HOWDY and HELLO!
I have been busy with some sermons and helping students fundraise for SICM! I will update on those things in the next month, because I don't want to miss anything that happened in March. God is too good to miss out on any updates. Thank you for your patience!
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| Potluck with our church after Easter Service. So sweet. |
Obviously we got to celebrate Easter Sunday around the world together as the body of believers. This year has been a much needed reminder for me. Holidays and festivals are almost always started as an act of remembrance of something significant. I often find around the holidays though, I am so focused on regular day to day life, or if I am in the holiday spirit, it's about the form of the day, rather than the purpose.
This year, I had my good friend Mauricio with me, just excited more and more at the idea of the coming resurrection. I would see him on campus, ask how he is doing, and he would respond "Great! It's almost the resurrection."
His simple and earnest response jolted me out of the simulation we call the American life into the reality of our Christ centered existence.
Jesus' Resurrection is the end all be all good news. The most important event in history. It shouldn't be lost on anyone, but especially not a campus pastor leading others.
Since getting reminded of this good news, I have had eyes to see resurrection life cropping up all around me. So let me share some of the things that I see God redeeming and renewing in life.
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| Rhett, Kyle, and I on the way to Surf Side |
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| Waldo and I after he swallowed a gallon of sea water. |
Spring Break was a blessing of rest that was much needed. Emily, Waldo, and I went on a short trip with some friends from our church. We went to my old stomping grounds of Surf Side beach, near Galveston. It ain't the prettiest beach, but it gets the job done.
The trip was a sweet reminder of community and friendship. Loved getting to laugh and rest with this gang. Waldo did stress us out one day because he got sick after drinking too much sea water. He is thankfully fine now, but we woke up to quite a mess one of our mornings.
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| We all bought one another ridiculous sunglasses for our trip. Very memorable. |
A really neat experience we had recently was 72 Hours of Prayer. This is an annual event FOCUS and the other UTA ministries partner together to put on. We rent a tent, put it on campus, fill it with various prayer stations or prompts, then invite students to come and pray on campus. The best part, is that we have hour time slots that students fill in, and we have 72 straight hours filled, where at least 1 student is praying over the campus, students, faculty, and the world.
It is a sweet act of unity across the campus, as well as a powerful way for students to participate in prayer for an extended period. So many students had such positive experiences praying for one another and the campus.
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| Ian and I at 5am freezing our little toots off. |
I got to watch over the tent from 4-7am one morning with my buddy Ian. A fun and easy way to serve.
It was such an exciting week on campus. Students were so engaged with God that week. We did our typical Public Reading of Scripture out by the tent. We read through the Gospel of John together on a beautiful day outside.
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| Reading the Bible with some sweet faces |
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| Garrett sharing during a TNF how he has seen God moving through our ministry |
Ministry goes on as usual. Here are things I have been thankful for with new found sight in the resurrection:
1. My core guys, like Garrett, Andrew, Sam, Cade, and Sully. They have been a consistent group and I have greatly been blessed getting to host them weekly at my apt with Mauricio.
2. My friendship with Rhett and Mauricio has been so sweet. Rhett is a faithful pastor and has taught me much about Christ's character. Mauricio has been a consistent reminder of what it looks like to be sanctified over time. He has changed so much because of his love for Jesus.
3. I have gotten to preach recently and have been learning more about Jesus' final teachings and rebukes in Holy Week.
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| Rhett, Mauricio, and I meet at Panera every Thursday. It is a delight of my week and genuinely always insightful. |
This is big news down here! This is my buddy Eli. I have been going down to UTA's gaming center in the library every Wednesday to go play video games with guys we would never really get to meet through our typical avenue of FOCUS events. Well, Eli and I have become good friends and are just recently starting to study the Bible together. He has been such a source of hope and delight to me weekly. Be praying that he and I can finish this study together and that it will bear fruit in his life.
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| Eli is one of the sweetest guys you will meet. |
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| Garrett showing me his app he makes memes on. |
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| Canes dinner after a core together |
Prayer Requests
- That all of the fundraisers Emily and I are putting on for our students go well
- For my sermon this Thursday
- For Andrew C to find a career path that makes sense for him
- For Andrew M to find more comfort in Christ and Community
- For Samuel to grow in relationships and trust
- For my baby girl to grow healthy and know the Lord
- For me as a pastor and a father
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