Christian Reformed Campus Ministry

This Week's Newsletter

April 10, 2006

Ponder these words:

"Vertigo" by U2

Unos dos tres catorce!

Lights go down, it's dark
The jungle is your head
Can't rule your heart
A feeling is so much stronger than
A thought
Your eyes are wide
And though your soul
It can't be bought
Your mind can wander

Hello hello
I'm at a place called Vertigo
It's everything I wish I didn't know
Except you give me something I can feel, feel

The night is full of holes
As bullets rip the sky
Of ink with gold
They twinkle as the
Boys play rock and roll
They know they can't dance
At least they know...

I can't stand the beats
I'm asking for the cheque
The girl with crimson nails
Has Jesus round her neck
Swinging to the music
Swinging to the music
Oh oh oh oh

Hello hello
I'm at a place called Vertigo
It's everything I wish I didn't know
But you give me something I can feel, feel

Check mated
Oh yeah
Hours of fun...

All of this, all of this can be yours
All of this, all of this can be yours

All of this, all of this can be yours
Just give me what I want and no-one gets hurt...

Hello hello
We're at a place called Vertigo
Lights go down and all I know
Is that you give me something

I can feel your love teaching me how
Your love is teaching me how, how to kneel...

Do you ever feel like you've been caught off-guard? That you've been tipped off-balance? That you're dizzy, confused, and disoriented?

Being on a public university campus can cause you to feel that way at times; with all the cultures, priorities, activities, perspectives, ways of life, and religions. You can start to wonder which end is up. You can start to feel like you need something solid to stand on, to give you a sense of place. You need something to trust.

Vertigo is a song about that state of disorientation. It's also an apt song about life on a university campus. But it's not only a song that paints a picture of the problem. It also points to the solution: the reality of the suffering and risen Christ in the midst of a disorienting and disturbing world.

That's what's found at Club Vertigo (or, we might call it, University Vertigo): "it's everything I wish I didn't know." And after a while, we just want out, "I'm asking for the cheque."

Like Good Friday, it's when we reach the bottom of life's trials that we encounter something unexpected: "The girl with crimson nails has Jesus round her neck, swinging to the music, swinging to the music." You never would have expected to find Jesus at life's most disorienting place, at the epicentre of the world's clashing cultures. But, that's where Jesus is.

Jesus walks in the very midst of the university's life. Within the disorienting matrix of campus cultures, Jesus is really present, giving "me something I can feel" and more importantly, "teaching me how / Your love is teaching me how, how to kneel."

The university years, for some, are coming to an end. For others they've barely begun. These years of studying, exploring, experimenting are years that will either push you away from the reality of the suffering and risen Christ in the midst of the world, or these university years will draw you in and teach you to perceive with growing clarity the Jesus who hangs around places we'd least expect and, in those places, to do something redemptive.

University is a vertigo experience, there's no doubting that. But what has the vertigo of this year done in your heart and mind? Have you gotten knocked off balance this year? Has the cacophony of perspectives numbed you to the truth? Or, has this year, even in the midst of the vertigo, taught you how to love better, how to kneel, how discern more clearly where Jesus is and where Jesus isn't?

Critics completely lack agreement regarding this song's opening line (1, 2, 3, 13???). But, one interpretation sounds plausible to me. The "1" stands for the first testament of the Bible (the Old Testament). The "2" stands for the 2nd book of the OT: Exodus. The "3" stands for the 3rd chapter. And the "13" stands for the 13th verse. What is Exodus 3.13? It's the question Moses asks when he encounters the burning bush and is told by God to set the people free in Egypt: "Who should I say sent me?" That's the question we all must ask: who and whose are we?

Is U2 answering that question with the song Vertigo? Maybe. How will you answer? What will you say as a student on this campus?

Have a wonderful summer!

Calendar of Upcoming Events

MONDAY, APRIL 10

"Don't Waste Your Life" small group, 3.30-4.30pm in Talbot College room 404. We'll be reading and talking about Galatians 1. This will be our final small group meeting this year.

TUESDAY, APRIL 11

FINAL DAY OF CLASSES THIS SEMESTER!
6:00PM: Undergraduate Year End BBQ

EXAM PERIOD OFFICE HOURS

I will be in UCC 256 Thursdays (all day) during exam time. Feel free to drop in! There are cookies and juice available for all!

