Being Fed
Being Fed
As most of you reading this article know, the folks at the Highlands Study Center diligently adhere to their purpose of teaching Christians to live more separate, simple, and deliberate lives. And most likely, you've seen the picture of the college students who have crowded into the Windhams' house for the weekly Thursday night gathering, as well as read the updates about the study in this publication. In this article, I would like to articulate how the purpose of the HSC converges with the study hosted each week by Laurence and Angela Windham. Of course, you will also discover what great time we have over there.
In the fall of 1998 I arrive at Bristol to begin school at nearby King College. I was eager to find opportunities for fellowship with other believers and serious study of God's word. My attempts at this in the first couple of weeks of the semester were met with discouragement, for I could not find anything of the sort at my "Christian college." The only thing they had at school was one of those get-togethers where you sing these annoyingly repetitive songs for a while followed by a five-minute "inspirational message." Though initially disappointed with this situation, I soon realized God had different reasons for bringing me to Bristol than merely attending college. It is tremendously overwhelming to realize how God, in His sovereign will and gracious providence, grants you far better than you had expected.
Throughout the beginning of the semester, I overheard a few people talking about a "Thursday night Bible study," which pricked my ears. I was "warned" by a few people that the guy leading the study was "Reformed." Coming from a Presbyterian background, this seemed all right to me, but evidently this was a term of derision in the vocabulary of most "tolerant" students in my school. Nevertheless, I thoroughly enjoyed the Bible study and continued to attend for reasons I will expound below.
To begin with, the food is fantastic. I can hardly express how wonderful it is to eat something besides dining hall food! Laurence and Angela will cook up something spectacular for us to dine on. I don't think I really knew what "spicy" and "hot" meant until I had a taste of the cuisine at the Windhams". My favorites are the chili (with Fritos, sour cream, and chess or course), the soft tacos with rice and veggies, and pasta. And you can't beat the burgers either. We can always count on having a great dessert, too. Thursday is definitely the highlight of my dining week.
After we are full from dinner, Laurence feeds us with the Word. When I first began attending, we were studying the Book of Acts. It seemed as if I had seen Acts in a new light as Laurence explained Acts to us from a distinctly Reformed perspective. After this series, I better understood the outpouring of the Spirit at Pentecost and I learned more about the development of the early church and the apostles' fidelity to Christ's teaching. I still remember the lesson Laurence taught that he promised would "change our lives."
This lesson was about the first Gentile being "birthed into the Kingdom" and really made me understand God's covenant of grace with his people. Oh, that lesson did change my life. In the fall semester of 1999, Laurence began a "Brainwashing" series designed to clear our minds of all the worldly rubbish and cleanse them by thinking God's thoughts. This semester, we have addressed such topics as the Christian view of capital punishment and patriotism, as well as proving the biblical basis for election. This series is designed for us to live up to the admonition in 1 Peter 3:15: "...always be ready to give a defense to everyone who asks you a reason for the hope that is in you, with meekness and fear."
Another benefit of going to the study at the Windhams' is that we can see a biblical family in action. This of course is the live, unscripted, and uncut version. We can see Laurence loving Angela as Christ loves the Church, while Angela lovingly submits to Laurence, as he is the head of the family. When the situation arises, Laurence will discipline his children as he is called to do in Scripture. This family is by no means perfect, but Laurence and Angela are parents who take heed to Scriptural commands regarding the family and apply the truth of the Bible in their life. I see Psalm 128 reflected in the Windham family as the Lord has blessed them with yet another child, Garrett. Speaking of the kids, I enjoy playing Lauren, Alayna, and Ethan whenever I am over there and I can rarely leave on Thursday night before I have given a few piggy-back rides to the kids. It's true when I say the Windhams are a second family to all of the college students who are away from home and you're welcome at their house any time, not just Thursday night.
In addition to the reasons mentioned above, I am grateful for the study because of the opportunity for true Christian fellowship. Many of the people that I have become friends with since coming to Bristol have been one that met at the Windhams'. Most of the college students come from either King College or Virginia Intermont College, but attendance is not limited to just students. Various other friends of the HSC will join us too, and you might see R.C. over there occasionally.
God has used the Thursday night study as a means by which I have grown in godliness throughout the past year and a half. One lesson I have brought with me is to examine how I am living, look at everything I practice, and determine if I am truly holding every thought captive to Christ. In keeping with the purpose of the HSC, Laurence has challenged us to inspect every aspect of our lives and conclude if we are following the world or following our Lord, Jesus Christ. This is the challenge that will continue to stay in my mind after the years of college are over.