A word from Brent

I want to begin by thanking you and thanking God for having the opportunity to share in this ministry with you. This past year, God has really put campus ministry on my heart, and these past three weeks as we have gathered together to begin to form a community of believers on the NIACC campus, I have felt a well-spring of energy and excitement stirring within our emerging community. For the past three weeks, we have had on average around 14 people at each meetings with a total of over 40 people who have expressed an interest or have attended. And, what excites me the most is the sharing and the inviting that is happening to further grow our community. You are taking risks and stepping out to invite others to join us. This is certainly the movement of the Spirit of God among us. Please know that I continue to uphold each of you in my daily prayers. My prayer is that your transition to college life and all that it entails has been relatively smooth. Please also know that you can contact me if things aren't going so smoothly, if things are going great, or if you simply just want to talk. (office: 641-422-4233 / cell: 641-430-6872) I look forward to seeing you this Wednesday night.
In Christ,
Brent

In the Word

Matthew 13:24-32 NLT
Here is another story Jesus told: "The Kingdom of Heaven is like a farmer who planted good seed in his field. But that night as everyone slept, his enemy came and planted weeds among the wheat. When the crop began to grow and produce grain, the weeds also grew. The farmer's servants came and told him, 'Sir, the field where you planted that good seed is full of weeds!'
"'An enemy has done it!' the farmer exclaimed.
"'Shall we pull out the weeds?' they asked.
"He replied, 'No, you'll hurt the wheat if you do. Let both grow together until the harvest. Then I will tell the harvesters to sort out the weeds and burn them and to put the wheat in the barn.'"

When working a garden, early on it is sometimes hard to distinguish between the crop and the weeds. It is easy to become "pull happy" and to begin a zealous crusade against the weeds that invade our gardens. However, two problems emerge:

1. The differences between the weeds and the crop are sometimes indistinguishable making one not entirely sure what one is pulling.
2. The root structures of the crop are too shallow so that when you pull the weeds often times the crop will also come up in the dirt clog.

Though, with patience, as both the weeds and the crop mature the differences become more and more apparent between them. Also, the roots of the crop sink deeper into the richness of the soil and they become more firmly planted. As Christians, we are called to be different from non-believers. Our calling is to be "in the world" but not "of the world." This is our cross, our burden, because our natural inherited inclinations are not to be different. Though, this is also our greatest blessing for we know the utter joy of a transformed life in Christ. However, what we have to remember is that weed pulling is God's job, not ours. And so, making judgments, criticisms, and condemnations of others is certainly not what we are called to do. We are called to bear witness to the Good News and then to trust in the work of the Spirit. We have no idea what others may grow to be. What we need to do is mature in faith by sinking our roots deeply into Christ and by bearing good fruit!

The Gathering

This Wednesday night, we will plan on meeting upstairs in the Activity Center, beginning at 6:30 pm, for about an hour before heading over to Wesley United Methodist Church to watch a movie in the "Holywood Theater" room. Bring your own beverage. Popcorn will be provided. We will be watching either "The End of the Spear" or "Amazing Grace". We will try to start the movie around 7:45, but feel free to join us. Wesley United Methodist Church is located at 1405 South Pennslyvania Ave (the corner of South Penn and 15th St SE - across from the Mason City School Administration Building) Click here for a map.

The Planner

Fire at Brent's House, Next Week: September 24th, 6 - 8:30 pm
(Hot Dogs & Smores provided - Bring your own beverage)
Click here for a map.

OK House Hayride, October 2nd, 7pm (more details to come).

Service Project - Crop Walk, October 5th
Check out this Website!
If you are available to walk and/or raise money to help end World Hunger, please let me know.

October 17th & 18th - CMA Fall Okoboji Retreat
This will be a great time for us to come together as a group for prayer, worship, fellowship and fun!
The cost is $10 per person for lodging. We will be staying in the Guest Lodge at the Lake Okoboji United Methodist Camp & Retreat Center (more details to come).
Check out the camp's website: Lake Okoboji United Methodist Camp & Retreat Center.