EASTER SUNDAY, APRIL 16

Morning worship at 10am at First CRC downtown. And if you're looking for a place to celebrate the risen Christ with others, please accept an invitation to Easter Dinner with us and friends at 2pm. Please send me an RSVP email and I'll reply to you with more info and directions.

"WHERE THE RUBBER HITS THE ROAD" COLLEGE & CAREER RETREAT

Where the rubber hits the road is ultimately the spot where direction & intention collide. In the Christian faith, we often say we believe but our faith sometimes has little to do with our daily decisions and choices. That is what this weekend is about: Steering the road of life of faith where the rubber hits the road. April 28-30 at Pearce Williams Retreat Centre. The speaker will be Ace Clarke, a member of an outlaw biker gang for 17 years, transformed the night he gave his life to Christ. He is a Pastor in Hamilton at The Joshua Center, an area known for its dealers and high crime. Cost is $75. Send me an email for registration.

wrightremixed: N. T. WRIGHT GOES CLUBBING IN TORONTO

Internationally renowned biblical scholar N.T. (Tom) Wright will be clubbing in Toronto on May 9. That's right, the Bishop of Durham (affectionately dubbed in some circles, "the Bish") is going to make a rare appearance at the Revival Night Club (got to love that name) together with dj teknostep, hip-hop MC illSeer, as well as local singer-songwriters Julia Churchill and Alison Hari-Singh. In the midst of the music Brian Walsh will interview the Bish and then there'll be lots of time for question and answer with the crowd. For the full details, registration, costs, etc. check out www.empireremixed.com. But move fast, our capacity is limited to 250. Let me know if you're interested and we'll go as a group.

NIDUS FESTIVAL 2006

"Feel the current...Faith...Arts...Justice." A festival for people from all streams of Christian faith with music, arts, keynotes, worship, dialogue, drama and dance. Three days to express faith, celebrate through arts, and seek justice to stop AIDS. Kitchener, Aug. 4-6. Check out www.nidus2006.ca for further info.

