Question:
Yeah that was a sort of weird thread title, but I had to figure out the best way to summarize my problem.
I want to apply to a Christian college, and this college needs a recommendation from someone who knows my spiritual journey, and that person should be a mature, older Christian or a pastor.
Since I didn't have any access to this sort of person in real life, and applications are coming up soon, I'm sort of at a loss. I just figured out I wanted to apply to a Christian college now (Wheaton College, in Illinois), I guess I was a bit late.
I emailed my pastor with my situation, and I asked him for some advice as well (similar to what I am writing here). I don't know him well either. I guess the solution is to get to know someone in my church, but unfortunately perhaps the one avenue where I could get to know someone, where I would participate in a small group thing, is closed off to me because my dad will say it takes up too much time. It's two hours, one night out of the week. I haven't asked him about it yet, but considering that just yesterday he was shouting about me going to church because it took up too much of my weekend time, I sincerely doubt he'd let me go to this (and that was one amazing run on sentence...).
The only possibility, MAYBE, would be my best friend's mom, who calls me her other daughter, but man I am just learning to get to know her. It takes me a really long time to become comfortable talking with people my age (several weeks), let alone an adult (several months maybe). I mean, yes I see her often enough that she is very affectionate towards me, but I've never talked with her about anything...deep, if you understand. Aggh.
And secondly, I don't know that much about her spirituality, and since my best friend sort of looks at me sometimes like I jumped off the deep end, I wonder what her mom would think. But I think her mom is more understanding of that sort of thing than my friend is, who is a bit more liberal in her beliefs.
Got any ideas?
Answer:
Originally Posted by jengoesup perhaps the one avenue where I could get to know someone, where I would participate in a small group thing, is closed off to me because my dad will say it takes up too much time. It's two hours, one night out of the week. I haven't asked him about it yet, but considering that just yesterday he was shouting about me going to church because it took up too much of my weekend time, I sincerely doubt he'd let me go to this
Question: does your dad want you going to a Christian college? Also, why is he so down on your going to church? I seriously doubt it's because he thinks it's a major time commitment. That may be his excuse, but, really, how much time could it possibly represent!?! What would you be doing instead?
(and that was one amazing run on sentence...)
And a well executed one at that.
The only possibility, MAYBE, would be my best friend's mom, who calls me her other daughter, but man I am just learning to get to know her. It takes me a really long time to become comfortable talking with people my age (several weeks), let alone an adult (several months maybe). I mean, yes I see her often enough that she is very affectionate towards me, but I've never talked with her about anything...deep, if you understand. Aggh.
This reminds me of a Mike Warnke routine, talking about the Concepts of Christ. His thesis is that we tend to overcomplicate things, even tho they are profoundly simple, and can be summed up in one song . . . "Jesus Loves Me - This I know, for the Bible tells me so . . ."
Point being, I don't really see how deep of a conversation you need to have with her. It's not a matter of her plumbing the depths of your soul, but rather her just knowing that you are grounded in your Faith, and that you are always searching to know what is good and moral, and, in that, looking to Christianity for guidance. I don't think you need to be some sort of "Level 6 Thaeten", where you've reached the 20th level of clarity and your third plane of Nirvana, or some such absurdity.
I could be wrong, but I think they just want to know that you are devout and committed, and won't be some freaky-crazy party girl that'll eventually turn up on Girls Gone Wild Does Wheaton.
Also, when you think about it, how many different ways can you say "I have a personal relationship with Jesus"?
And how many ways can she answer the Dean of Admissions, "yes, she has a personal relationship with Jesus"?
And secondly, I don't know that much about her spirituality, and since my best friend sort of looks at me sometimes like I jumped off the deep end, I wonder what her mom would think. But I think her mom is more understanding of that sort of thing than my friend is, who is a bit more liberal in her beliefs.
And why does your friend look at you like you just jumped off the deep end?
Chesh
Answer:
Originally Posted by jengoesup Yeah that was a sort of weird thread title, but I had to figure out the best way to summarize my problem.
I want to apply to a Christian college, and this college needs a recommendation from someone who knows my spiritual journey, and that person should be a mature, older Christian or a pastor. How and when did you become a Christian? Is there a youth pastor whom you've been involved with?
Originally Posted by jengoesup Since I didn't have any access to this sort of person in real life, and applications are coming up soon, I'm sort of at a loss. I just figured out I wanted to apply to a Christian college now (Wheaton College, in Illinois), I guess I was a bit late. Try calling the school and asking them for their advice.
Originally Posted by jengoesup The only possibility, MAYBE, would be my best friend's mom, who calls me her other daughter, but man I am just learning to get to know her. I'll bet you that she would love to write you a letter of recommendation, if you would be interested in that (you seemed a bit iffy as to whether you were consider her a mature Christian on the track that you'd like to be on when you're her age..?). Tell her what you need and I'll bet you that she would at most ask to talk with you for a few minutes about how you became a Christian, then she'll definitely write the letter for you.
I'll bet that this letter doesn't have to be someone who knows you in a "deep, deep" way, especially since you're not exactly in the most flourishing of Christian social situations right now.
