9 Books To Read This Summer

Author Info: Josh is passionate about studying the Bible and having deep conversations with college students at American University and Georgetown University. In his spare time, he can be found with a book, a video game, or outdoors in a hammock, normally fueled by caffeine. You can connect with him via our AU Chi Alpha Staff Page. 

Growing up in south Georgia, the summer months were sweltering. However, almost on a weekly basis, there would be great thunderstorms that rolled through the area. When this happened, I would get out of the swimming pool, go inside and wait it out with a good book. Summer reading was never a problem for me, and I still find myself yearning for those times of listening to the rain and jumping into a literary adventure. 

This summer, I am reading through a few books for personal enjoyment and spiritual/leadership development. Here’s a few of the books that I would recommend adding to your reading list if you wanted to join in! 

1) “The Caped Crusade: Batman and the Rise of Nerd Culture” - Glen Weldon

In this book, Glen Weldon examines the cultural history of the Dark Knight, and why so many people in culture today identify with the Batman movement, and what it has to say about us. Totally worth your time, whether you are a comic book fan or not! 

2) “Mission at Nuremberg: An American Army Chaplain and the Trial of the Nazis” - Tim Townsend

This book tells the historical account of Henry Gerecke, an Army Chaplain who was assigned to minister to the twenty-one imprisoned Nazi leaders awaiting trial for crimes against humanity. If you are a history buff, this is definitely a must-read! 

3) “Blue Like Jazz: Nonreligious Thoughts on Christian Spirituality” - Donald Miller

Donald Miller recounts his spiritual journey in this series of essays, offering a thought-provoking critique of the Christian institution, and arguing for an emotional experience with God. 

4) “Leaders Who Last” - Dave Kraft

In this book, Dave Kraft talks about healthy leadership in three main areas: Foundations, Formations, and Fruitfulness. This is a beneficial read for anyone in leadership, or even anyone who has a position of influence. 

5) “College Ministry in a Post-Christian Culture” - Stephen Lutz

The university is one of the most strategic ministry fields in the world. This book is for those who are working or planning on working on a college campus, and Stephen Lutz addresses the challenges that campus ministers face in a post-Christian culture. 

6) “Steve Jobs” - Walter Isaacson

In this biography of the late Apple co-founder and CEO, Isaacson writes about the life of one of the greatest leaders of this decade. Many lessons on innovation, leadership, and character can be learned from the life of this visionary leader. 

7) “The Lost World of Adam and Eve: Genesis 2-3 and the Human Origins Debate” - John Walton

John Walton explores the human origin story in Genesis 2-3, endeavoring to discuss these events in light of the cultural and textual world of the ancient Near East. A thought provoking read as Walton explores the dichotomy of Christian theology and competing scientific claims. 

8) Emotionally Healthy Spirituality - Peter Scazzero

It is impossible to be spiritually mature if one is emotionally immature.  Scazzerro writes on his story and this integration of emotional health and Christian spirituality, and then offers seven biblical ways to break out of emotional distress and into the realm of emotionally healthy spirituality. 

9) “Jesus of Arabia: Understanding the Teachings of Christ through the Culture of the Arabian Gulf” - Andrew Thompson

“Jesus of Arabia” looks at the similarities and differences of Christianity and Islam from the context understood by a Middle Eastern audience. What did Jesus actually say? Andrew Thompson, chaplain at Abu Dhabi’s Anglican church, expounds upon the teachings of Jesus and their impact on the Middle East then, and now.

Published on July 5, 2016 • Short Link: http://bit.ly/29hUfqM

Water Your Own Garden

GUEST POST From time to time, we have special guests whose voices we totally love sharing with you. This is a post from Seth Collins, he is a bearded man with a heart of gold who currently serves on staff at Yale Chi Alpha. HIs wonderful wife Brooke, used to live in DC and work with Chi Alpha, so even as we root her on, we miss her deeply! You can follow him on Twitter and Medium. 

 

Water your own garden. And don’t preoccupy yourself with everyone else.

The trap of comparison makes it too easy for us to fall.

Have you ever compared your skills at public speaking to the likes of Steve Jobs? Simon Sinek?

Have you ever compared your guitar playing to that of Prince (God rest his soul)?

What about comparing your marriage to the neighbors across the street?

Face it, we’ve all been there. We’ve all thought, “If I just had Kenny’s job position, THEN I could really provide for my family,” “If I could play guitar like John Mayer, THEN I could really be noticed by recording studios.” etc. etc.

