Undercover

If indeed we suffer with Him, that we may also be glorified together. For I consider that the sufferings of the present time are not worth to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us.

-Romans 8:17b, 18

Greetings and God Bless,

Men and women: I would like to let you know, that no matter what you are doing this Halloween night, Christ loves you. I think that far too many times, we don't let each other know how much we truly love one another. I challenge you, whether it's tonight or any other night, let someone know how much you love them. 

Christ's love is undefinable. Christ loves with no conditions. We love saying "I will love you, but if you do this...or if you thought this way about this...if you have ever done this...well, then I don't know if I could love you." Christ says, "I have loved you with an ever lasting love (Jer 31:3)... But the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Do not fear... (Matt 10:30, 31a) Greater love has no one than this, than to lay down one's life for his friends (John 15:13)." 

Christ knows every single thing you have ever thought, He has seen every single thing that you have ever done, and Christ will love you forever, no matter what. Under all circumstances, all appearances, all predicaments.

About an hour ago, I was out trying to find my friend here on campus. I didn't end up finding him, but instead, I found my Best Friend. Everyone got dressed up for tonight's celebrations, which at first made me cringe. However, I realized that everyone gets dressed up, puts on a mask, or paints over his or her face when they feel they need to cover a part of their life, in order to be adored. We get so lost in finding love, that we become foolish. Whether it's dressing up for Halloween, hiding behind our knowledge, or hiding behind our attitudes, we hide because we're afraid. What if just one person reached out, and showed their love for you? Would you stop hiding, and realize that no matter what, Goodness exists? Not only that It exists, but that It wants to love you just as much as you want to love It?

Above all, keep loving one another earnestly, 

since love covers a multitude of sins.

-1 Peter 4:8

The Person who sees your every action, your every thought, and knows when you're trying to lie to Him, is He who loves you the most. He tries to talk to you, romance you, embrace you, and inform you everyday. Why refrain from a love so Pure?

We need to remind our brothers and sisters of His perfect love. How? By loving everyone as Christ has loved us. Though our bodies and our minds may fail in understanding and celebrating His true grace, God is the strength of our hearts and our portions forever. (paraphrase of Psalm 73:26) 

Since you have purified your souls in obeying the truth through the Spirit in sincere love of the brethren, love one another fervently with a pure heart, having been born again, not of corruptible seed but incorruptible, through the word of God which lives and abides forever,

-1 Peter 1:22, 23

Candlelight

I thank my God always concerning you for the grace of God which was given to you by Christ Jesus, that you were enriched in everything by Him in all utterance and all knowledge.

 -1 Cor 1:4,5

Greetings and God Bless,

My name is Ai Valley and I am a missionary at Siena College (NY). This blog is being established to bring Christians together from campuses around the world. May we come together to worship the Lord, to love Him with our fully, sweetly surrendered hearts. 

Siena College is a small liberal arts college, that is rooted in the Franciscan tradition (for more information, search Francis of Assisi). Even though Siena may be more popular for its current success in athletics (basketball more specifically), there is so much more going with these Siena Saints! 

Most recently, the TOMS shoes Club at Siena College is being developed. TOMS is a company that combats a disease called podo(coniosis), which is a disease that can be obtained by people who walk barefoot amongst soils that have a high percentage of silica particles (volcanic soils). With the increase of absorption of silica into the pores, their lymphatics fibrose, and swelling occurs. Shoes alone can prevent such a disease. That's where TOMS steps in. For every pair of shoes (or clothing item) that you buy, TOMS donates a free pair of shoes to those who are susceptible to podo. Find out more information at www.TOMSshoes.com.

Along with TOMS, Siena College's non-denominational Bible Study (now deemed Real Life Fellowship) has grown immensely. Christ is doing so much through all of His people on campus! It has been so amazing to see all that He can truly do, just on one college campus out of thousands in the US! We are currently reading through the book of Ephesians. Other literature that is being read by Siena RLF students include "Crazy Love," by Francis Chan, "when God writes your love story," by Leslie and Eric Ludy, "The Unlikely Disciple," by Kevin Roose, "Irresistible Revolution," by Shane Claiborne, and "In the Eye of the Storm," by Max Lucado. Other Christian media involvement brings us to the title of today's blog, "Candlelight." Christian band, Relient K, has recently released a CD entitled, Forget and Not Slow Down, where one can find the new hit song "Candlelight." Said CD has been a hot topic this week amongst the Christians on campus. Comments such as "Where did Jesus go?" and "I pray that God uses Matt [lead singer] through all that he has experienced recently [referring to his break up] in his future work." Overall, the new sound of Relient K is seemingly controversial, and is responsible for a decent amount of discussion at Siena. Also, due to our new memberships with www.tangle.com, we have found the new artist, Jason Waller. I encourage you to explore his work if you are a fan of Shane & Shane or Shawn McDonald. The faith that both him and his wife share has been a blessing to us at Siena!

Other developments within RLF is our commitment to Christ during this Halloween holiday "season" (it is now deemed a season amongst students, for it lasts for almost a week at most nearby colleges). Most members have been eagerly awaiting "Harvest Fusion," a Christian celebration that will be held during the evening hours of Halloween, where Christian bands, skits, and prayer sessions will be offered for Christian students to enjoy October 31st. This provides opportunities to celebrate Christ, rather than to succumb to the pressure and temptation of what the majority of college students are involving themselves in/with! Christ has truly blessed us with such an opportunity! 

My prayers go out to students at Wheaton College, Loudonville Christian School, College of Charleston, Albany College of Pharmacy, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, SUNY Buffalo, and Bluefield Bible College, who we are in connection with! The Wheaton men's baseball team has been heavily involved in several missions, including a homeless mission and Blood:Water mission. LCS students are worshipping Christ with their whole hearts during their chapel services, bringing modesty into their lives, and keeping "back pack" Christianity (faith which you bring with you to school, but leave there while at home) out. God Bless all of the students that have given their lives to Christ. Thank you for being a living sacrifice, and a set-apart adult!

Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God's mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God—this is your spiritual act of worship.

 -Romans 12:1