I recently read a chapter in the book, 30 Days to Spiritual Breakthrough, edited by Bruce Wilkinson. Chuck Swindoll wrote a chapter in which he described three chairs, the Third chair was described as the one in which a person sits who has no knowledge of God. The second is the chair someone sits in when he/she knows about Christ and all about the Christian religion, but has no personal relationship, no knowledge of God in the heart.
At different times I have been challenged to move from one chair to another. I moved from the third chair to the second my senior year in high school. After that I was challenged to grow through friends and through encouragement in youth ministry, however, it was my time involved with the Wesley Foundation in Lubbock at Texas Tech that I was challenged to live a life as Christ's Disciple and take knowledge to a whole new level in living and truly knowing God...to rest in God's presence and live my life motivated by Jesus Christ. I moved from the second chair to the FIRST chair during my time as a student and intern at the Wesley Foundation. I am so thankful for the 'great cloud of witnesses' (Hebrews 12:1) by whom I was surrounded! Fellow staff, students and interns like Stan, Steve, Rusty, Dave, Maria, Rachel, Rick, Steve, Shannon, Caroline, Evie, Peter, Sean, etc... the list could go on for a very long time. I can honestly say that the dedication to Christ, Scripture, and the community of believers that the Wesley Foundation holds dear is the reason I am dedicated to Christ and focused on being solely concerned about His direction for my life rather than my own.
In 2007 when I tragically lost my sister before I moved back to Lubbock it was students from the Wesley Foundation and brothers and sisters in Christ from my Wesley Foundation past who ran to aid my mother and father and spend time with my nephews. Although I lived thousands of miles away those who were so close geographically, yet, didn't necessarily know me personally came to my family's aid. Sounds a bit like the early Church I read about in the book of Acts. It is a dedication to the vision Jesus painted in this book that is the success of The TTU Wesley. God blesses obedience:
But Samuel replied,
“What is more pleasing to the LORD:
your burnt offerings and sacrifices
or your obedience to his voice?
Listen! Obedience is better than sacrifice,
and submission is better than offering the fat of rams. (1 Samuel 15:22 NLT)
Being a part of The Wesley is intense training for living the "First Chair Life." It is a whole lot of fun, and incredibly R-E-A-L. It is a time of learning to live an integrated life of pursuing holiness, full dedication to God in the midst of the God and a community that loves you. Yep, that's what I took away...and so have thousands of others!
Blurb: On that note...The TTUWF is having three mini-reunions: Frisco (DFW area), Amarillo, and Lubbock Tech vs. Texas Football game watch parties!!! There will be tons o' food, entertainment, and activities for alum's children. The get togethers will start sometime before the game starts on November 5th, 2011. There will be a half-time presentation by The TTUWF, door prizes, and lots of good cheer while we beat up on the Longhorns! Contact Penny at 806-742-8749 for more info. Locations will be Frisco United Methodist Church in DFW, St. Stephen UMC in Amarillo, and The Wesley Foundation in Lubbock.....C'MON!!!
