Monthly Archives: February 2008

Lifelight 2008

Posted on February 27, 2008 by DN

 

The schedule has been announced for Lifelight 2008 at Wildwater West in Sioux Falls, SD. Looks like the Main Stage has got some pretty awesome concerts including Switchfoot, Remedy Drive, Michael W. Smith, Casting Crowns, Leeland, Sanctus Real and Lincoln Brewster. I am slightly sad that The Newsboys aren’t going to be there again this year because I really want to see them again, but hey, it can’t be helped.

I’m pretty excited for Lifelight because it will be a great way to wrap up what God is doing in my life for the next few months. I’ll be in San Diego until the 4th, Jess and Christian get married on the 9th, school starts the 25th and Lifelight begins the 29th. It will be a great time to trade summer stories and soak up the last of summer’s warmth in a place that is 250 miles south of freezing cold Fargo.

SO, if you are in the midwest and want to enjoy some quality and free music, come to Lifelight!

Categories: Miscellanea, Music

Stretching My Faith to the Limits

Posted on February 26, 2008 by DN

 

Oh man, I have sent out nearly 200 letters for summer project support this week. I am feeling great, or I was until my mom called. She asked me what would happen to people’s money if I didn’t raise enough money to go on project. Would the people get their money back? It is a question I honestly had thought of because I honestly did not think about the idea that I would not raise enough money to go on project. I know this is just the Devil’s game, trying to get me to doubt the power of God to raise the money. But the seed has been planted. How do I stop it from growing and taking over?

Please keep praying for me.

Categories: Summer Project

Leading Tomorrow

Posted on February 25, 2008 by DN

 

I got a message from Jackson tonight saying that he wouldn’t be able to be at our weekly meeting with Ben and Nate and that he wanted me to lead. Since I am not allowed to share the gospel in my hall as an RA any longer, tomorrow’s meeting is going to have to be more about getting into the Word than anything.

I am excited that I get to lead, though I am not used to having such a short time to prepare. The Lord lead me to Acts 19 tonight. Paul is in Ephesus and for the most part, he us finding that there are people who do not know about the Holy Spirit and so he explains it to them and they are then filled with the Spirit. Paul also encounters a lot of people speaking harmful untruths, but he is patient and continues to preach so that all the people in the area get to hear the gospel. We also see people who go around claiming to be in Jesus’ name, but they aren’t. Beginning in verse 17, we see people coming to know God, and confessing their evil deeds and burning everything associated with their old lifestyles so that they could follow Christ.

So a lot is happening in this chapter and I have a number of directions to go with it.

Categories: Life in Christ

Colossians 3:22-4:1 & Judges 6 and 7

Posted on February 24, 2008 by DN

 

The last two days have been the first time that I have really had quiet time with the Lord in a long time and they both were very good in the fact that God revealed stuff to me as well as confirmed some of the thoughts I have been thinking.

Yesterday, one verse from Colossians really struck a deep chord:

Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men.
-Colossians 3:23-

Lately I have been so lazy when it comes to my job, letting tons of stuff just slide in the dorm because I don’t care. I am so discontent with the department and so I am just not motivated. But God just showed me that I am not here because my HD hired me, but because Christ has put me here. And so I need to work at my job as if Christ was my boss, and in reality, he IS my boss.
And today I just finished reading chapters 6 and 7 of Judges. In this narrative, Gideon is being called to be the deliverer of the Israelites from the Midianites. Over these chapters, Gideon’s faith is strengthened as God proves Himself to Gideon and grants him courage and wisdom. I feel a lot like Gideon. I know that God wants me to deliver his people (the unsaved) from their chains. I need to keep listening to God and allow him to work in my heart and mind and soul.

So, I am going to start putting in effort for my job and continue to learn from God and worship Him.

Categories: Life in Christ, Scripture

Weekend Update #1

Posted on February 23, 2008 by DN

 

San Diego Summer Project: May 28-August 4, 2008

Total Need: $3,200.00
Total Raised: $10.00
Total Remaining: $3,190.00

Days until departure: 95

So as I looked at the website that helps us get our finances set, I realized that I needed to add about $450 to my cost to cover transportation, so my new total is $3,200. I sent out about 158 letters this week, which is a ridiculously high amount. Most of them were to people who live on campus like RAs, Hall Directors and Directors of Residence Life, as well as fellow Cru-goers and friends. I had two RAs give me $5 apiece, which is awesome. Even though it is a small amount it feels good to have something. I am going to be staying as an RA over spring break, which will bring in about $40 a day, and I plan on putting that ALL towards project. I also found out that I need to get a passport because we will be spending a day in Mexico, so that will come out of that spring break money. I am hoping that in about 7 to 10 days, more and more checks will start rolling in. My next step is to send letters to local churches in Fargo, as well as churches back in Anoka. I don’t really have a home church back home, considering I didn’t go to church before college, but I did start taking my brother and sister to church, and now they are involved at First Baptist Church, so hopefully I can get some ministry checks from there.

