More than listening

• The monday mind dump streak came to an end last week and I am sure some of you went into a mild depression but the end of one streak means the start of another
• I am so thankful that I have a mother in law who is awesome and a sister in law that is too. Now if they would just move to tally
• Still digesting everything that happened on Family Vacation
• Honestly the best group of CCFers we have ever taken anywhere
• Speaking of streaks no trips to the hospital breaks our streak of visits with this family vacay.
• Major props to Craig Portwood from Milledgeville, GA for knocking it out of the park as our speaker
• Best speaker we have had on a spring retreat in my 7 years around CCF
• “What would your campus (or job) look like if every believer was as strong as you spiritually?” Rocked me!
• “Have you ever believed a lie so long that now the truth seems like a lie?”
• My lack of belief that I can overcome some sins is really a sign of too much trust in myself and lack of faith and living in the power of the spirit.
• “The Holy Spirit is not here to condemn, it is here to convict, comfort and change His people” (in that order)
• “We are the ones who stop the movement of God in our lives, NOT GOD” ~Craig
• I love me some bagel bagel. Lunch sandwiches (the hombre) is amazing but breakfast is quickly becoming my favorite
• “He said, “If you listen carefully to the voice of the LORD your God and do what is right in his eyes, if you pay attention to his commands and keep all his decrees, I will not bring on you any of the diseases I brought on the Egyptians, for I am the LORD, who heals you.” Ex 15
• “The LORD will fight for you; you need only to be still.” Exodus 14
• Luke Skeen over at the Navs is the man, really believe in him and what they are doing
• The lack of people signing up for tutoring is stretching to say the least
• The reason the Holy Spirit convicts is to protect (John 14)~Craig
• “When you ignore the Holy Spirit you ignore God’s interaction within you”
• I am so proud of the men of CCF and thankful for what God has done in them
• BUT the girls took a BIG step this weekend
• Watching the guys in Acts praising the Lord in prison reminds me that I am to quick to whine and too slow to worship
• Reading the gospels also encourages me that not every miracle ended with a conversion.
• One of these days I am gonna catch up on my blogging, have a list of over 50 posts
• Bringing in a guest always gives me the chance to brag about the CCFers
• We do not need more of the holy spirit rather less of ourselves
• Money at CCF is SERIOUSLY TIGHT. I hate to ask but if you are interested in hearing more, want to be added to our supporters list or could just pray. Please do and let me know. You can give.. HERE
• The bible in a year is still amazing. Loving having a plan and a wife and great friends that are doing it with me
• Once again I fell asleep during the super bowl but thats what highlights are for
• You know the commercials were bad when the talk is not about the best commercials rather the worst
• The  Book Of Eli was a great movie
• The book of Eli was not made for date night.

This Sunday we wrap up “Be.” One of my favorite series we have done as we have had our eyes opened to the truth that we do not “do” Christianity rather it is who we BEcome.

Major props to Stephen Icardi for such a quality graphic. Really all of our quality graphics

Its that time of the year that I begin to think a little about the future of CCF and this year I have been asking myself a unique question.

“What would happen without CCF?”

First off, CCF is not going anywhere… well as far as I know it’s not.  I have just been asking this question to myself because I have really been thinking about how we “do” things at CCF. Is our vision spreading? Are people jumping on board and taking hold of it or are they simply coming because we are creating it. So here is how the question has played out.  Without CCF would people still gather and talk about the Word in their apartments and dorms? Without CCF would people still be intentional? Without CCF would the heart of a hundred or so students still be broken for campus?  Some times I just wrestle with this question because I wonder if we are doing too much creating. When I look at the book of Acts I wonder if this things just happened with natural leaders even appointed leaders. Take for instance small groups. Weren’t small groups what happened between people in the same neighborhoods and occupations. Interesting now how it is all so organized and structured for us. Some times I wonder if this structure and organization actually disables our students and congregations by doing it all for them. Instead of a group of people with common interests, jobs, and proximity gathering it has become at times forced and borderline awkward. There is no doubt God still works gracefully through all sorts of models but I just wonder what it looked like if groups were placed more in the hands of the students and congregations than from “the top.” If this sounds scary or you think everything would fall apart maybe we are doing something wrong. Maybe some things need change. Maybe…

Sweet times this weekend… here are some thoughts and some of my favorite moments

• Thank you CCF family for being so flexible. Last would have bombed without you
• Thanks for your prayers, this past week was better than the last.
• We asked you to pray the kids would heal up, Praise the Lord, they are all well at the same time
• There is never a time that I regret sitting still and praying
• My lack of prayer shows my gross amount of pride
• My lack of prayer shows my lack of faith
• My lack of prayer shows a weak relationship
• Prayer is an ongoing conversation with God
• God has really been laying Isa 26:8 on my heart lately
• My sin is a brutal reminder of how selfish I still am
• My sin is taking away from being a part of showing God’s renown
• Praying that my life would be about HIS fame, not mine.
• “Hearing from God comes from a heart that is willing to hear AND RESPOND” ~Mark
• “You all had pick up lines you used them in bars, we used them in chapel” ~Mark
• “Its possible  for God to speak and we don’t know where its coming from” ~ Mark
• “When we hear from God we need to be ready to act” ~Mark
• “The question is not “will God speak?” it is will you respond?” ~Mark
• The CCF family goes beyond the CCFers, I truly enjoy time with the families of our kids
• I am also thankful that the CCFers dont just love CCF, they love my family and help so much.
• One of my favorite things about prayer is God allowing us to be a part of something eternal
• Have you prayed for FSU President Barron? Why not?
• Still loving Bible in a Year
• I also love 6 days to catch up and dig in
• Genesis continues to bring me great hope that God’s sovereignty overrides man’s sinfulness
• When I read Genesis all I can think is how crazy of a movie this would make
• “Who was I that I could stand in God’s way?” ~Peter