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Cultivating a Christian Worldview Faculty, Staff, and Graduate Students Contact info.	Past Newsletters This Week's Newsletter April 10, 2006 Ponder these words: "Vertigo" by U2 Unos dos tres catorce! Lights go down, it's dark The jungle is your head Can't rule your heart A feeling is so much stronger than A thought Your eyes are wide And though your soul It can't be bought Your mind can wander Hello hello I'm at a place called Vertigo It's everything I wish I didn't know Except you give me something I can feel, feel The night is full of holes As bullets rip the sky Of ink with gold They twinkle as the Boys play rock and roll They know they can't dance At least they know... I can't stand the beats I'm asking for the cheque The girl with crimson nails Has Jesus round her neck Swinging to the music Swinging to the music Oh oh oh oh Hello hello I'm at a place called Vertigo It's everything I wish I didn't know But you give me something I can feel, feel Check mated Oh yeah Hours of fun... All of this, all of this can be yours All of this, all of this can be yours All of this, all of this can be yours Just give me what I want and no-one gets hurt... Hello hello We're at a place called Vertigo Lights go down and all I know Is that you give me something I can feel your love teaching me how Your love is teaching me how, how to kneel... Do you ever feel like you've been caught off-guard? That you've been tipped off-balance? That you're dizzy, confused, and disoriented? Being on a public university campus can cause you to feel that way at times; with all the cultures, priorities, activities, perspectives, ways of life, and religions. You can start to wonder which end is up. You can start to feel like you need something solid to stand on, to give you a sense of place. You need something to trust. Vertigo is a song about that state of disorientation. It's also an apt song about life on a university campus. But it's not only a song that paints a picture of the problem. It also points to the solution: the reality of the suffering and risen Christ in the midst of a disorienting and disturbing world. That's what's found at Club Vertigo (or, we might call it, University Vertigo): "it's everything I wish I didn't know." And after a while, we just want out, "I'm asking for the cheque." Like Good Friday, it's when we reach the bottom of life's trials that we encounter something unexpected: "The girl with crimson nails has Jesus round her neck, swinging to the music, swinging to the music." You never would have expected to find Jesus at life's most disorienting place, at the epicentre of the world's clashing cultures. But, that's where Jesus is. Jesus walks in the very midst of the university's life. Within the disorienting matrix of campus cultures, Jesus is really present, giving "me something I can feel" and more importantly, "teaching me how / Your love is teaching me how, how to kneel." The university years, for some, are coming to an end. For others they've barely begun. These years of studying, exploring, experimenting are years that will either push you away from the reality of the suffering and risen Christ in the midst of the world, or these university years will draw you in and teach you to perceive with growing clarity the Jesus who hangs around places we'd least expect and, in those places, to do something redemptive. University is a vertigo experience, there's no doubting that. But what has the vertigo of this year done in your heart and mind? Have you gotten knocked off balance this year? Has the cacophony of perspectives numbed you to the truth? Or, has this year, even in the midst of the vertigo, taught you how to love better, how to kneel, how discern more clearly where Jesus is and where Jesus isn't? Critics completely lack agreement regarding this song's opening line (1, 2, 3, 13???). But, one interpretation sounds plausible to me. The "1" stands for the first testament of the Bible (the Old Testament). The "2" stands for the 2nd book of the OT: Exodus. The "3" stands for the 3rd chapter. And the "13" stands for the 13th verse. What is Exodus 3.13? It's the question Moses asks when he encounters the burning bush and is told by God to set the people free in Egypt: "Who should I say sent me?" That's the question we all must ask: who and whose are we? Is U2 answering that question with the song Vertigo? Maybe. How will you answer? What will you say as a student on this campus? Have a wonderful summer! Calendar of Upcoming Events MONDAY, APRIL 10 "Don't Waste Your Life" small group, 3.30-4.30pm in Talbot College room 404. We'll be reading and talking about Galatians 1. This will be our final small group meeting this year. TUESDAY, APRIL 11 FINAL DAY OF CLASSES THIS SEMESTER! 6:00PM: Undergraduate Year End BBQ EXAM PERIOD OFFICE HOURS I will be in UCC 256 Thursdays (all day) during exam time. Feel free to drop in! There are cookies and juice available for all! EASTER SUNDAY, APRIL 16 Morning worship at 10am at First CRC downtown. And if you're looking for a place to celebrate the risen Christ with others, please accept an invitation to Easter Dinner with us and friends at 2pm. Please send me an RSVP email and I'll reply to you with more info and directions. "WHERE THE RUBBER HITS THE ROAD" COLLEGE & CAREER RETREAT Where the rubber hits the road is ultimately the spot where direction & intention collide. In the Christian faith, we often say we believe but our faith sometimes has little to do with our daily decisions and choices. That is what this weekend is about: Steering the road of life of faith where the rubber hits the road. April 28-30 at Pearce Williams Retreat Centre. The speaker will be Ace Clarke, a member of an outlaw biker gang for 17 years, transformed the night he gave his life to Christ. He is a Pastor in Hamilton at The Joshua Center, an area known for its dealers and high crime. Cost is $75. Send me an email for registration. wrightremixed: N. T. WRIGHT GOES CLUBBING IN TORONTO Internationally renowned biblical scholar N.T. (Tom) Wright will be clubbing in Toronto on May 9. That's right, the Bishop of Durham (affectionately dubbed in some circles, "the Bish") is going to make a rare appearance at the Revival Night Club (got to love that name) together with dj teknostep, hip-hop MC illSeer, as well as local singer-songwriters Julia Churchill and Alison Hari-Singh. In the midst of the music Brian Walsh will interview the Bish and then there'll be lots of time for question and answer with the crowd. For the full details, registration, costs, etc. check out www.empireremixed.com. But move fast, our capacity is limited to 250. Let me know if you're interested and we'll go as a group. NIDUS FESTIVAL 2006 "Feel the current...Faith...Arts...Justice." A festival for people from all streams of Christian faith with music, arts, keynotes, worship, dialogue, drama and dance. Three days to express faith, celebrate through arts, and seek justice to stop AIDS. Kitchener, Aug. 4-6. Check out www.nidus2006.ca for further info. Weekly campus ministry newsletters are published each Monday morning during the academic year. If you would like to request a free subscription, please send an email with the words "subscribe weekly newsletter" in the subject line. You can unsubscribe anytime by sending an email with the words "unsubscribe weekly newsletter" in the subject line.
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