Therefore, I tell you, do not worry about your life,
what you will eat or drink; or about your body,
what you will wear. Is not life more important
than food, and the body more important than
clothes? Look at the birds of the air; they do not
sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet
your Heavenly Father feeds them. Are you
not much more valuable than they? Who of you
by worrying can add a single hour to his life?
-Matthew 6:25-27

Categories: Summer Project

Caught in the Middle

Posted on February 22, 2008 by DN

 

I have found myself caught in the middle. Last night there was a presentation at the Newman Center about purgatory. It was a time for them to explain what purgatory and their Biblical support of it. I wanted to go but I couldn’t get anyone to cover duty for me last night. My neighbors, who go the Newman Center a lot went, as well as many Cru people. I honestly thought that they were going there to learn about the idea of purgatory, something many of us have heard of, but don’t really understand. But when Megan and Andy got back, Megan was fuming. Apparently the Cru people sat in the back, whispering and laughing the whole time, thumbing through their Bible’s simply trying to prove the speaker wrong. In her eyes, they had gone in with an attitude of attack. She thought they were so rude, and I could tell that she was sincere, because she was very emotional, a side of her that I had never seen before.

I will agree with my Cru friends that Catholocism is very strange and seems complicated, almost like the Pharisees and Sadducees of Jesus’ day. BUT, the way they went in there was completely un-Christian (if Megan has described the events accurately). I wanted to go to learn and to maybe ask questions afterward in a polite and respectful manner. But sitting and whispering and laughing in the back, just makes us look rude and makes all Cru people look like “monkeys.”

So I am very not wanting to be involved because I see the problems that Cru has with many Catholic beliefs, but I also see the intense disrespect that Megan felt. Yeah, it’s just frustrating.

Categories: Catholicism

Raising Support

Posted on February 19, 2008 by DN

 

So now it is time to start raising support for summer project.

The cost: $2,750
Total raised: $0
Time left: 99 days

I am starting to name storm and then write letters. This is one of the biggest steps of faith I have probably ever had to take, other than actually deciding to devote my entire summer to God.

Categories: Summer Project

Apathetic

Posted on February 18, 2008 by DN

 

I just feel like I have been so apathetic lately. I have had very little to go out and share here at NDSU. Maybe its because of my run-in with my HD last week. I mean I feel like I want to share, but just not here. Maybe its wintertime blues kicking in. I just want summer to be here when it is warm and beautiful and I will be in southern California. On the other hand I am getting ready to hopefully share in a big big way on wednesday if the Lord provides. As an RA, it is part of my job to do programs for the residents. I have been working with two other staff members and Cru leaders and we have been putting on a series called _____ University. Each week the _____ is filled with a specific topic. So far we have done Porn, Party, Man, and Sex. The goal of the program is for a civil discussion to occur while we lead it from our own Biblical Worldview. This week we will be doing Evolution University. It is the first time we are diving head first into a topic that has high religious chords surrounding it. I have been reading I Don’t Have Enough Faith to Be an Atheist (book review coming soon) and I am prepared to defend my stand that macroevolution has not occured naturally OR divinely guided. Hopefully God provides a substantial turnout and I pray that the Spirit would lead me and that the guys would see that there is a Creator and His name is Jesus Christ and that they will come to know Him.

Categories: Evangelization, Life in Christ

Breathing a Sigh of Relief

Posted on February 13, 2008 by DN

 

Well, I just had my meeting with my HD and I still have a job. We talked about what happened and compared the missions of both the Dept. of Res Life and Campus Crusade. Both are good and my HD feels that the message Cru wants to send is great, but that there needs to be a different tactic used to reach them other than knocking on doors because if Cru can knock, so can all other groups and that can lead to constant bothering of students who are trying to study.

He is also concerned at how I portray myself to my residents. He thinks that leading Bible Studies is great, and necessary, but that we need to give them (the residents) the opportunity to choose to take our survey, but that it cannot be done by going door to door. He told me that if the director of Cru wanted to speak to him, he would be more than happy to talk to him about what is and is not acceptable to do in my hall.

So I would not consider this a victory, however it is neither a loss. Just praise the Lord that he has not completely kicked us out of my hall forever.

Categories: Miscellanea

A Time of Trial

Posted on February 11, 2008 by DN

 

I don’t know what I am going to do. I was told by my HD today that I was not allowed to solicit my faith with residents in the building. I am so confused because in my eyes we were not soliciting anything. This is already my second strike this year and I have my bi-weekly meeting with him on wednesday. Who knows what is going to happen? The possibility of getting fired is there. I pray to God that it doesn’t come to that, but if it does, I have faith in God, that he will provide for my needs. I would gladly accept any prayers you have to offer up for me, Cru, my hall, and the department.

Heavenly Father, by your mighty name all men are saved who put their faith in you.
Please forgive me for the sins I have committed against your beautiful name.
Fill me with your Spirit and guide me in every breath I breathe and every move I make.
I know you work for the good of your followers and because of that promise I am able to cling to my faith in you.
Lord, be with me in this time of trial.
Amen.

Categories: Miscellanea

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