The Navigator Calling

(To the right is our welcome week event "Nav Olymplics". This is just 1 or the 10 teams competing in the crazy fun activities. This is just one way that our leaders have opportunities to Live among the lost)

We work for the Navigators because of how the calling has been ingrained in our hearts. Even if we weren't on staff, we strongly believe that this would be our life calling. With or without the Navigators we would be following their calling of:

"To advance the Gospel of Jesus Christ and His Kingdom into the nations through spiritual generations of laborers, living and disciplining among the lost."

More specifically the part that we are most passionate about is living and discipling among the lost. As we are getting older and the freshman are younger (yes they are born now in 1991), we

are starting to find it harder to just meet students on campus. Despite the obstacles we are noticing with age, this year has been especially fruitful in finding the lost. Lindsey has been taking early morning workout classes at the campus recreation center. From that she is grabbing breakfast with women she is meeting who may or may not know who Christ is. Our prayer and hope is that these women can produce a situation similar to what Rich is experiencing with Liston. More specifically, Rich continues to pour his life out to his colleague Liston and they are starting to read the Bible at lunch. Besides that, God has been providing continual conversations with our student neighbors and scenarios that challenge the generosity of their "friends" compared to what they experience around us and the men upstairs. With these scenarios, God bring us great joy and connection to the Him. The risks we take, the time invested to make the relationship comfortable to talk about God, to opening the Bible together for the first time. This is the excitement we want to share with you as you read this and the praises we have for these opportunities. Thanks for your devotion, love, prayers, and continual support to allow us the time to build these genuine relationships that are nurtured in Christ to share the Gospel to future generations. For both the mission and support, we are truly grateful.

A Change at UC.

At the beginning of 2010 an unexpected and respectable twist took place; The Sommers, a couple on our staff team, were led to take a Sabbatical from campus ministry (recommended every 7 years and they had done 10 years). This meant that us and our campus director Evan Griffin and his wife Kim were left to persevere and help the year finish smoothly. With help from our Navigator Alumni and friends we finished the year strong. As the year wrapped we could not anticipate the news we were about to receive. The following year we expected that we would receive our recent graduate Reggie Philopot on our staff team as an EDGE Corps. Another graduate Katy Dietz was going on EDGE Corps as well but rather then staying at UC she was heading an hour north to the University of Dayton. What us nor the University of Dayton did not expect was that the University of Dayton would crack down on evangelic ministries on their Catholic based campus. Sadly the campus director there, Paul Isaacs, had to let go of Katy Dietz and another EDGE Corp couple consisting of Julie and Billy Otten. Within a day our campus ministry found itself not with just the Chamlis and Griffin combo, but with Reggie, Katy, the Ottens, and the return of the Sommers from Sabbatical. In our years here we have never been blessed with such an amazing team of God-centered people.

Please join us in praise for our new staff team and continue with us as we pray for:

1. Our EDGER’s Funding situation (They have to be at 75% to start on campus)
2. With more staff means more funding, so please be with us we try to fill in the necessary gaps to keep our ministry going.
3. Staff cohesion as we embark changes in staff and ministry
4. A smooth transition for the Otten’s as the move into Cincinnati and become familiar with our ministry at the University of Cincinnati
5. For Paul and April Isaacs as they spread the Gospel at the University of Dayton despite the obstacles that have been enforced on them
   
   

A Man After God's Own Heart.

David was "A Man After God's Own Heart". I find it interesting that right after his announcement as King, David decides to move the Ark of the Lord to a more permanent, extravagant, and protected place. He reasons to Nathan, a prophet, that he, a King, is here in cedar housing while the ark of the God of the universe is under a tent. This he thought should change since King's possessions should be treated better. Once David thought this, he was determined. Thankfully, Nathan heard that Word of the Lord and told David what God said. To sum it all up, God reminded David of who he was and is, a man after God's heart. That is why he has been chosen to lead the nation of Israel. He has always shown faith over fear and took the time to connect with God before major decisions were made. Then God also talked about how with the job and title that David has, man gives him nice things and ways to protect him (hence a cedar home). God reminds David of how the Ark has been protected and always will be by a tent.

