“Double-Minded” – College Retreat

This past weekend I ventured to the region of Yosemite, to the town of Volcano to spend three days with our college students.  In attendance were five young ladies – Amber, Chelsea, Aly, Katie, Marissa – and ten young men – Ben, Zack, Brian H., Brian S., A.J., Jayson, Eddie, Stephen, Alex, Myself (o.k. so I’m not young, but I felt young).

We were blessed to be in extremely comfortable facilities, a beautiful three bedroom house with a very open floor plan so that we could all interact together on many fronts.  We spent lots of time playing games, laughing, sharing stories.  The group really enjoyed group pictionary evidenced by a 3 hour stint into the wee morning.

Thankfully, we didn’t encounter mounds of snow where we were staying, but on Saturday we did venture up the road about 1/2 hour to where the snow was 4-5 feet deep and a playground for all.  This is where my facade youth status crumbled before me.  I am no match for jumping and bouncing, energetic college students.  I was exhausted by simply walking in the snow, which at times, swallowed my leg whole and left me helpless at the descending snowballs headed in my general direction.  At the house we often spotted “flocks of deer” innocently roaming in the woods and carefully searching out food.  To be in the mountains and woods was a great time of refreshment.

I was asked to teach at the retreat, having taught the year prior too.  This year the theme was “Double-Minded” and I focused on two main issues:

• First, I wanted to give the students tools so that they would be more equipped to sit across the table with friends who were going through trials and difficulties.  I wanted them to see that God speaks to every situation and that he is always wanting us to ask the question, “What will please God in this trial, struggle, decision.”

• Next, I wanted them to understand that in order to help others effectively, we have to be willing to be helped by God ourselves – in other words, “The best counselor is a good counselee.”  So, we spent time in James discovering what it means to be “double-minded” (exercising faith with doubt) and seeking to realize all the voices that are screaming at us, how they influence us, and how they subtly affect our decisions and orientation, even our view of God and His Word.  Then we moved to Psalm 1 and considered the affect of living among the “counsel of the ungodly (wicked)”, the “sinners” and the “scornful” and the need to be like a tree planted in God’s Word.  We also took a session to examine three voices that have affected the thinking and attitude of our culture, the voices of Sigmund Freud, B.F. Skinner and Carl Rogers, and compared them to the teaching of Scripture.  In another session we examined the influence of our hearts focusing on the “idols of the heart” and how the battle for all of us is the idol that we are worshiping.  We closed our teaching by using Elijah as a case study for how an effective servant of God can turn on a dime simply because their heart is bowing in worship to other idols rather than worshiping God.

So, in conclusion, we realized that being “double-minded”, i.e. trying to live our lives listening and following two different and competing voices, only leads to instability (cf. James 1:8 ) and that what God was calling us to was “Single-mindedness” which leads to stability and is a reflection of a faith that does not doubt.

Now, I must say this clearly, loudly and for all to hear:  “Our College Students are Studs” to use a Jere Lester expression.  I was thoroughly pleased with their love for God, seriousness about His Word, desire for holiness and willingness to work on the struggles that God was revealing to them.  They are our future and I commend all who have had a part of molding and shaping their lives with God’s Truth.

I look forward to serving our College Students again…