationship, you need to take responsibility for your own Christian life so that you aren’t looking for someone else to be for you what only God can be (p. 94).
Embrace responsibility and avoid making excuses or exaggerating (p. 169).
As you select a major, move toward the decision with intentionality, an accurate self-assesment, and a wise consideration of the pros and cons, but recognize that the selection of a major os only the beginning of a journey (p. 221).
Study regularly instead of cramming (p. 228).
Don’t waste opportunities in college. Prioritize and develop your academic skills, but also take advantage of extracurricular growth opportunities like internships, mission trips, student organizations, and special events (p. 281).
If you are a college student, work with college students, or are even a parent of a college student, Thriving In College will be a tremendous resource for you. Of all the resources on the market that deal with the transition to college, I have found this book to be the most balanced as Chediak deals with matters from apologetics to learning to handle finances.
At around 350 pages, Thriving in College might appear a bit lengthy for some students, but nonetheless, I would consider placing a copy in their hands. Or better yet, using the material in a high school senior or college freshmen small group.
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3 Ways To Recognize Bad Stats – We need to be shrewd when it comes to statistics and reality: things are not always as they seem.
Are Young Christians “Embarrassingly Ignorant” of Their Faith? – A Christian professor is tackling the claim that young believers are “embarrassingly ignorant” of their faith in a new book intended to answer some of theology’s most asked questions.
The Daily Routine of Geniuses – For these geniuses, a routine was more than a luxury — it was essential to their work.
Ten Things To Do During Suffering – We will all suffer, of that there is no doubt. It is strange, then, that we are often unprepared for it. With that in mind, a useful exercise is to summarize Scripture and identify what words of God can guide us when things are hard.
Why It Is So Easy To Doubt Christianity – Christianity is the easiest religion to doubt. In fact, I think I would go as far to say followers of Christ doubt their faith more than followers of any other God.
This could be the solution to our addiction to smart phones!
Throughout the history of the church, theology has played a vital role. It has led to revivals and reformations. Today however, some are worried that the theological task is becoming detached from everyday life and spirituality. Kelly M. Kapic is one of those concerned and as a result, has written a valuable book called A Little Book for New Theologians (only 124 pages).
“My worry,” writes Kapic, “is that in our day, for many of us, we have unintentionally cultivated what might be called theological detachment: such a view produces a divide between spirituality and theology, between life and thought, between faith and agency” (p. 9). Kapic, therefore, directs his book to those who are in the beginning stages of understanding the discipline of theology in hopes of guiding them away from its possible detachment from life and worship.
A Little Book for New Theologians is divided into two parts. In Part I, Kapic writes of why one should study theology. His basic argument is that one should embark on this pilgrimage in order “to know and enjoy God.” The study of theology therefore, should lead to worship. Kapic writes that when we understand the relationship between theology and worship, “we are moved beyond intellectual curiosity to an engaged encounter with the living God” (p. 37).
The heart of Kapic’s book is found in Part II. In this section, Kapic discusses the characteristics of faithful theology and theologians. These chapters are most helpful as he begins by insisting that theology not be separated from real life. He writes that “our theology can become corrupted because we neglect to attend to our lives, for true theology must always be true spirituality” (p. 45). We must, therefore, approach theology with humility and repentance, “ready to receive what God gives rather than impose preconceived ideas” (p. 75).
It is Kapic’s chapter “Suffering, Justice, and Knowing God” that I find most challenging. Kapic writes: “God judges our theology faithful or false by our attitudes and responses to those in need” (p. 83). In other words, the proof of us being good theologians is evidenced by how we treat other people. “Genuine concern for theological truth brings with it a concern for one’s neighbor,” writes Kapic, “because the true God is known by love” (p. 91).
After reading A Little Book for New Theologians, I felt the title was a bit misleading. There is no doubt this book will be tremendously helpful to those who consider themselves “new theologians.” However, I think this little book would be helpful reading to all believers. Kapic’s writing would be an encouragement to anyone seeking to understand the necessity of theology and its proper handling. After all, theology is not just for the classroom, but for the living room. Theology is for the church by the church.
So maybe a better title for the book could be A Little Book for Why All Followers of Christ Need to Be Engaged in Theology. The title’s probably too long, but nonetheless, I think it more accurately displays the purpose and importance of this book.
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Here’s some interesting and helpful stuff around the web this week…
All The “One Another” Passages in Scripture – “Love one another.” “Bear one another’s burdens.” “Forgive one another.” The New Testament gives Christians a lot of “one another” instructions: things we should do on behalf of our family in Christ.
Nine Practical Pointers for Plodders – Jon Bloom writes: Purpose to be a plodder. A plodder keeps moving. A plodder perseveres. A plodder presses on. A plodder knows the disappointment of unrealized ideals, feels the fear of failure and exposed deficiencies, and the ambiguity of too many demands, options, and tasks. But a plodder isn’t immobilized by them. He or she presses on in the faith that God will supply the needed strength (1 Peter 4:11), wisdom (James 1:5), and direction (Proverbs 3:6).
8 Ways to Get More Done This Week – Some helpful thoughts by Tim Challies on productivity.
The Most Dangerous Idol of The Next Generation – Tyler McKenzie writes: The most dangerous idol of my generation is freedom. That’s why we stake claims to our own version of truth, because we want freedom. We don’t want anyone telling us how to live. That’s captivity! Accepting your version of truth means sacrificing my personal freedom. So in the name of freedom, subjectivity rules.
