From Brittany Cook, Sr, Women's Basketball...
SALT is such an exciting and scary experience. From the beginning I was nervous to meet all the athletes I didn't know. Even being an upper classman there is still some anxiety. However, the realization that this trip wasn't about me, that I was there for others made a big difference.
SALT is about serving others and not ourselves. Stepping out of our comfort zones. We learn to be leaders by example and how to live out a life of INFLUENCE. The trip offered a chance to meet with fellow Christian athletes on campus and get a glimpse of their hearts for not only their Lord but their teammates. It was incredible to see the vulnerability of people for a week in a place where Christ was constantly at work within us.
We learned the foundations of great leadership that I believe will carry forward in my life past my time here on a team at Bethel. It is now up to us to be the hands and feet of Christ not just to our team but to the communities which we are a part of.
Failing to remember the "one in the stands" we are playing for in life and in competition, our efforts, our influence, will ultimately be meaningless.
Monday, September 15, 2008
Wednesday, September 10, 2008
Awesome
Scott "Woody" Terry, Senior Captain, Men's Soccer...
Salt was an "Awesome" experience and by awesome I mean the old biblical term of awesome not the new version where everything is awesome but the true sense of the word.
At first I was a bit hesitant to become vulnerable and let my guard down, but as God had it planned I opened up and got to meet different people and started new friendships that I thought would never have.
Salt was an experience that is applicable to everyday life. Now being away from the atmosphere and being back to reality has sunk in, however, I feel that the fire is still lit! I am more aware of the small things in nature and just listening to those and not putting my two cents into everything and just being a good teammate and friend to those around me and taking the time to know those I may be hurried to brush aside. I have learned to work hard, not for myself, but for Christ first then my teammates on the soccer field. Putting Christ first in everyday life and not being hurried push people aside and taking the time to talk to other people and becoming more vulnerable.
Most importantly to me was a quote that Coach Gidman told me shortly after SALT "If you are full of yourself then how can Christ come in and fill you up?" This quote was so prevalent to me, I had to empty myself completely and leave it to Christ to let his will and spirit live through me. If I am full of myself then I am not letting God lead me I am leading myself. When I am empty I am vulnerable, however terrifying that may be but vulnerability is also a blessing so that God's will may be done.
P.S Thanks to The Lantz family and all the adult mentors that were on the trip it truly was an Awesome experience!!
Salt was an "Awesome" experience and by awesome I mean the old biblical term of awesome not the new version where everything is awesome but the true sense of the word.
At first I was a bit hesitant to become vulnerable and let my guard down, but as God had it planned I opened up and got to meet different people and started new friendships that I thought would never have.
Salt was an experience that is applicable to everyday life. Now being away from the atmosphere and being back to reality has sunk in, however, I feel that the fire is still lit! I am more aware of the small things in nature and just listening to those and not putting my two cents into everything and just being a good teammate and friend to those around me and taking the time to know those I may be hurried to brush aside. I have learned to work hard, not for myself, but for Christ first then my teammates on the soccer field. Putting Christ first in everyday life and not being hurried push people aside and taking the time to talk to other people and becoming more vulnerable.
Most importantly to me was a quote that Coach Gidman told me shortly after SALT "If you are full of yourself then how can Christ come in and fill you up?" This quote was so prevalent to me, I had to empty myself completely and leave it to Christ to let his will and spirit live through me. If I am full of myself then I am not letting God lead me I am leading myself. When I am empty I am vulnerable, however terrifying that may be but vulnerability is also a blessing so that God's will may be done.
P.S Thanks to The Lantz family and all the adult mentors that were on the trip it truly was an Awesome experience!!
Friday, September 5, 2008
My SALT Experience
Brad Wilson, Track and Field....
My SALT experience was completely different from what I was expecting. Honestly I didn’t know what to expect, but I was a little uneasy about going on the trip. But once I got on the bus, all the uneasiness just seemed to go away. I started to get to know people that I didn’t know and creating some friendships that I would have never had if I didn’t attend this trip.
