Agape House UIC

Most Christians know the story in John 8, where a woman was accused of adultery and about to be stoned to death. Most will be able to tell you, that when Jesus was asked if the woman should be stoned, he replied “Let anyone among you who is without sin be the first to throw a stone at her.”. (John 8:7, NRSV) And most Christians will tell you that they follow this example; that they do not judge anyone, lest they be judged.

Our news stream has given us quite a few opportunities recently to lash out and call for blood. A horribly thoughtless and deliberately disingenuous movie that smears the Muslim faith is released. Its defenders simply cite "freedom of speech" as if there is no other with which we can measure such projects. This election season is shaping up to be ever more nasty and discordant than every election previous.

Yesterday night, on September 11, 2012, I attended a worship service with Agape that really ended up touching me. We were fortunate to have visitors from the Presbytery in Chicago, and also some Agape Board Members, to share in our worship service, and get a feel for how our ministry is working. I'll admit, at first I wasn't terribly excited for this, because I was having an awful day and really just wanted to come relax with my friends and enjoy a nice worship service. I walked in a few minutes late, feeling rushed, anxious and tired.

I recently had a friend deliberating on what to do in a difficult relationship with another good friend. After much energy spent and struggle to reach out to the friend and renew regular communication, the struggle became too much for this first friend.

Today, on the third day of classes, I sit in a surprisingly crowded Commuter Student Resource Center trying to think of the best thing to tell all of you new students. Whether you are freshman, fresh out of high school and new to the college world, or transfer students, who have already been through this system called college life, you technically are new here. The UIC environment is different from anything you have experienced, or will ever experience in your life. I sincerely hope you enjoy your time here, and make the most of it.