Can I offer a suggestion? Have you ever looked at what YOU have: your position in your company? Your family at home and your role in the family? If not, take a good hard look because where you are and what you have around you can be built up into something amazing and wonderful…

…only if you have the patience, the fortitude, and the dream to see it happen.

Love your spouse with all that is in you. Go on dates. Do the things that made them fall in love with you once again. Verbally tell them how much you care for them and how appreciative you are of them.

When you clock in for work, be all there. Give 100% to your job, your boss, your co-workers. Be a person that affects positive change rather than one who speaks negativity.

And (for sake of title), what can you plant in your own front yard? Sure, the Thompsons may have an immaculate yard, but that doesn’t mean your yard has to suck. Plant some rose bushes. Put a tree down. Tend your own garden instead of complaining about what others are doing.

Because, at the end of the day, you don’t have jurisdiction how another person prospers, but you do have say-so over what happens in your own life.

Carpe diem, folks. Carpe diem.

Originally published on Medium on May 13, 2016. Republished here (with permission) on July 1, 2016. 

Short Link: http://bit.ly/297v3TT 

City Heart — What Does It Mean?

Author Info: A Buffalo native, Natalie Hill is best known for her unique vocals and indie style. Yet it's her heart for seeing students lives transformed by the power and love of Jesus that makes her a quality leader. She serves on the staff team at American University Chi Alpha. 

I remember sitting in American University’s Bender Arena on graduation day, listening to my favorite anthropologist and activist speaking to a room full of graduates on the very thing I spent my whole college career studying.  I remember wondering how many students were lucky enough to get to hear directly from the people they learned about, studied, and emulated so much throughout college.  I remember seeing pictures of friends during their graduation from Georgetown University with Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger photobombing in the crowd.  I remember reading books in class written by distinguished AU grads or watching them on major news networks or reading their articles in the newspaper and thinking, this city has a lot of influence.  And I got to be there.

This phrase “City Heart” has been bouncing around our Chi Alpha offices a lot this year.  Honestly it’s a term we’ve been describing for a while, but until this year hasn’t really had a name (and we all know everything sounds better when it has a name).  It’s our way of simply saying that we have a heart for this city.

Yes, I work for American University and we have staff at Georgetown and there are Chi Alphas on many different campuses all over the country, but sometimes that makes us forget why we came here in the first place.  It was to reach this city.  I remember sitting in my commencement ceremony, watching student after student cross the stage, get their diploma, and enter a world where they’d have a lasting impact, one that could affect this nation and even the whole world.  They came to Washington, DC because they knew it was a city that produces difference-makers.  It’s a city that creates people who will impact the world.  I couldn’t help but think I was looking at future CEOs, ambassadors, inventors and innovators, creators of charities that would provide resources for the underprivileged, and the next generation of leaders.

It’s easy to get caught up in the ins and outs of my campus and forget the big picture, which is to reach some of the smartest, driven students in the world and have an impact on the nations.  It’s to create an urban hub where we can train leaders and send people out to affect their families, workplaces, governments, cities, and countries.  Our dream is that DC could be a place where US missionaries come to train and are sent into other urban places that have yet to be reached.  And maybe it can be a place where we can show others that there is a need for ministries in hard places because it can have a deep impact.

I think the city, DC and others, scares people.  It’s expensive; it’s harsh; it’s exhausting.  The people are hard to reach.  They’re smart and often don’t believe in ultimate truth, especially if it’s coming from Christians.  It’s a difficult place to raise a family, and it’s a transient place, making it hard to establish community.

“City Heart” is our way of reminding ourselves that it’s worth it.  It’s our way of reminding ourselves why we’re here - why we’ve chosen to support raise for a living, why we live in studio apartments or with multiple roommates, why we live in community with other Chi Alpha staff and college students, why we spend some evenings going to Georgetown and praying for other campuses, why our lives are 24/7 surrounded by others, and why we’ve devoted our lives to colleges in Washington, DC.  It’s our reminder of why God called us here, no matter the cost, because we know the impact we can have is beyond worth it.

Reach this city.  Reach the world.  City Heart.

Published on June 29, 2016 • Short Link: http://bit.ly/292wRS0

What Chi Alpha Means To Me

Steve Prawiromaruto is a rising junior at American University. He has an infectious passion for Jesus as well as impeccable style.

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In Confucian thought, filial piety is the foundation of wisdom and proper living.

“Filial Piety” refers to the idea the youth must respect and obey the elders of society at all costs, and that any deviation of this, either through disobedience or questioning of authority would disrupt the harmony of society.

As one who was raised in an Asian country where Confucian thought and filial piety are revered and instilled in every child, I grew up in an environment that discouraged the questioning of authority and encouraged adherence to familial and religious values.

