God's Economy...wonderfully different from ours!
Subscribe in a readerGod's economy works differently from the New York Stock Exchange...right now I'm glad for that. This week I've had the interesting perspective to sit and see two different economies fluctuate drastically at the same time. As the world markets tank, and all of our investment accounts shed whatever earnings the year had produced, I've seen God flood our school with finances. It's been a weird week...and I'm trying not to miss what God is trying to teach me through it.
To the markets first. I came to work yesterday and opened up my web browser to see that the dow had taken a 300 pt drop in the first hour of trading. Having invested a little in commodities last spring I checked my portfolio...of course, with precious metals down 18% right now from last week my account looks pretty ugly...and so my heart creept closer to "FREAK OUT" territory. Uncertainty flooded in...doubt, fear, panic...
Then, the Holy Spirit started to speak, and at least right now Im listening. This morning God started reminding me of the week we've had financially as a school, and how He has mysteriously moved resources around to accomplish his purposes. Here's a run down. Early in the week I saw someone give half of their retirement account, $4000, to two of our students. Half! Three days ago another $3500 was given to a staff member, from someone who put themselves in a vulnerable place financially to do it. Just today one of our students received another $2500, enough to pay their tuition for the rest of the year.
What I've seen this week is a wake-up call, and a reminder that we serve a mysterious God, who doesn't work the same way the DJIA works, and who has a way of providing for his kids that doesn't have a thing to do with the stock market, our plans, our fears, or what the number in my investment account happens to look like right now.
Seeing such radical giving seems like insanity to me...or at least the part of me that is tempted to live like there is no God. But right now at least, in this moment of clarifying faith, I am seeing what Paul meant when he said "God's foolishness is wiser than human wisdom, and God's weakness is stronger than human strength." (1 Cor 1:25). And with that, It makes sense to me why, in a week where so many are fearful, there are those who can give, give freely, and beyond their means....that can only come from a heart that trusts that God meant what he said when he promised that his kids were more important to Him than a bird, and that He's in control of our finances, not Ben Bernanke (Luke 12:24).
"All day long the wicked covet, but the righteous give and do not hold back."
(Proverbs 21:26)
Architecture "Jesus Style"
 |
| Bridgett Hedrick, ESBS class of 2007 |
Subscribe in a readerInside joke. When Bridgett Hedrick was on staff with the summer program at Lurecrest her name all ran together on her name-tag and looked like "bridge.the.drick" instead of "bridgett hedrick."
Anyway.
In 2006-7 Bridgett was a part of the first class of ESBS students at Lurecrest. Yesterday she showed up on the campground for the afternoon....Initially I was worried that she was coming to ask for her money back...:)
We had a great time catching up. I wanted to share her journey since leaving the ESBS, because it illustrates why we're doing what we're doing...giving real people, normal people, everyday people, the opportunity to know God through his word, knowing that they'll go out and live changed lives afterwards, no matter where they end up.
Bridgett came to the ESBS after graduating with a degree in architecture from UNCG. It was a real step of faith for her to enroll here, and put off entering the working world and using the degree she'd just worked so hard to finish. It was cool to see God provide an amazing job for her at an architectural firm in DC while she was a student here. The job began almost immediately after she graduated from the ESBS. Yeah God.
She worked there in DC for two years before enrolling in a 4 year masters of architecture program at the Univ. of Cincinatti, Ohio. She's now in her third year of the masters program. Now is the time where she and her colleagues match up with architecture firms for internships that usually turn into full-time jobs after graduation. Bridgett's decided to forgo a paid internship and join a start up firm geared towards providing low cost architectural design for ministries and missions.
100 Fold Studio
I love her story. And Im glad that the ESBS has been a small part of it. She's finding a way to express a faithful life in an every day calling. It's architecture "Jesus style." Architecture for the least, the lowest, the passed over, the sick, leper and lame...given away as free as it came to us. Her life is a part of the answer to the prayer Jesus' disciples have been praying since the beginning. "Your kingdom come Lord, on earth as it is in heaven."
Photos from 2012
The ESBS class of 2012 is off to a great start. Check out some of the pictures students have taken so far.
NEW ESBS STUFF ONLINE...
 |
| Class of 2012 |
Subscribe in a readerYeah, so, what can I say...it's time for the director to get some respect around here...so I've decided to wear a suit every day from now on......kidding...
We took this picture last week in Chimney rock as we were all out getting ice-cream. And I love ice-cream...so I dressed up for it.
STUFF TO CHECK OUT:
1) new "class of 2012" picture album on the ESBS website (photo album)
2) 2011-12 lecture schedule online....carve out some time to sit in on a lecture and experience the ESBS firsthand! (lecture calendar)
3) Come sit in on an evening lecture on "greek culture" on MONDAY AUG 29 at 7 pm. Learn how radical it would have been to trust Jesus in the midst of a very spiritually confused first century culture.
class of 2012
 |
| L to R...Amber, Rich, Chance, Rylan, Abby, Bryson, Grace (scott's daughter), Sean, Heather, Tom, Mary Austin, Julia, Ellen, Josh, Caleb, Todd, Scott, Jon, Roz, Evan |
Subscribe in a readerMeet the class of 2012. All-stars...every single one of them. This is going to be a fabulous year. 13 students, 5 staff, 27 people living and working in community at Lurecrest all winter long...love it...so cool to see this dream of God taking shape and flourishing. This is a picture from our first day of class. Stay tuned for podcasts from this year's lecture series...hitting our website soon!
tom