April 21, 2004
Volume 2: Issue 4
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with Brent Crowe
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I am quite sure that
many articles and books will be written about Dr. Bill Bright and by those
far more qualified than I, so I will not even attempt to sound like an
expert on his life or try to create a façade that we were pals, I was
merely fortunate enough to have spent one short afternoon with him and his
wife Vonette. During this three and a half hour visit, I learned a
lifetime’s worth. That afternoon it was as if Jesus opened the floodgates
of heaven full-blast and rained down wisdom and truth through this great
man and said “catch as much of this stuff as you can, you are sure going
to need it!”
I
have learned something about greatness in the kingdom - there are those
who are godly and then there are those whose lives can be described in no
other way than this - they walked with the creator of the universe. At
any other time in my life I would have told you that God does not have
favorites, but if you would have asked me that day, I would have pointed
to the sick, elderly man and proclaimed: “That has to be a favorite of
God’s!”
The
reason I share my meeting with Dr. Bright with you is that in light of the
world in which we live, it seems as if many who claim the name of Christ
wish simply to survive this awful mess. Let it be said here and now, a
leader's goal is never to bypass his culture in an attempt to come out
unscathed or untainted. If our goal simply be to get by until we walk
through those pearly gates then the question must be asked of us, “Do we
understand the ministry and mission of Jesus and what it means to be
Christ like?” Dr. Bright did. In the midst of a world cluttered with
tragedy and hopelessness he saw opportunity to dream big dreams. Dr. Bill
Bright was the founder and former president of Campus Crusade for
Christ. This ministry is on countless campuses in 191 countries. He has
written innumerable books but is known mostly for his project The Jesus
Film, which has been viewed by 5.1 billion people in 234 countries in
786 languages. Also, he is the creator of the Four Spiritual Laws tract
that is used so widely today. It has been distributed to 2.5 billion
people and is available in 200 languages.
The
following statements are some of the truths and principles I learned that
afternoon:
A leader’s view of God determines everything about him
Leaders do not allow circumstances or crises determine their attitudes
or outlooks. There is an unwavering and almost obsessive desire to filter
everything through one’s view of God. When leaders have a proper view of
God, there are no limitations upon what they believe God can do through
them.
Obedience to God is liberating with Christ’s love
Before the
afternoon concluded with Dr. Bright, someone asked how we could pray for
him. He smiled and simply said, “Just pray that I will love the Lord my
God with all my heart, with all my soul, with all my strength and with all
my mind.”
The older a leader grows the greater learner he becomes
At first
glance may seem like a somewhat dull principle but when I met Dr. Bright
he was in the process of reading four books and writing two. Throughout
the conversation he often discussed a book he had recently read or
something he had recently learned. I was astonished at the desire to
continually gain knowledge and study after accomplishing so much for the
Kingdom.
The more of a leader one becomes the more focused one becomes
Paul once
wrote to the church at
Corinth
saying, “I fear, lest somehow, as the serpent deceived Eve by his
craftiness, so your minds may be corrupted from the simplicity that is in
Christ.” The word simplicity here can also be translated
single-heart focus. Paul would not have had to worry about Dr.
Bright. It was obvious that as he approached the final days of his life he
would finish the race with a passionate single-hearted focus for the
gospel of Christ. As leaders who welcome change, let us never forget that
the only thing that can change our culture and world is the Gospel. |
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with
Luke Lin
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Several of the articles we feature this month underscore the decline of
morality and order, courtesy of today’s trends in thinking and living. In
response, Christians must begin to put into functional practice their
identity as salt and light. In order to have an effective impact on the
culture and society, believers must be drawn to action and must engage the
relevant issues by living out their faith consistently, by loving their
neighbors and those in their spheres of influence, and by avoiding the
temptation to sit back and do absolutely nothing. One of the greatest
gifts American citizens have is the ability to participate in democracy,
but too often this gift is taken for granted. Sadly, the social dormancy
of many believers has greatly undermined the influential effect that
Christians could have on the culture-at-large on numerous key issues. For
instance, if the institution of marriage is one that you believe has been
established by God as sacred and should be protected, then make it a point
to contact your congressmen and urge them to support the Federal Marriage
Amendment. Be active by learning all you can, by staying current with the
news, and by reading adequately on topics that will be discussed by
friends and colleagues in the workplace and in the classroom.
