December 2010
23 posts
Pursuit
Last Tuesday, I had an encounter with a beggar on the streets. I was with a friend, which made it all the more powerful of an experience.
It was a pretty classic encounter. I was approached by an elderly woman who asked me if a worked at the coffee shop we were in. I told her no and answered the same when she asked if I was from around there (which was accurate). She then asked what I did, and...
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The University of Illinois is: Bowling
Today! Yes, today!
The Fighting Illini football team is participating in it’s first bowl since the 2007 season. Before that, it was 2001. This is our first non-BCS bowl since the last millenium. This is an exciting time. The game starts tonight at 5pm CT. Tune in and cheer on the orange and blue vs. Baylor.
Why does this matter to our ministry? Because our students care. Our students love...
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Illini Life is: Maturing
For the students that read this, don’t let it go to your heads. I’m looking at you, Brett.
The college years are an exciting time. They are often a definition, confirmation, and path setting time. Many students decide what is important to them and it will show when they are husbands, wives, parents, and community and church members. Where will they stand when they grow older?...
Monday Update - 2010 In Review
Today is the 27th. Saturday is 2011. Pretty wild. This has been a massive year in my life and for the ministry work God is guiding me towards. I thought it’d be fun to take a look back at some highlights. One per month:
January: Spring semester, I coached a small group with Ross and Kate. These U of I students led a small group BIble study in ISR (Illinois Street Res Hall) and I got a...
Christmas
Well, the Advent season that I stated to write about is nearly over. Today is Christmas Eve Eve. I hope you’re being given an opportunity to spend this time with family, rest in God, and to be reminded of the story of the birth of the Savior. Tomorrow and on Christmas, I’ll give you a couple videos telling the story, and hopefully, you’ll be given an opportunity to hear the story...
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The University of Illinois is:
As I mentioned yesterday, I’ve been writing about Illini Life for quite a while. This campus ministry and church is where I am being sent as a missionary. However, this church is placed within a larger mission field. This place is the University of Illinois. Up through the end of February, in this Wednesday spot, I will be highlighting different parts of the University and facts about why...
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Illini Life is: RECAP
Over the past couple months, I’ve spent time highlighting the ministry of Illini Life. I plan on continuing to do so up through the end of February (at the very least) in these Tuesday posts. This week though, as I’m sure (or at least, as I hope) you’ll have some free time with Christmas around the corner. So, here are links to the posts entitled “Illini Life...
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December Update →
Hey friends!
It’s Monday, it’s snowing outside, and I’ve just finished my prayer letter. I hope that you are blessed by this update and are able to be connected to the ministry I’m preparing for through it.
On Slowing Down
We have 9 days until Christmas. That in itself is mind boggling to me. Everybody is rushing to get the last minute shopping, cleaning, planning, packing, and the like completed.
My hope is that in this time, you can slow down. Deceleration is a good thing, but it’s a lot better when it’s not abrupt. Obviously, push through to deadlines, but when those are done, consider what rest in...
Mid-Week Update
It seems like my blogging service has been a bit strange this week. Not sure what has happened, but I had posts queued up for Monday and Tuesday, but they never made it up.
Because of all that, I wanted to communicate to you that I’ll start up again tomorrow with blogging. The ministry of raising support is still going well and my next update letter will actually be available to you on...
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Illini Life is: Studying
Today, the University of Illinois celebrates “Reading Day.” This is a day that the school institutes as a buffer for finals week. Classes ended yesterday and exams start tomorrow. Today is the day to get everything together.
As a campus church, we have to pay attention to the moments such as these. I’m personally excited to head to the library with our students and do my work along with them as...
Not Knowing What to Write
Well, I didn’t spend forever thinking about it, but I decided that I can’t really keep to my rhythm this week. I don’t know what to write this Wednesday. Somewhat because I feel like most of who I am has been revealed and you can go back to learn more about me, the missionary you are supporting in prayer and by other means.
So I didn’t know what to write, and I think this...
Monday Update - Advent: Week 2
This article from Relevant Magazine nearly perfectly describes how the season helps us to prepare for Jesus birth. I got a chance to talk about this subject with some friends this past week and this article affirmed my thoughts. God is helping us to prepare.
This second week of Advent, the second candle is lit. This candle is in to remind us of the preparations we must make for Jesus. Both as...
My Updated Portfolio →
¡Hoy Viernes! - I took some time last week and worked through my favorite/best/top/quality images from the past few years. Click on through to see some of my favorite pictures that I took in the last few years. It’s my portfolio, yo.
“Smooth words may hide a wicked heart, just as pretty glaze covers a common clay...”
– This is Proverbs 27:23.
It has such weight to me. It’s so easy to be a smooth talker, but our hearts can still be wicked. This is a huge challenge for me in ministry. I want to have honest words, not smooth ones. But in those honest words, I pray that God takes away my wicked heart. I...
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The Definition of This Missionary: Christian
OK, this is the last one. I’m actually getting pretty self conscious about writing about myself. Go look in my archives to see the longer versions, but over the past 4 weeks, I’ve used four terms to ‘define’ myself as a missionary. These are engineer, sports fan, artist, and community lover. Perhaps it’s obvious, but the last one I’d use is that I’m a...