American Bible Reading Statistics – The number of people in America who do not identify with any religion may be at an all-time high, but the Bible still holds an important place in the lives of many Americans, a new report suggests.
God’s Not Dead – Is God dead? Not in academia. As someone who teaches philosophy at Wycliffe Hall, University of Oxford, Vince Vitale is well placed to know what the top scholarship says about God. Vince shows how in the fields of philosophy and sociology, God is very much alive. If you think intellectual objections undermine belief in God, Vince suggests that you may be unaware of the arguments at the highest level.
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Here are some articles, etc… I have found around the web this week that have been helpful…
I Have All The Time I Need – Tim Challies writes: There is a cost to busyness, but there is a more subtle cost to being perceived as busy. When people believe that I’m busy, they also believe that I am unapproachable.
When Things Get Complicated, Remember the Basics – Trevin Wax writes a great reminder to us that though our society becomes more complex in regards to technology and ethics, some things remain the same. Jesus saves. So love God. Love people. The basics never change.
Making Space for Hard Questions – This article here by Fuller Youth Institute has some helpful advice in providing space for teenagers to ask and struggle with the hard questions of the faith. A lot of kids are wrestling with tough questions alone and in silence. This does not have to be.
Avoiding Short Lived Ministry – A huge part of ministry is constantly training up others, releasing others, and empowering others, so that they can replicate what you do or replace you when you’re done. -Kevin DeYoung
Gone Fishin’ – A Forgotten Model of Ministry – What is a minister of the Gospel? The most common answers include models like Shepherd, Servant, Preacher, Theologian, Teacher, Counselor, Leader, and so on. But one model that’s rarely thought about or spoken about today is the first model that Jesus used – Fisherman (Matt. 4:19). -David Murray
Something More. This video portrays how one man changed the course of history. Even without the mention of his name, you know who it is.
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A Look Around the Web will be a Thursday post of articles found throughout the Internet that hopefully you will find interesting and helpful. This is just another way for this site to be a resource.
9 Magazines Worth Subscribing To – Trevin Wax, an author, blogger and editor at Lifeway Christian Resources shares magazines that he has found helpful for him personally.
Toughest Leadership Roles – This is from Forbes magazine. Want to take a guess at what they see as the toughest leadership role?
The One Thing Christians Should Stop Saying – Some interesting thoughts on what it means to be blessed.
An Improvement-Proof Gospel – “If you know and speak the gospel, you are a channel for God’s destroying of strongholds and resurrecting of lives. Every Christian who can articulate the gospel has the launch code and access to the button.”
Dying to Disciple: How Far Are We Willing to Go in Our Pursuit of People -Great article in helping us think about what it really means to be involved in the lives of others.
What does it mean to work well? Matt Perman, the author of the brand new What’s Best Next: How The Gospel Transforms the Way You Get Things Done, discusses this question and more with Colin Hansen
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gvl-JZx2PR8
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God calls us to be abundant in doing good, but you don’t have to run to the hills and leave the world to do this good.
-Matt Perman in What’s Best Next.
Jesus said in His Sermon on the Mount that we are “the light of the world.” Therefore, we should “let our light shine before others, that they may see our good deeds and glorify our Father in Heaven” (Mt 5:14-16).
As Christ followers, we are to go about doing good. But where and when do we perform good works? Is it only on Sundays or when we volunteer at a soup kitchen? Matt Perman, in the beginning of his book What’s Best Next, seeks to answer these questions. He writes that “we tend to have a very narrow view of good works. We think that they are rare and special things that we do every once in a while, like going to Africa on a mission trip” (p. 76).
Understanding good works as only those special things we do every now and then is dangerous. It leads to living “disconnected lives.” As a result, we don’t see our everyday lives as venues for good deeds. One of the main reasons Perman wrote What’s Best Next was to help us to see everything in a “new light so that [we] can become an agent for good, right where [we] are, to the glory of God” (p. 80).
When we answer email, go to meetings, cook dinner, pick up kids from school, etc…, these activities are “not just things we are doing.” According to Perman, they are good works as they provide us with an opportunity to “make a contribution” and to leave “things better than [we] found them” (80).
“Good works,” writes Perman, “are not just spiritual things we do, or hard and rare endeavors.” Whatever “we do in faith, which includes the mundane activities of everyday life like raising kids, going to work, and even tying our shoes” can be considered good works (p. 78).
Perman helped me to see that the ordinary activities of my day might not be so ordinary after all. Returning a phone call might lead to an opportunity to encourage. Smiling at the check out clerk at the local store and sincerely asking about his or her day could be the first caring words he or she has heard all day. And organizing your schedule, your desk, and your to do lists, as mundane as these things may seem, are really the things that, if organized well, will result in freeing up more of your time to serve those around you.
So today, if you really begin to think about doing good, but you feel overwhelmed with the mundane tasks of work, remember that they may not be as mundane as you think. However, you still might need to think about getting organized and this is where What’s Best Next by Matt Perman can be of help. It has some practical tips that will help you in becoming a bit more ordered.
Remember that planning and organizing your days, weeks, and months are not ends within themselves. Doing these things matters, but they do so in that they lead you to more profitable work. And becoming more profitable and productive ultimately means you being “light in the world”–the doing of good to those around you.
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