Adversities Transformed
January 12, 2012 by Steve Pogue
Filed under Caring About Colleagues, Discipleship, Encouragement, Recent MMMs
Duane Keilstrup,
Professor Emeritus,
German,
University of Texas-Arlington
[February 5, 2012] –
I was never a cutting-edge scholar, dynamic orator, or award-winning teacher during my career in academia. I was, however, in love with the Lord Jesus Christ, and by His grace God led me one spring to be part of a Faculty Commons short-term mission to universities in South Africa.
Although unsure of how I might contribute, I was excited to be a part of this amazing pioneering outreach. Yet my willingness to be used by God did not exempt me from adversities — before, during, and after this trip. At the time I was suffering from severe acid reflux and ulcer problems that continued throughout my stay in Johannesburg. We were, of course, asked to speak before several campus groups, and I feared I would not have the stamina and clarity to present my lectures.
Unusual Freedom
Amazingly, however, each time I approached the podiums, I felt completely free of pain. In Christian faculty workshops I explained how the Holy Spirit led me to integrate the Gospel into my teaching of German language and culture, and these workshops led to opportunities to share in more detail on an individual basis as well.
On the third day a Campus Crusade student leader introduced me to a science professor whose wife had been witnessing to him. This professor had expressed interest but had not come to a decision. He told us he felt he just needed a push. Sensing the Holy Spirit’s leading, I shared my testimony with him. Though hearing the details of my journey with the Lord made sense to him, he still was not ready to accept Christ’s forgiveness for himself.
Positive Results
However, later at the end of our mission, as our group was about to board the plane for our flight home, the news came that he had indeed finally come to Christ. In addition, I later learned that the speech I gave to the faculty at Johannesburg College opened additional doors for my host professor to share Christ with small student groups.
Upon returning home, new adversities arose. First I received a few mean-spirited teaching evaluations, something I had never faced before. On that same day a confrontation with an out-of-control lab technician erupted. I suddenly plunged from the spiritual African mountaintop experience into a valley of frustration and disappointment. Hadn’t I done what God wanted?
Simple Gifts
The very next morning God graciously intervened through an earthly angel in the form of a custodian who left a beautiful drawing with words of encouraging Scripture on my desk. God clearly led this young man to provide encouragement, because he had no way of knowing about my problems.
More drawings arrived daily, and I developed a friendship with this man. I learned about his own problems and his need for mutual encouragement. The expression of his faith through art encouraged me to continue to share Christ with others on my own campus, even as I had done in South Africa.
Through all of this God reminded me that sharing acts of kindness and God’s Word can contribute more to the present and eternal lives of others than we may ever know on earth. And clearly the Lord intervened to transform adversities on my own campus as well as on campuses abroad into His victories.
©2012 Duane Keilstrup
climbing photo ©istockphoto
Condescending? I Hope So
December 5, 2011 by Anne Wenger
Filed under Caring About Colleagues, Discipleship, Humility, Priorities, Recent MMMs
John Walkup,
Emeritus, Electrical and Computer Engineering,
Texas Tech University,
Faculty Commons Staff
[Dec. 18, 2011]
con•de•scend
1. To deal with people in a patronizingly superior manner.
2. To descend to the level of one considered inferior; lower oneself.
As a young faculty member working, both diligently and sometimes desperately, to establish a research program I would occasionally be on the receiving end of such comments, either from a few colleagues (sometimes jokingly) or when I visited program managers (usually not jokingly) at various funding agencies. I later became convinced that most faculty hear such remarks at times. The real issue is how will we respond.
What Would Jesus Do?
Such occasions moved me to reflect on the fact that the Lord was the one who provided my faculty position in the first place. Had my wife and I not prayed that God would lead us to a position where we could serve Him? He knew best what my professional strengths and weaknesses were. At such times I found it encouraging to read how often Jesus was on the receiving end of such remarks from the religious leaders of His day.
They considered His credentials inferior to their own, despite substantial evidence to the contrary:“You may be able to heal people, raise the dead and walk on water, but your parentage is questionable and where did you go to rabbinic school?” Christ wasn’t shaken by these condescending remarks because of His secure relationship with His Father. I have learned that I need to draw my personal security from my relationship with Him and His promises.
A Different Perspective
On the other hand, note that “condescend” has another meaning entirely; the idea of stooping or lowering oneself to the level of someone who is in an inferior position. God took on human flesh, being born in a stable in some backwater town in the Roman empire, so that He could suffer and die for us “while we were yet sinners” (Romans 5:8). He touched and healed beggars and lepers. He washed feet.
In doing so He subjected himself to all sorts of patronizing remarks as I’ve cited above. He instructed us to imitate Him in His humility and self-sacrificing behavior toward others.
While this is not easy, and requires faith on a daily basis, this is the kind of condescending behavior we have been called to exhibit. His ambassadors to a watching world He came to save.
Merry Christmas!
© 2011 John Walkup
© istockphoto