The harsh reality is that when you take an active stand, you will face
opposition that may be quite severe. People may persecute you, they may
laugh at you, and they might criticize or mock you. Greatness is, however,
rarely achieved in the absence of adverse circumstances. As a leader,
strive to take an active stand despite what others may say or do. It may
very well be an uphill battle, but if you stand for what is right and
true, even in the face of individuality and postmodernity, you will make
huge strides for the purpose at hand, and you will also encourage others
to join you in your cause as well. William Wilberforce took a lonely
stance against something he believed in greatly, but despite the
challenges and circumstances, he stood his ground and is today recognized
by historians, world leaders, and people around the globe as one of the
most influential forces in the effort to abolish the slave trade. We can
be equally effective as salt and light if we commit to taking an active
stand on the issues that really matter as we consistently live out our
faith.
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featuring Trevor Brock
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Leadership is a
quality often talked about yet seldom seen. We, as Christians,
are called to be leaders, to be salt and be light, and to set
ourselves apart from our peers. Student Leadership University
teaches students the fundamentals of leadership and gives
practical principles by which to live and to prepare
themselves for the full plans God has for their future.
My life was
forever changed after being at SLU 101 for only an hour. Dr.
Jay taught, “You will be the same person ten years from now
that you are today except for three things: the places you go,
the books you read, and the people you meet.” With those
words, my paradigm shifted. Today, as a result of making those
three things a priority in my life, God has blessed me with
some incredible experiences. Beginning with some of the books
recommended on Dr. Jay’s suggested reading list, I began to
read regularly. It was hard at first, but now I read for about
an hour every night, and have since read literally hundreds
and hundreds of books.
Through SLU and my
belief in the importance of surrounding yourself with the
highest quality people, I have had the opportunity to meet and
learn from some of the most incredible people in the world. I
have had personal conversations with world leaders, royalty,
sports stars, multimillionaires, wrestlers, university
presidents, and leaders in the Christian community. In fact,
today I am working in the office of former President George
H.W. Bush. But nothing has changed me like traveling. SLU has
afforded me the opportunity to visit England, Germany, Italy,
and Israel, and I have gotten to see first-hand many of the
places we read about in the Bible. Last year, I spent six
months in Spain studying Spanish, and this summer I will be
gaining valuable work experience in the financial industry
working in the Dominican Republic and London.
Before SLU,
I never imagined that life could get so exciting, but through
the leadership lessons that Dr. Jay taught me, I realized the
power of dreaming big, setting high goals, and then working
towards them. We all have dreams. SLU will develop you as a
leader, so you can make your dreams a reality. |
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With a beautiful
spring season underway, we here at Student Leadership
University can't help but be extremely excited about the
upcoming summer! Our SLU 301 and 401 programs have reached
their maximum capacities, and our SLU 101 and 201 programs are
quickly filling up. If you are thinking about attending or
bringing a group to one of our SLU programs, this is the year
to do so! Our all-time low Tenth Anniversary
prices are
still in effect, and don't forget about our "7-11" discount!
That's right, if you bring 7, your 8th person is only half
price! And if you bring 11, your 12th person is
totally free! Be sure to take advantage of all the
incredible options we are offering during this special year.
Each fall, we host
the Rock the
Universe Event at Universal Studios Florida. This
year, we are proud to announce a new event in conjunction with
Rock the Universe that will revolutionize your school or
church group! On September 10th and 11th, we will be hosting
Leadership Rocks,
a leadership event for students with Universal Studios as an
incredible backdrop! We'll be featuring some of the hottest
bands around along with three dynamic speakers who will aim to
transform the way you think about leadership! It's an event
you absolutely do not want to miss. Check out the
website for more
information or to download a registration form.
As we make
final preparations for this summer's Student Leadership
University programs, feel free to call us for more information
or for videos or brochures. Our toll-free number is
888.260.2900. Don't miss our Early Bird registration, which
will end on June 1st! Secure your spots for a life-changing
summer of leadership training! As always, let us know if there
is anything we can do for you. We look forward to hearing from
you!