Although being raised as such helped keep me out of trouble and made me the poster boy for perfect church attendance, it came at the cost of a lack of self thought and no forum of discussion regarding questions I had about the Christian faith, why it is the truth and how I should actually apply it in my daily lives.

Thus, I was living in a perpetual state of blind faith, simply following the authority of my parents and my church without ever making the faith my own and establishing my own personal connection to the Lord Jesus Christ. 

This all changed however, when I came to the United States for college, and Chi Alpha played a huge role in my spiritual walk. It helped strengthened my faith and blessed me with a a loving but challenging faith community.

“I am amazed at the devotion every single member of Chi Alpha has for each other, as they allocate their time and resources to just sit down and talk with another in order to help each other in their spiritual walks, even when its challenging. ”

My interaction with Chi Alpha began my second semester, when a friend of mine invited me to a Chi Alpha small group. I found small group enjoyable as well as challenging, as we had deep discussions about the word of the Lord but also always took the time to see how each other is doing and get to know each other better.

I had gone to a Thursday Night Worship session previously but in the end, what drew me in was not how good the band was, how good the preacher was or the free snacks they had in the basement during Welcome Week, but instead my first small group, where I was warmly welcomed by a group of spiritual individuals who throughout the years I have grown together with, personally and spiritually.

In addition to small group meetings, one-on-one meetings between the small group leader and those in his or her small group is also an integral part of Chi Alpha as it focuses on building community and discipleship relationships.  

These one-on-one meetings were also a key part of my spiritual walk, as I was able to finally ask the questions about the Christian faith I have had my entire life, as well as strengthen my relationships with my spiritual mentor and peers.

I am amazed at the devotion every single member of Chi Alpha has for each other, as they allocate their time and resources to just sit down and talk with another in order to help each other in their spiritual walks, even when its challenging.

In my home church in Indonesia, the pastor is considered to be the authority and it is usually encouraged that the congregation merely listens to what he has to say and not question its content. Now however, who I would normally consider to be “the authority” is instead humbling his/herself to attend to the spiritual needs of his or her congregation (or in this case the small group).

In short, Chi Alpha to me is a spiritual community away from home that God has used in order to help my spiritual walk in this phase of my life.

I am continuously amazed every day as to how blessed I am and how much I grow through being a part of this community.

Our Snow Cone Machine Named Fred

Bonnie graduated from Georgetown in 2013 and is the Director for Chi Alpha. She is passionate about having fun and coming up with creative ways of doing ministry here at Georgetown. Bonnie is extremely adventurous and can often be found taking students on bike rides to other states or trying to convince them to do the Tough Mudder.

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We have this snow cone machine named Fred. Full disclosure, I just named him Fred a couple of minutes ago, but we’ve used him every year for 6 years and he definitely deserves a name. And Fred sounds like an excellent name for a snow cone machine.

Fred technically belongs to our good friends at Frager’s Hardware, but every first Wednesday of classes he becomes ours for the day (for a small cost). And we give out snow cones to the lovely Hoyas at Georgetown.

A lot of miracles can be traced back to Fred. And when I say miracles, I mean students. Because those are the miracles I see everyday. And because I’m limited in my word count here by the blog powers-at-be, I’ll just talk about one.

Six years ago this August, I was just a wee freshman coming out of my beginning Spanish class which for a brief moment was actually advanced Portuguese. Life plays cruel tricks on you sometimes.

“God has a poetic way of bringing stories full circle. And while that in itself is a manifestation of the power of God, there are so many stories in between of students who by seeming happenstance got a snow cone, and found a family to be a part of during their time in college.”

On that day, I was walking back to my freshman dorm, when the pastor from Chi Alpha asked me if I wanted a snow cone (is that really a question?).

I want to take a moment and acknowledge that by outward appearances people standing outside my dorm offering me snow cones may sound a little creepy. I assure you the first weeks of college social norms do not exist and this behavior is completely acceptable. But I digress.

I accepted that snow cone, and they happened to be having their first service of the year that night (funny how that happens) in the basement of one of the dorms. 

Fast forward six years, and this fall I’ll be the pastor giving freshmen a snow cone on their first day of classes. God has a poetic way of bringing stories full circle. And while that in itself is a manifestation of the power of God, there are so many stories in between of students who by seeming happenstance got a snow cone and found a family to be a part of during their time in college.

I tell this story, not because that snow cone was so good that I won’t stop talking about it 6 years later, but rather because God used that snow cone to further his work in the world.

And it all started with one snow cone. Talk about a pretty cheap way to change a life.