Each leadership session touched on something new and always made me sit back and think how I could bring that back to my teammates and help the team become stronger. Each session I took back something different that I thought would work well for each and every team on campus and hope those things can be put to use in the coming years.
Every part of the trip you could feel God move whether it was in the group as a whole, or whether it was inside you. I never spend time in solitude with God before, so I thought I was going to be searching for things to do with my time. But once it started, I could just see and hear the things God was saying to me and put them in perspective. Just watching how God moved between everyone during that time seemed so unreal. Overall, I can’t say enough about the SALT trip in how it has changed me, and I know I’m not the only one it has. I just wish everyone had a chance to attend a trip like that.
My SALT experience was completely different from what I was expecting. Honestly I didn’t know what to expect, but I was a little uneasy about going on the trip. But once I got on the bus, all the uneasiness just seemed to go away. I started to get to know people that I didn’t know and creating some friendships that I would have never had if I didn’t attend this trip.
Each leadership session touched on something new and always made me sit back and think how I could bring that back to my teammates and help the team become stronger. Each session I took back something different that I thought would work well for each and every team on campus and hope those things can be put to use in the coming years.
Every part of the trip you could feel God move whether it was in the group as a whole, or whether it was inside you. I never spend time in solitude with God before, so I thought I was going to be searching for things to do with my time. But once it started, I could just see and hear the things God was saying to me and put them in perspective. Just watching how God moved between everyone during that time seemed so unreal. Overall, I can’t say enough about the SALT trip in how it has changed me, and I know I’m not the only one it has. I just wish everyone had a chance to attend a trip like that.
Tuesday, September 2, 2008
It was a great experience!!
Jessie Spearman, Jr. Track and Field said...
The week in West Virginia meant so much to me. At first, I had no idea what to expect and I wasn't at all sure on who was going to be there. It turned out to be ok though, because we all got to know one another pretty fast. I really enjoyed getting to know familiar faces. I even made some close friendships in the first couple of days. During the week we had a lot of "class time" which had a lot of meaning to me. I learned how to become a better leader for the track team and I got real excited when a couple of us decided what we could do for the track team. I'm so excited to apply what I've learned at SALT to make the team closer. During this week I also learned a lot about myself and what kinds of things I need to change to accomplish great things for the team. I am so grateful that I was chosen to go on this trip. It was a great experience!!
The week in West Virginia meant so much to me. At first, I had no idea what to expect and I wasn't at all sure on who was going to be there. It turned out to be ok though, because we all got to know one another pretty fast. I really enjoyed getting to know familiar faces. I even made some close friendships in the first couple of days. During the week we had a lot of "class time" which had a lot of meaning to me. I learned how to become a better leader for the track team and I got real excited when a couple of us decided what we could do for the track team. I'm so excited to apply what I've learned at SALT to make the team closer. During this week I also learned a lot about myself and what kinds of things I need to change to accomplish great things for the team. I am so grateful that I was chosen to go on this trip. It was a great experience!!
Thursday, August 21, 2008
WOW!
From Tara Blair, Softball, Jr...
WOW! If anyone was to ask me to sum up SALT, "WOW" is what I would say to them. I would need a lot of time to explain to them all the amazing things that happened to me in just one week.
First, me being there was truly planned by God. Through a lot of struggles God has placed and kept me at Bethel College and allowed me to attend SALT. During the week the most amazing thing that God did for me was to allow me to step out of my comfort zone. I am normally a very shy person until I get to know people and going into SALT I thought there was no way I was going to be able to open up to people I barely knew in one week. I went into SALT only really knowing my softball teammate (Mandy Cripe), but God allowed me to open up to everyone and every activity we did. He kept telling me that was the first step for Him to impact my life, which he did in many many ways.