Answer:
Originally Posted by CheshireCat Question: does your dad want you going to a Christian college? I would say that he would say it's my life, and I can go to the college where I think I'll be happiest. This is definitely what my mom is saying.
Also, why is he so down on your going to church? I seriously doubt it's because he thinks it's a major time commitment. That may be his excuse, but, really, how much time could it possibly represent!?! What would you be doing instead? To the bolded part: I am being dead serious. My dad is a bit of a bitter agnostic, not sure if I said that in my first post (so he doesn't see value in church, of course). Other things about him: he literally will throw temper tantrums if you put a wrench in his plans, or if I do things that he thinks are less important. For example, to him going to church takes away valuable time from my schoolwork. Between my A in math and church (and he thinks religion is "invented bull****" in his words exactly), my A in math counts more. I don't know why, but he says that the church I'm going to isn't my church. Must be something about his Catholic upbringing.
Dude I don't even think I can go to church this Sunday because we have to do the lawn, and that takes two hours. Mom is going to be away this weekend (she's sort of my buffer), and she says he's going to blow a fit, and I can already feel him tensing up about the whole thing. *sigh*
And a well executed one at that. Thanks
This reminds me of a Mike Warnke routine, talking about the Concepts of Christ. His thesis is that we tend to overcomplicate things, even tho they are profoundly simple, and can be summed up in one song . . . "Jesus Loves Me - This I know, for the Bible tells me so . . ."
Point being, I don't really see how deep of a conversation you need to have with her. It's not a matter of her plumbing the depths of your soul, but rather her just knowing that you are grounded in your Faith, and that you are always searching to know what is good and moral, and, in that, looking to Christianity for guidance. I don't think you need to be some sort of "Level 6 Thaeten", where you've reached the 20th level of clarity and your third plane of Nirvana, or some such absurdity.
I could be wrong, but I think they just want to know that you are devout and committed, and won't be some freaky-crazy party girl that'll eventually turn up on Girls Gone Wild Does Wheaton.
Also, when you think about it, how many different ways can you say "I have a personal relationship with Jesus"?
And how many ways can she answer the Dean of Admissions, "yes, she has a personal relationship with Jesus"? You have a really good point. Perhaps I am overcomplicating this entire issue. No, more than likely.
And why does your friend look at you like you just jumped off the deep end?
Chesh I dunno, I think three quarters of why she's doing it is just to poke fun at me by driving me nuts (me and her are like siblings, if that gives you any idea). The other quarter is perhaps that my sudden religiousness has merely surprised her.
Originally Posted by John Roberson How and when did you become a Christian? Is there a youth pastor whom you've been involved with? Well, I think it's safe to say I started on the path to Christianity August 2nd, 2005. I'm not really sure what happened the last year, it's very confusing. I certainly was following Christ, but I don't think I really accepted Him, and hadn't realized I hadn't until August 15th, 2006. Prior to the 2005 date, I was an atheist. I did it all REALLY backwards: I started with C.S. Lewis, then once I believed in God (and just assumed Jesus...*shakes head*), I started reading the Bible every night since then. I haven't been involved with a Christian community at all: my best friend sort of challenged my atheism, and from then on it was between me and God. And I did ask quite a bit of advice from people here on CGR, since I didn't know any strong Christians.
Try calling the school and asking them for their advice. Good idea. Why didn't I think of that...
I'll bet you that she would love to write you a letter of recommendation, if you would be interested in that (you seemed a bit iffy as to whether you were consider her a mature Christian on the track that you'd like to be on when you're her age..?). Tell her what you need and I'll bet you that she would at most ask to talk with you for a few minutes about how you became a Christian, then she'll definitely write the letter for you.
I'll bet that this letter doesn't have to be someone who knows you in a "deep, deep" way, especially since you're not exactly in the most flourishing of Christian social situations right now. Hmm, allright. I'll figure out how to approach her...probably phone conversation would be best.
Thanks for your advice, guys. I think you helped simplify my situation a lot.
Answer:
Originally Posted by jengoesup Well, I think it's safe to say I started on the path to Christianity August 2nd, 2005. I'm not really sure what happened the last year, it's very confusing. I certainly was following Christ, but I don't think I really accepted Him, and hadn't realized I hadn't until August 15th, 2006. Prior to the 2005 date, I was an atheist. I did it all REALLY backwards: I started with C.S. Lewis, then once I believed in God (and just assumed Jesus...*shakes head*), I started reading the Bible every night since then. I haven't been involved with a Christian community at all: my best friend sort of challenged my atheism, and from then on it was between me and God. And I did ask quite a bit of advice from people here on CGR, since I didn't know any strong Christians. If you haven't been a Christian for very long then Wheaton will be extremely understanding of your situation, especially if you talk to them about it.
Answer:
When i needed someone to write a recomendation for me, I had the same feeling "no one knows me!"... but my mom explained that the person doesn't REALLY have to know you THAT well. Your pastor should be just fine, even though he doesn't really know you.. I mean, very few pastors really know EVERYONE, and some colleges requior a pastor's recommendation along with someone else.

so yea, you can ask someone who knows you, even if they don't know you all that well.
Answer:
John: That's good. I think I'm going to email or call them soon, I just got back from NY today.
Becky: Point well taken. That makes life a little easier