I enjoyed this story. The love and connection between us and God. He loves us and sees in us things that we could never see. To top it all off as well, we think we are wise in the ways that we can serve God, but in all actuality simplicity is what He desires. What is simplicity? I have been reminded of this lately. I (Lindsey that is) have been thinking about going back to school to get certified to teach. Although there are hundreds of reasons not to, I know that God is growing me to trust Him and listen to the desires of my heart. One of the things that I continually plagues me is fear and worries. What about paying for school, passing the GRE, or better yet getting a job when it is all said and done? God then sets my heart at peace with the simple phrase, "Do you trust me?". How can you say no to that? Then that's when truth sets in. God says something like "Worrying is arrogant because you think you know what is going to happen, but you don't, only I know what happens in time." Thanks for knocking my socks off God. It is simple measures like this in a continuum of time that makes our hearts like David. Choices and discernment with the Lord shows us that we must choose faith over fear, by going up against our Goliath's we can go from a simple Shepard boy to a Wise King. Things may not come natural to me, but He is the Lord and I rather be faithful to His calling then be comfortable in the sludge of this world.

What are you asking for?

As I (Lindsey) have been continuing in my reading in 1 Samuel, I landed in 1 Samuel 8. Samuel finally gets to step up and make a decision for his people. The Israelites wanted a King to rule over them just like the other nations surrounding them. Besides being like the other nations, their main argument was that "You are old, and your sons do not walk in your ways; now appoint a king to lead us such as the other nations (1 Sam. 8:5)". At this point most people would be convinced or shameful that they would give into the argument, but Samuel being righteous and of noble character retreated to the Lord for guidance. There the Lord reminded Samuel of all the ways that Israel has refused, rejected and walked away from God being their main Ruler and King. For Israel it was easier to follow an idol or King that they can see and hear. That is why when Samuel went back to Israel and said that they cannot have a king and continued talking about the power that God has in their life, the things He can give and take away, they wouldn't listen because they wanted a king like the other nations. Again Samuel retreats and asks for guidance from the Lord. This is where it gets interesting, the Lord says to Samuel "Listen to them and give them a king."

I find it interesting that God tried to speak to His chosen people and reminded them of His power and strength. In their ignorance, they decided to have another king rule over them, making the choice to walk away from Him again. I always find myself like the Israel making conscious choices to ignore God's calling to righteousness. I find myself thinking that I am more wise then Him and have falsely believed that I deserve or have earned something. By God's grace, it is never too long that He reminds me of where I am and where He is. Where our relationship was and where it is now, because of the choices I have made! Its hard to swallow knowing that I have turned my back on Him, but also that He never gives up on being my Father, my daddy, my King.

Since last writing, the Lord has led us away from buying the house and into patience for a future home. As great as the story was, we are thankful that God was faithful in helping us test and approve what His will was for us. Thanks for joining us in prayer as we processed what our move or not move was going to be.

One of my (Lindsey) favorite things about spring is New Leader Training (NLT). Although it exhausts us and occupies a lot of our energy until the end of the school year, I love watching the eager men and women process how to center their life around Christ and how to carry that out to the men and women that in their classes. This year we have 37 men and women going through NLT. On top of the normal 8 week sessions on Wednesday, we opened our schedules for a 3 week intense sessions on Sunday afternoons for the men and women who will be on Co-op next quarter. As it is joyous the celebrate the lives that can/will be transformed, I can't hold in the excitement that I am experiencing about the 22 women that are going through it. I pray a lot about the women's ministry and for women of strong faith to come and lead a life for Him. They are here! Their stories for signing up are from I want to know how to share my faith without scaring people away, to I want to know scripture and memorize it, to I have a gift to lead and want to lead others. I cannot help but dream drams for what next fall is going to look like for these women. Their faith is showing where they can be.