I could talk for days about this trip but I will tell of the other main subject that God kept telling me about all week long. That is the issue of accountability. God was telling me that my relationship with Him is number one but He also kept telling me that there is no way I can do it on my own. I had been trying for years to build a stronger relationship with Him by myself and it was not working. SALT allowed me to build relationships with some of the most wonderful people I have ever met. God showed me every second of every day that I was in West Virginia that surrounding yourself with God-like people is very important. Like Mandy Cripe said every single person that went on the trip impacted my life in different but amazing ways.
I have never been more excited for school to start so that I can continue to learn and grow and pass on what I am learning to the entire Bethel College campus. Once again I say WOW to God and all that He did that week and all the He is continuing to do!!
WOW! If anyone was to ask me to sum up SALT, "WOW" is what I would say to them. I would need a lot of time to explain to them all the amazing things that happened to me in just one week.
First, me being there was truly planned by God. Through a lot of struggles God has placed and kept me at Bethel College and allowed me to attend SALT. During the week the most amazing thing that God did for me was to allow me to step out of my comfort zone. I am normally a very shy person until I get to know people and going into SALT I thought there was no way I was going to be able to open up to people I barely knew in one week. I went into SALT only really knowing my softball teammate (Mandy Cripe), but God allowed me to open up to everyone and every activity we did. He kept telling me that was the first step for Him to impact my life, which he did in many many ways.
I could talk for days about this trip but I will tell of the other main subject that God kept telling me about all week long. That is the issue of accountability. God was telling me that my relationship with Him is number one but He also kept telling me that there is no way I can do it on my own. I had been trying for years to build a stronger relationship with Him by myself and it was not working. SALT allowed me to build relationships with some of the most wonderful people I have ever met. God showed me every second of every day that I was in West Virginia that surrounding yourself with God-like people is very important. Like Mandy Cripe said every single person that went on the trip impacted my life in different but amazing ways.
I have never been more excited for school to start so that I can continue to learn and grow and pass on what I am learning to the entire Bethel College campus. Once again I say WOW to God and all that He did that week and all the He is continuing to do!!
Wednesday, August 20, 2008
From Mandy Cripe, Softball, Jr...
SALT was an incrediable experience for me that made a positive impact on my life. Before we left I was nervous not knowing what the week had in store for me, but my nerves were gone by the time we arrived. Playing games and getting to know the other athletes on the bus was a great start to the week!
At the beginning of the week I felt God telling me that I really needed to focus on my relationship with Him. A lot of the time I get caught up in everyday life and so many distractions. One of te best things for me during SALT was being away from the worries and struggles of life. Being in West Virginia without any distractions was a fresh new start to my relationship with the Lord. Having time alone with God every morning was a great way to start the day. It allowed me time to journal and read God's word. This is one thing that I wanted to bring back to my everyday life. Since I have been back home from SALT I have been having time alone with God daily. I have been reading "The Purpose Driven Life" and it has been amazing to see experiences from SALT while reading it. Journaling is a great way to express in words the ways that God is working in your life.
I agree with Tyler (Brown) when he said this week changed his heart towards people. I also learned not to assume what people are like, but get to know who they are before you assume. He is so right in the fact that we built friendships this week that I could have never imagined. Each individual that went on SALT impacted me without even realizing it. I saw God work through so many people to reach me. Some of the ways God worked through others is through their testimonies, through playing games, or even just talking to one another. I made some great friends and grew closer to friends I already had. I am excited to continue getting closer with each individual there!!
Like I said SALT made a positive impact on my life that I am excited to share with my teammates and classmates! This week was truly the best week of my life and taught me so much! One of the most important things it taught me was to surrender myself to the Lord, and wait patiently for Him!
SALT was an incrediable experience for me that made a positive impact on my life. Before we left I was nervous not knowing what the week had in store for me, but my nerves were gone by the time we arrived. Playing games and getting to know the other athletes on the bus was a great start to the week!
