Senseless Violence

The shootings at Virginia Tech -- or anywhere for that matter -- are senseless. Like a 9/11 it is the kind of event that can turn a nation's worldview on its head, its sense of ethics, and culture.

For these moments there are simply no words to speak. One can only grieve and cry out to God.

I am including here a note from the InterVarsity staff at Virginia Tech who could use your prayers today and in the coming weeks. Also, here is an article that may give some clues as to other prayers that may be needed, especially for our Asian and Asian-American brothers and sisters at Virginia Tech and all schools.

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So many have asked how they can pray for us, and I am encouraged by the support of friends from around the country and the world.

Here are some specific requests from our fellowship:

One freshman still has a roommate that is missing. We are hoping that she may have been only wounded, but we have yet to hear from her.

Thankfully, two of our students overslept and missed their classes in Norris Hall during the shootings. However, one of those students lost his professor, and four of his classmates were wounded.

One senior in our fellowship was actually in a classroom in Norris Hall during the shootings. With the help of some classmates, he set up a barricade to prevent the shooter from entering the room. The shooter fired shots at the door, but failed to enter.

One junior needs the most intercession. She is a resident advisor in West Ambler Johnston Hall and was a good friend to one of the victims who was murdered in this residence hall. The victim was a fellow resident advisor.

After an intense and painful day, we are in mourning.

Fortunately, there were no students in our fellowship who were wounded or murdered. However, a number of students have friends, hallmates, and professors who lost their lives.

On campus, I am deeply encouraged by the love and comfort that our students give to each other and their friends. The Body of Christ is truly at work here.

Though it feels like a dark cloud is over Blacksburg, God is present. In this time of mourning, Christ is with us in our pain. In Christ Jesus we find our hope and refuge!

Thank you for your prayers and for sharing in our pain.

Wes Barts

Back in the Saddle Again...

Its been a while since I've written anything. Sorry to those of you who actually read this! I'm mostly writing a blog to keep friends and prayer people updated, but also to reflect on my sabbatical experiences.

Things have been difficult these past few weeks, and that's usually when I shy away from being reflective. There are just some things I don't want to remember. But, sadly, that is when I most need to be in conversation with God. So, I have been keeping God in the periphery...but I think I am finally ready to stop crowding him out. Pray for me!

Other than these more internal and private thoughts, I have much to share, but I will make it brief, I promise!

My father is healing well. His blood pressure continues to be too low, at one point it was down to 60/40 and he shouldn't have been conscious, but he was. But there have been other positive healing signs such as being able to get out of bed, shower, and get in and out of chairs alone. Praise God.

While with my dad, I missed the first week of my seminary classes and so I have had much too much reading to do, 120+ pages/day. I am finally caught up...but next week is midterms! Ack. But I am loving my Old Testament class on the Prophets and the Psalms. In particular I was struck this morning as my professor spoke from Habakkuk and how what it means to be the people of "Israel" is to "wrestle" with God when questions, fears, doubts arise. Habakkuk lived during a time where the Israelites very notion of God was rocked to its foundation and they were left floundering. But he wrestled and came out trusting in a clearer vision of God than ever before.

I'm also taking Systematic Theology. I was very challenged to recently write a paper regarding my own theological method -- I wasn't aware that I had one until I wrote a paper about it! And, lastly I am taking a Church History class...which at first I thought I would not like since I have little interest in American history or philosophy. But, as it turns out it is quite fascinating and I understand more and more the debates that continue to happen on a national level about the meaning of freedom, the foundations of the country, and church and state. Now...if I can just remember all that stuff until next week. :)

Thanks for all your prayers and help over the past few weeks. I'm also happy to report that our staff team participated in an evangelistic outreach at Clarion University where over 70 students responded over the week to the gospel! God be praised. And very beautifully, the conversations had were across academic disciplines, religions, and race.

We have also hired a new staff onto our team: Amy Costello from MI. More about her later.

My Dad, take 2

(Christmas at the Ordway in Minneapolis with my family
left to right: dad, mom, Chad (brother), Jodi, Ashley, Adam, me -- back row;
Adam, Alexis -- front row)

For those of you checking this blog somewhat regularly, or who know me and my family personally, let me give you the mass update.

I head home tomorrow (Monday) to be with my dad during his second heart bypass surgery in three months. In the meantime, he has also had an additional surgery on his leg. The first bypass didn't "take" and so they need to go in again. He really needs this surgery that is scheduled for Wednesday morning.

Please keep him in your thoughts and prayers as well as our whole family as we are together this week.

New Favorite Hymn

I had a wonderful time at a retreat center that my spiritual director introduced me to. It is called Spring Meadows and is in Harmony, PA, just north of Pittsburgh. There are two bedrooms in a long house with wall-sized windows facing the woods. At the bottom of the woods is a decent sized pond and row boat, paths to walk, and a brook running through the property. In addition to the delicious homemade food made by Rosa Lee and eaten family-style with her husband Grant, she also does spiritual direction. A one-stop, retreat/B&B/spiritual/nature center. A wonderful time with God and spiritual friends. I discovered some hymn words that have come to mean a lot recently. It is sung to the tune of Findlandia, which is the "We rest on Thee" or "Cedar Grace" tune. I share it here for you:

Be Still, My Soul
(to the tune of Finlandia)

Be still, my soul: the Lord is on thy side;
Bear patiently the cross of grief or pain;
Leave to thy God to order and provide;
In every change He faithful will remain.
Be still, my soul: thy best, thy heavenly Friend
Thro thorny ways leads to a joyful end.


Be still, my soul: thy God doth undertake
To guide the future as He has the past.
Thy hope, thy confidence let nothing shake;
All now mysterious shall be bright at last.
Be still, my soul: the waves and winds still know
His voice who ruled them while He dwelt below.

Be still, my soul: the hour is hastening on
When we shall be for ever with the Lord,
When disappointment, grief, and fear are gone,
Sorrow forgot, love's purest joys restored.
Be still, my soul: when change and tears are past,
All safe and blessed we shall meet at last.

Amen.

When does the "New" Begin?

Can it be only three days back in town and I am already bored? I'm not really bored -- life is far too confusing for that to ever happen, but I am tired of the projects which I find myself doing.

I've been scrapbooking some old memories...boxes of them. At times this has been hilarious, and I only have 1989-91 left to go...but now I am finding it tedious.

I just finished reading all the old magazines laying around my house while I was on the plane from Austin. I cleaned out my craft closet and finished up a bunch of 1/2 done projects. And, I finished a bunch of books that were on my shelf. I'm happy these things are done and not taking up space, but my life is not significantly improved or changed by these accomplishments. One thing I've learned by going through these memories, is that I feel like I am scrapbooking someone else's accomplishments. I am simply not this person anymore.

I've been thinking about sabbatical as getting "caught up" and being "refreshed". I'm just wondering how long getting mythically "caught up" will take? I would have thought 2 months would do it...

So, that's it. After this weekend...no more "catching up". Staring next week, I am going to throw away the old things that are not finished, so that I can turn my focus to new things -- like school, using my new heart rate monitor, learning Arabic, reading new books, taking a modern dance class, and learning how to paint. Just typing those things brings a smile to my face.

I have discovered a lot of things about myself through learning new things and taking them into my life -- like ministry, biking, skiing, and water coloring. Maybe in another 20 years my life now will be unrecognizable because I will continually be learning new things and discovering more of who I am.

So, Onward and Upward!