United Campus Ministry

Time Goes By

By David Moore

Yesterday I had lunch with my friend Charlie Armstrong. As we enjoyed a beautiful end of summer day, we ate our lunch and talked about his and his wife Rachel’s first child due this coming spring. He asked if I had any wisdom to share about children. I said, “I know that it is cliché but they grow up fast.” I feel like my wife, Clarice, and I were there every step of the way for our daughter Eryn but still the time just buzzes by. I read today my September newsletter article from 1999 and it talk about Eryn being three and this fall she is a sixth grader.

In the same way the semesters zoom by. In September it will seem as though classes are going to be a breeze and in many classes you will not have a test for weeks. But as the semester flies by the cold dark days of November and December will come with the flurries of snow and a flurry of assignments, projects and tests. (oh my!) It is important to use these care free days of September to establish good study habits, the discipline of going to class, and the joy of doing your best on every assignment. In the same way it is important to take time for God. It is easy for us to forget about God when we have so many things to do and so many new people around to do them with. But God longs to spend time with you everyday.

My family and I have a twoyearold black Cocker Spaniel named Ardie. When Clarice comes home each day, Ardie runs to the door and jumps and jumps until I let him out. Once free he sprints to the car and as soon as Clarice opens the door he jumps in to greet her. He then races two circles around the yard before going into the house with her. He is beside himself with joy at seeing her. In the same way God is thrilled to see you as you come to worship, delighted as you read your Bible, and thankful as you come in prayer. I hope that you will take time for God this semester knowing that:

“Because of the Lord’s great love we are not consumed,
for his compassions never fail. They are new every
morning; great is your (God’s) faithfulness.” –
Lamentations 3:2223

God Bless,

David

Project Habitat for Humanity

Update by Kathleen Klynstra:

This past year UCM pledged to help Habitat for Humanity build a home for a family in Fairbanks as part of the Apostle build. The idea was to get 12 churches to chip in and help fundraise towards this cause and then come together and help build the house this summer. When approached with this goal David and all of UCM came together to help raise our part. We pledged $1,000 towards the build. In the March 07’s newsletter David wrote about how we needed approximately $500 more dollars for our part before the ground breaking. I am happy to report that on that wonderful day in May David and UCM were able to deliver a check for $1,065.

So often times we work so hard at our goals little by little, similar to how UCM was able to raise $100 here and $50 there with bake sales, popsicle sales and donations. But no matter how slow things sometimes seem when we put our trust in God we are blessed beyond our goal. The joy we had at being able to give even a little above our $1000 pledge was huge. God is gracious and greatly to be praised. Thanks to all who gave, helped with fundraising and prayed us through. This summer we have had the chance to go work on this home and tomorrow our group will go help again. It is such a joy for me to drive out of town guests by our Habitat Homes here in Fairbanks and to get to tell them a story of God’s faithfulness and the hard work of all those in UCM. Come help at one of our work day this semester and you too shall be blessed immensely!