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This month's wacky
link: The
Subservient Chicken. Just type in a command, and it obeys
your every beckon and call. Thanks to many SLU Alumni who sent
this in to us!
Have a weird,
funny, crazy, or wacky link?
E-mail it to us!
To view past
editions of The Edge, check out our archive
here.
Questions or comments are always welcome. E-mail us at
edge@studentleadership.net |
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April 2004
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On the
Edge
Brent Crowe,
Dean of Students for SLU, shares insight and wisdom
he gained from a meeting with the late Bill Bright
on a leader's outlook on life and what
Christian leaders should remember in light of a
changing culture and world. |
Edge Ledge
Your section
for culture and Christianity takes a look at how
individuality and postmodernism has shaped our culture. How should Christians
respond? |
Life on the Edge
Read the story
of an SLU alum who works in the office of former
President George H.W. Bush! Have a
story? Send your story to us at
edge@studentleadership.net
This month, we feature Trevor Brock. |
Cutting Edge
What's up at SLU? Get the latest scoop on
what's happening here at Student Leadership University. |
Featured Articles
Check out the
featured articles of the month, including articles about
the Federal Marriage Amendment controversy, a
fairy tale gone wrong, find out about the upcoming
National Day of Prayer and its significance, the
success of the Unborn Victim of Violence Act, what
the college grounds of today are breeding, and
how you can actively respond. |
Over the Edge
In this new section of The
Edge, we will feature a crazy, funny, usual, or just plain
wacky link for your viewing pleasure. Check out this
month's wacky link! |
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Follow the links for the
full article. |
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New College Options
Members of the
next incoming freshman class at Brown University and
several other major universities will enjoy a new option
when it comes to on-campus housing...
Read full article |
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Fairy Tale Gone Bad
The
parents of a first-grader are fuming over the book their
daughter brought home from the school library: a
children's story about a prince whose true love turns out
to be...
Read full article |
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Sleeping Christians
Too many, I
fear, have been suckered into a "what's in it for me"
approach to faith. People go to church to hear a feel-good
sermon, sing some happy clappies, and visit with friends.
We ignore completely the cultural implications of our
faith. And then we're shocked by the state of the
culture...
Read full article |
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National Day of Prayer
Read the
official press release for this year's annual National Day
of Prayer event, the theme it will carry, and the
importance this event has for the American nation...
Read full article |
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Unborn Victim of Violence
Learn about
the successful passing of this bill and what the
implications are for those involved. Until now, the
federal criminal code has been silent on the injury or
death of a child in cases of violence against pregnant
women. The omission in the law has led to clear
injustices. Read what President Bush had to say about the
passing of this law...
Read full article |
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Dealing with Terrorists
A tape
purported to be of the al Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden has
recently surfaced. In this most recent finding, bin Laden
offers truce to European nations for their withdrawal of
troops from Muslim countries. See what the European
politicians had to say and if the United States is
involved...
Read full article |
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"Thou
shalt not be a victim. Thou shalt not be a perpetrator.
Above all, thou shalt not be a bystander."
Quote in the Holocaust Museum, D.C.
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"Do or do not. There
is no 'try.'"
-The Empire Strikes Back
Yoda |
"Well done is better
than well said."
Benjamin Franklin |
"We have too many
high sounding words, and too few actions that correspond with
them."
Abigail Adams
wife of former President John Adams |
"Strong reasons make
strong actions."
William Shakespeare |
"Fight the good
fight, holding onto faith and a good conscience. Some have
rejected these and so have shipwrecked their faith."
I Timothy 1:18-19, NIV
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We want to hear from you! Do you
have a thoughtful response to the articles here? Have you
written a paper on one of the issues we're discussing this month
or have discussed? Send it to us at
edge@studentleadership.net |
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Established in 1994, Student Leadership University's
purpose is to empower students to conquer the future!
Combining hands-on experimental learning with a dynamic
classroom setting, students are equipped to influence
their generation for Christ with confidence.
For more information, visit us at
www.studentleadership.net or call us toll-free at
888-260-2900.
Edge Executive Editor:
Chris Crowe
Edge Associate Editor:
Luke Lin
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