At the beginning of the week I felt God telling me that I really needed to focus on my relationship with Him. A lot of the time I get caught up in everyday life and so many distractions. One of te best things for me during SALT was being away from the worries and struggles of life. Being in West Virginia without any distractions was a fresh new start to my relationship with the Lord. Having time alone with God every morning was a great way to start the day. It allowed me time to journal and read God's word. This is one thing that I wanted to bring back to my everyday life. Since I have been back home from SALT I have been having time alone with God daily. I have been reading "The Purpose Driven Life" and it has been amazing to see experiences from SALT while reading it. Journaling is a great way to express in words the ways that God is working in your life.
I agree with Tyler (Brown) when he said this week changed his heart towards people. I also learned not to assume what people are like, but get to know who they are before you assume. He is so right in the fact that we built friendships this week that I could have never imagined. Each individual that went on SALT impacted me without even realizing it. I saw God work through so many people to reach me. Some of the ways God worked through others is through their testimonies, through playing games, or even just talking to one another. I made some great friends and grew closer to friends I already had. I am excited to continue getting closer with each individual there!!
Like I said SALT made a positive impact on my life that I am excited to share with my teammates and classmates! This week was truly the best week of my life and taught me so much! One of the most important things it taught me was to surrender myself to the Lord, and wait patiently for Him!
Tuesday, August 19, 2008
Keep the Fire Hot
From Dennis Engbrecht, VP of Student Development at Bethel College....
I just finished reading from the SALT Blog about how each of you was impacted through an intentional effort to focus on God and hear His voice. I have to tell you that I am so moved by the authentic comments that reveal the clear “fingerprint of God” pressed upon the hearts SALT attendees. Wow! The Lord is pouring out His Spirit on our student-athletes in a very unusual way! This is an answer to prayer!
I want to challenge you personally to bring back to campus that which you experienced on the SALT retreat. In my own experience I have sometimes allowed the insights and blessings of a retreat or camp experience to remain precisely where I encountered God: at the retreat site and lost in my memory. By not processing what God says to us in these moments, applying these rich insights to our lives subsequent to the retreat experience, and failing to prioritize the actions we need to take as a result of hearing from God, we often lose the full impact of experiencing an awesome encounter with God. So what does it entail to avoid missing out on all the awesome insights and experiences of the SALT Retreat?
- First, Process: What happened at the SALT Retreat? What made it such an incredible experience? How can I continue what God did in my life there and then, here and now? What was God saying to me at the SALT retreat? By asking and answering these questions, we process the entire experience and it becomes a part of our long term growth in the Lord.
- Second, Apply: How do I apply what I learned at the SALT Retreat? What actions do I need to take as a result of what I learned, from what I sensed God saying to me? How will the SALT experience help my teammates who did not attend the SALT Retreat? An encounter with God always needs to produce an application of His truth. John Wesley called this “the Fruit of Repentance.” Without fruit, or in other words without the evidence, there really wasn’t a genuine encounter with God. So what do I need to do as a result of what I experienced at the SALT Retreat?
- Finally, Prioritize: Often experiences like what you have just encountered produce several insights and a lot of follow-up application for each of us. That is when we become overwhelmed with everything we have learned from the Lord during a retreat like the one you attended. When we are overwhelmed, the tendency is to simply move on without any action at all because we don’t know where to start. Thus, I encourage you to sit down with pen and paper (if you already haven’t done so) and prioritize the action steps you need to take. For example, your priority list might look something like this:
- I need personal accountability with someone I trust for an area of my life where I really struggle. I commit to find that person within the next week.
- I have a timid witness. I commit to seek God’s direction to the persons with whom He wants me to share my faith, and I will share this person’s name with my accountability partner so that I can be held responsible for following through.
- My prayer life is so sporadic and weak. I commit to begin each day with a quiet time of solitude listening and talking to the Lord.
These are just examples of prioritizing. You will need to determine what the Lord was saying to you at SALT and then determine which responses merit the most urgent action.
I am so encouraged by what you and your fellow SALT colleagues have both experienced and shared via blogs. My prayer is that we will see the “fruit of the SALT” this fall when all students return to campus.
Keep the fire hot!
Dennis
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