What are your plans this summer? Strongly consider a Summer Training Program with The Navigators. It would change your life forever. Can you say that about an hourly job back home, or an internship downtown? Check out the video for more info.

Check out www.MyNavSummer.com for all the details on summer opportunities with The Navigators. Ask God what he'd desire most from you this summer. And don't miss the application deadlines (varied by location), they're coming up soon!

One popular STP option is Group North. It runs for only three weeks: May 19 - June 5. This would allow you to benefit spiritually from an STP and still work for three months over the summer.

Yesterday was a very historic day, one that should be celebrated by people of all political persuasions. So, no matter how you feel about Barack Obama as president, God commands us to pray for him:

"First of all, then, I urge that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for all people, for kings and all who are in high positions, that we may lead a peaceful and quiet life, godly and dignified in every way." (1 Timothy 2:1-2)

Everyone who has been in college more than one semester knows the feeling of the first week of classes. The professors hand out a syllabus, of which you'll probably have 4-5 of by the end of the week.

As you hear the entire semester's worth of coursework explained, it feels overwhelming. With all the opportunities to get involved, sometimes it is hard to set priorities that will set you up for success in the long haul. The first week of classes is the most valuable time for a student to seriously pause and evaluate goals and priorities.

Jesus teaches us a simple, but profound principle in Matthew 6:21, "For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also." In other words: what you esteem will capture your heart. Often, what we say we "treasure" isn't really what proves to be true in our lives.

How can we tell what we treasure?
1. What we spend our time on.
2. What we spend our money on.
3. What we are excited about.
4. What we naturally talk with friends about.

Our challenge to you is to make Jesus a priority in a fresh way this semester. The priorities you set now could impact you for a lifetime. Learn to walk with him intimately, read from His Word daily, continue steadfastly in prayer, and join in fellowship with others who are serious about the pursuit of Jesus and the spread of the Gospel. Perhaps, years later, you will look back at this semester as the one where knowing Jesus became your highest treasure.

The Lord has blessed the Twin Cities with a new Christ-centered radio option! A friend of mine encouraged me to check out Praise FM 95.3. I've been checking it out for two weeks and I'm sold on it as the best option in town.

Unfortunately, some Christian radio stations come across as trite and superficial. This station takes their mission seriously by "inviting you into God's presence through a lifestyle of worship."

Between songs, the station very often shares Gospel-centered, evangelistic messages to stoke the faith of believers and to call non-believers to faith in Christ. In addition to that, they often share Scripture and God-centered meditations to rivet our attention on Him.

Check it out!

An essential way to feed your soul is through personal Bible reading. A great way to go about it is to use a Bible reading plan. A plan helps with personal accountability and exposes you to the whole counsel of God.

Bethlehem Baptist Church has converted the Discipleship Journal Bible Reading Plan (from The Navigators) into a convenient bookmark system:

Bookmarks for January - June
Bookmarks for July - December

In my opinion, the DJ plan is the best for the following reasons:
1. Each day includes chronological readings from four areas of Scripture: Law/Prophets, Pslams/Wisdom, Gospels, and Acts/Epistles
2. It gives five "free days" each month, to prevent frustration from falling behind

For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek.

Romans 1:16 (ESV)