Covenant just made a blog for the Chapel. I thought it was interesting, and I know some of you might like to know more about what goes on inside the walls of the chapel. Rather than me giving a little essay each time we have chapel (which I will still do at times), here’s a link to the actual chapel blog.

My brothers and I started a new Codington tradition about a week or so ago – every year, we’re going to go on a camping trip for all the brothers. We went to Cloudland about two weekends ago… Wim drove up to Covenant in his buick around 9:30 p.m. on a Friday night, I piled into a car of six boys, and we drove to Cloudland to spend the weekend as brothers. Two tents, a couple of camp fires, marshmellows, squirrel hunting (with rocks and slings… yes, in a state park), sausage and bagels over an open fire, pictures, prayer, waterfalls, hikes, and green apples.

There is something special about spending time with just your brothers… I guess people call it bonding. It definitely was..

This is one of the most profound and inspiring quotes I have ever heard. I believe there is something to be said about a God who could instill such a desire in the heart of one of his followers.

I’m part of the fellowship of the unashamed. I have the Holy Spirit power. The die has been cast. I have stepped over the line. The decision has been made–I’m a disciple of His! I won’t look back, let up, slow down, back away, or be still. My past is redeemed, my present makes sense, my future is secure. I’m finished and done with low living, sight walking, smooth knees, colorless dreams, tamed visions, worldy talking, cheap giving, and dwarfed goals. I no longer need preeminence, prosperity, position, promotions, plaudits, or popularity. I don’t have to be right, first, tops, recognized, praised, regarded, or rewarded. I now live by faith, lean in His presence, walk by patience, am uplifted by prayer, and I labor with power. My face is set, my gait is fast, my goal is heaven, my road is narrow, my way rough, my companions are few, my Guide reliable, my mission clear. I cannot be bought, compromised, detoured, lured away, turned back, deluded, or delayed. I will not flinch in the face of sacrifice, hesitate in the presence in the face of the enemy, pander at the pool of popularity or meander in the maze of mediocrity. I won’t give up, shut up, let up, until I have stayed up, stored up, prayed up, paid up, preached up for the cause of Christ. I am a disciple of Jesus. I must go until He comes, give till I drop, preach till all know and work till He stops me. And, when He comes for His own, He will have no problem recognizing me…my banner will be clear!
-Charles Spurgeon

Scots Obliterate Temple
“Lookout Mountain, GA-Tennessee Temple’s soccer team was outmanned, outgunned, and outplayed when Covenant College administered a campaign of shock and awe en route to a 15-0 beat down at Scotland Yard on Wednesday night.” (full story)

Sasscer Hat Trick Seals Come From Behind Win
“September 11, 2007 Rome, GA- The Covenant women’s soccer team got a big win Tuesday after coming from behind to beat #22 Berry College on the road 3-2 in overtime.” (full story)

Scots Lose to Lee 6-1
“September 8, 2007 Lookout Mountain, GA – Saturday will be a day to forget for the Varsity Men’s Soccer Team.” (full story)

Lady Scots Fall to Lindsey Wilson
“At 81 minutes into the contest, Lindsey Wilson scored three consecutive goals in the span of 7 minutes to take the lead and secure the victory.” (full story)

School work and stress seem to come hand in hand. It’s kind of like a direct relationship – an increase in school brings an increase in stress (ok, maybe not as a blanket rule… just speaking from my own experience). This morning was rough. One of the most stressful and frustrating things for me is not necessarily an abundance of work that has to be done, but not having the slightest understanding of the work that must be done… I was a little (ok, a lot) lost in Statistics this morning. I was getting frustrated just because I was sitting there trying to understand what my professor was trying to say, but not having the slightest bit of understanding. It was… stressful.

With that in mind, here is an encouraging thought from 1 Peter 5:6-7…

“Humble yourselves, therefore, under God’s mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time. Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.”

Think about it… it’s not that deep or hard to understand. God cares and God is capable. Give Him your cares, concerns, stresses, and worries.

“Prayer acknowledges that we cannot achieve our own purity.” ~ unknown

My mom handed me a piece of paper with that quote on it before I left home this past weekend. “Just think about this sometime,” she said.

Purity – the dictionary defines it in a number of ways: “The quality or condition of being pure. Freedom from sin or guilt; innocence; chastity.” I think about that dictionary definition alone, and I wonder how on earth I expect a level of purity from myself… from my own doings. How? What on earth am I thinking? Honestly, if purity is about “freedom from sin,” than that definition alone rules out any possibility of me ever keeping or attaining any level or purity.

That is what I think is so beautiful and true about that quote that my mom gave me. I know that purity is unattainable from my own self. BUT I also rest in the peace that Christ can grant me that purity… that freedom from sin or blemish. And when I use the word “purity,” I don’t just mean sexual purity, but purity of thought, mind, and action – in all areas of life.

Prayer acknowledges that we cannot achieve our own purity. ~ unknown

Think about that quote, and rest in the truth that God is a God who answers prayer.

Every year, Covenant has this dance called Kilter. No doubt, most of you have heard of the Sadie-Hawkin’s Dance where the girls ask the guys on dates… it’s kind of the same, except there is a specific theme for every year. This year, it’s “Kartoon Kilter.” It’s been funny to watch all the girls trying to find a guy to ask… and to see who can come up with the most original and creative way to ask a guy to Kilter – anywhere from hiding an invitation inside a box…inside a box… inside another box… and you get the idea. OR writing an invitation on a stapler and then making jello around the stapler… in a very “Office” sort of way. OR hiding an invitation at the bottom of the pool..

Good times.. this year, Kilter is on September 15th and is taking place at the Creative Discovery Museum in downtown Chattanooga. The first time I ever went to Kilter, about two years ago, it was at the same place. Fun times.

I went home for the weekend to spend some time with my family… mainly for Betsy’s birthday last week. It was so beautiful and relaxing being home. We left around lunchtime on Saturday, got home around 2:00 p.m., and by 3:30 p.m. I was out on 200 acres of land squirrel hunting with my brother-in-law Nick, Johnny, and Marianna. There’s nothing like carrying a 12 gauge shotgun in your hand and running through trees and brush… nevermind the fact that I didn’t see a squirrel to take a shot at. It was just fun to “pretend,” I guess. 

From squirrel hunting, to eating home-cooked food, to sleeping, and just spending time with my family… it was an amazing weekend. It was a blessing being home.

Based on a true story and told in the first person by Betsy, by Philip Codington…

It was a late Tuesday night. I had just returned from a long ten hour closing shift at Panera Bread, and I was beat. I rolled into the driveway around 11:00 p.m., opened the garage door, turned off my headlights, and walked inside. Bookshelves packed with books on Christian living lined two-thirds of the back wall of the garage, while a few stray bikes and boxes littered the floor. I slowly climbed the tedious stairs to go inside.

I walked into the kitchen, took off my Panera hat and nametag, and plopped myself down into the nearest chair. On the table was a post-it note I had written as a reminder earlier that day… Take the box of coffee-makers and old dishes to Good Will before going to work.

Uhh… I had forgotten. I stood up, walked to the door, slipped my flip-flops on, and walked back down the stairs I had mounted a mere seven minutes earlier. There were two boxes filled with old dishes and a few coffee makers sitting near the garage door. I looked at them and then grabbed one to move it closer to the door… in the small hopes that I might remember it the next morning… Click to continue »