On a lighter note, Lily and Moerlein are having fun in the loads of snow we have had. They really have become the best of friends and sisters.

Later days

lindsey and rich

Evicted Opportunity

About a week ago our cliftonite neighbors were evicted. It took two years for us to befriend them enough to say hi as we passed by and all of a sudden the landlord kicked them out. Almost instantly there was a for sale sign in the window. Lindsey saw the sign and the owner as she walked the dogs and told me to go talk to him. Begrudgingly I did. The guy who owns it turns out to be a home church pastor at NKU and got his start through some Navigators sharing their discipleship vision with him. Needless to say we hit it off right away. He showed me the house, told me stories of how he bought the home and lived there for 12 years. The house has good bones, but needs a cosmetic makeover. He said the house would go for $120k, but he'd give it to me for $80k!

The house has a great set up and would allow Lindsey and I to continue to minister in Cincinnati for another five years. It has a garage, off street parking, large kitchen, extra bedroom and even a fenced in yard for the dogs. We weren't actively searching for a home, but it seems God might be moving in our hearts to purchase this one. I called a loan officer about it and she informed that it's pretty much impossible for us to buy a house right now because we can't count a lot of the income we have coming in (we need two years worth of tax statements to count construction income and rental income). I am encouraged by her saying it is impossible because of what Mary exclaimed in Luke 1:37, "All things are possible with God." If this home is going to happen then it is going to be God getting it done.

If you would please pray for this whole thing, that would be sweet. On a practical level right now we are getting our current home appraised to see if we can't get a home equity loan. We'll see what happens!

We will keep you updated!

so much to think about.

"Yet she (Hannah) did not cling to her blessings anymore than she clung to her woes." (About in Hannah in 1 Samuel 1)

In the days proceeding today, there has been a lot of uncertainty. Things to be woeful about (to have grief and heartache) and things to praise God about for the blessings He has given us. It is hard to think that we should not cling to either one. Hannah in her life and marriage to Elkanah was great. He treated her with double the offerings for sacrifice, would tune into her weeping and downheartedness, and helped her through the time when she grieved because the "Lord closed her womb". Even with such great things to praise God with she also weeped because of rival Peninnah. Peninnah was Elkanah's other wife who had children and was very jealous and bitter of Hannah. Year after year when Hannah would go to the Lord, Peninnah would provoke Hannah until she wept and couldn't eat. One day she went to the temple and asked the Lord to remember the servant and give her a son. She was crying soooo hard that Eli, the head priest, thought she was drunk! Eli found out what she was really after and that is for the Lord to be her center instead of the bitterness and anguish that was there. Eli understand and said "Go in peace, and may the God of Israel grant you what you have asked for." She became pregnant, worshipped God for the baby, and named it Samuel "Because I asked the Lord for him."

After Samuel was weaned she gave him to the temple for Eli to watch over. Each year she made him a special outfit. Instead of her raising him, she allowed Eli and the Lord to do so.

I just couldn't imagine holding my baby for a year or 2, something I had wept for years about and give it right back to the Lord. What a hard decision and big faith that Hannah had to make! I think about our current situation and how each blessing we get there is a woe right around the corner. Hannah teaches us that we should not cling to either state, but rather give each state to the Lord. Unity is what He desires from Hannah, from me, from us all. He wanted to hear and experience Hannah's tears of pain and joy. He wants it all! Paul writes "I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or in want. I can do everything through him who gives me strength." (Phil 4:12-13)

Today, we ponder the next steps of the Lord has for us. From potential new jobs to a house across the street. Each are scary and only the unity of Christ allows us to discern our next move. Without Him in us, I'm sure we would be missing this opportunites or clinging too tightly to these opportunities. We, like Hannah, weep because of misfortunes and celebrate because of His blessings. Please join us today and pray about our next steps with Him, the adventure He has for us. Is there something like Hannah that you are clinging to tightly to that maybe you should repent (A blessing that you are now controlling or woe that just seems too hard to let got of)?

With love

linds and rich