Christian Focus Week

I have never fully understood why we have a week devoted to "focusing on Christianity" on a Christian campus until today. Every year at Ouachita, we have a week devoted to Christian focus. What the week consists of are worship services in the mornings, speakers, worship bands, breakout sessions, Q&A, etc. Well, I have always loved this week because it is a nice way to center my days around Jesus. But as each CFW (Christian Focus Week) comes along, I always wonder why, at a Baptist campus, do we need to focus on Christ this one week. Shouldn't we be doing that every week? Everyday?
Today, it was made clear to me that, while we do center daily Ouachita life around Christ, CFW serves as a revival of sorts. It is for a new perspective, a breather, a re-focusing if you will. It's a beautiful thing. This year, we have with us Brian Loritts as a speaker and Lindsay McCaul leading worship. They are amazing! 
We read tonight in the Bible study, which we hold weekly with my friends, about Paul being overwhelmingly encouraged by the Thessalonians' faith and all that they were doing.  How cool is it that Paul was refreshed and refueled simply by hearing what other Christians were doing in their faith?? It was as if Paul were sharing in the Thessalonians' work and sharing of the Gospel. He was moved by hearing of their actions. Why are we not more like that?  
This verse came to life to me as I was encouraged by the testamony, singing, and sharing of Lindsay McCaul's heart tonight. I wanted to share in her ministry, and know her more. It was a wonderful reminder of why CFW is so important and good for us Ouachitonians. We tend to live in a bubble here and get in a rut. Whether or not that's good is not really for me to say. I see both sides. However, this week is so that we can hear new perspectives on the same thing that we know and hear often.  It is to refuel us so that we can know the bigger, eternal, Kingdom picture.
I am so overwhelmingly blessed to be part of such a special place where not only is our education valued, but our spiritual health is cherished and encouraged.  It is put at top priority. It is strengthened, at a time that is so critical to the development of people, Jesus is constantly placed at the center and we are encouraged to "grow up in our salvation." 


A few highlights from sermons the past few days:
Monday, Brian Loritts:  Compassion: Seeing a need, feeling for that need, doing something about that need. We cannot be compassionate people if we do not expose ourselves to the suffering of this world! 
Tuesday, Brian Loritts:  1 Corinthians 9.24-27. Finish Well. "The Bible doesn't say that God will say at the end of your life, 'Well Start, my servant.' He says, 'Well Done.'" God is not finished with you yet! Despite bad starts or bad middles, God is still working in you so that you may finish well. Run the race: Give it your all. Be people marked by excellence, endurance, and integrity.
"There is a misnomer about Salvation that it's cheap. No. It's free. But it cost someone something so that it could be free for you. but it was not cheap. God is saying to us, "Because I've paid, you stay in this race. Don't come talking to me halfway through. Quit is not in the Christian's dictionary." 
Those who finish the race are those who push through the pain. It's not a sprint, but a marathon. There will be pain and suffering (i.e. Job, the teachings of Jesus). Take up your cross: identifying with Jesus and sharing in His death.

Tonight: Charlie Hall Band came in concert with Lindsay McCaul opening for him. It was such a great night!!
Here are my pictures for the week and a little video to let you semi-experience what my night looked like. [they're taken from my phone, so they may be a bit rough..]