“For I could wish that I myself were cursed and cut off from Christ for the sake of my brothers, those of my own race, the people of Israel. Theirs is the adoption as sons; theirs the divine glory, the covenants, the receiving of the law, the temple worship and the promises” Romans 9:3-4

The apostle Paul is the man, lets just start with that fact. Paul is such the man that we gave our son the middle name “Paul.”  I am just a HUGE fan of Paul. As I am working through Bible in a year I was reading through Acts and how Paul was there for the stoning of Stephen. Paul wasn’t just there but was a leader in the persecution of the early Christians. It is amazing to then look at a verse like Romans 9:3 and see this change of heart. From being a man who was about the annihilation of Christians to a man who was willing to give his own life for the sake of others to have relationship with Christ is a total transformation of the heart. Not only was Paul willing to put his life on the line but even more significant his own relationship with Christ. Can you imagine that change of heart happening so rapidly and in such extreme measures. To go from killing Christians to becoming a christian to being willing to give up eternity in heaven for the sake of others. That is a dying to self I sadly do not know yet at least not like I want to. What about you?

Lord make us a generation that would give anything for the sake of those around us… anything

Thoughts from the weekend of one of the most challenging weeks I have ever had as a parent

• Parenting is harder than I thought
• Haiti is still so heavy on my heart
• Please be praying for recent nursing grad, Leah Fuller as she is serving in haiti since arriving the day before the earthquake
• God’s timing is crazy to think one CCFer left 2 days before and another arrived the day before the earthquake
• Hope to get some specific prayer requests from Leah in haiti
• If you want some updates from an amazing missionary in Haiti I know click here
• Isnt it ironic the fsu basketball team has no offense and a killer defense yet our football has no defense and a killer offense. Maybe we should share coaches
• It is a total miracle of God that people are still alive after a week without water trapped in the rubble
• I am still digging this bible in a year
• I missed a day but praise God for 5 catch up days a month
• Excited to lead a crossbridge community group…Any one on the west side looking to join one?
• Genesis 34 literally had me laughing out loud.
• This 60:60 challenge still seems cheesey and a little obnoxious at times… but it has its good moments for sure
• “I dont get why some of you dont want to be in relationship with the true God” ~Mark
• “Too many of us invite Christ into our lives for Him to follow us.” Mark
• “Almost every word out of Jesus’  mouth was revolutionary” Mark
• If I could just tap into a piece of the boldness my brothers and sisters in Acts had.
• Stephen was the man
• Saul was a nasty murder
• Do I live my life like I need the word of God? Why not
• Do I depend on the word?
• It brings me great hope to see how God still did the miraculous through such sinful people in the OT
• Preaching on the bible and its role in our life has got to be one of my favorite things to talk about
• If you are not in your bible and want help, LET ME KNOW
• God has been so good to me and Katie today. We needed a great day after such a hard week.
• 0-2 on date night attempts last week, praying third time is the charm on Tuesday
• Nathan is staying!
• Know any awesome girls who might be interested in interning for a year at a campus ministry, hit me up
• The internet definitely brings a lot of evil but DANG has it been powerful in Haiti this week.
• Praying for great week with no threats, vomit and a date night

In the past 24 hours life has no doubt been crazy for a variety of reasons from within our own family (katie explains on her blog) to the tragic news coming out of Haiti. What is amazing though is that in the middle of craziness in our nice little home a much greater chaos and tragedy was happening in Haiti. Catastrophes like this ultimately put me back in the perspective of what really matters and how blessed I am. Haiti has a way of doing that in my life time and time again. Haiti holds a special place in my heart as that is the first international mission trip I went on. My eyes were open and my heart was broken and somewhat paralyzed by such poverty. I cannot even imagine what the state there is currently. Once again tonight I sat and looked at the pictures and prayed for my brothers and sisters that are there from Leah a CCFer who just graduated with a nursing degree (sure that is getting great use)  to Ed Lockett who is updating via his laptop getting signal from a satellite hooked to car batteries (you can see his updates on his facebook here, if you would like to help Ed build back the schools and churches which have been damaged you can give here) to Junior, a family member of a friend of ours who has yet to hear whether or not his family is alive. I cannot imagine the emotions, sites and feelings that each of these brothers and sisters are experiencing. As I talked to Ed online today and asked what is the biggest thing to pray for his answer was very simple… “PEACE” I would ask you to pray for peace in the hearts of Leah, Ed, Junior and the countless others that are experiencing total chaos in so many ways. Pray that the christians on the ground there would bring a peace beyond any United Nations member or police officer. Thank you for joining with me in such a simple prayer.

Shalom

Michael

ps: if you would like to help Ed build back the schools which have been damaged you can give here

Join 1 now… Join what you ask. Join an R2 (R squared) group thats what. Group sign ups have just begun and are sure to be amazing. No matter what year you are or how long you have been in CCF R2 groups are a great chance to connect in community and dig deeper into the word and it’s application to your lives while in college. You can sign up online by clicking here or go over to the new CCF website Groups start next monday so sign up NOW

A weekend full of amazing quotes..well hilarious at least.

• “Lock your nips”~Nathan Uy (was torn between hips and knees not that awkward except it was a to a CCF girl)
• It was disturbing and heartbreaking to see in a room of 85 only 5 people agree with Jesus that Christianity is a yoke of ease with a light burden. I been there myself and dont want to go back.
• Excited for the possibility to lead a Crossbridge small group. Never lead one before
• “Stay on your balls” ~Nathan Uy (meant to be stay on the balls of your feet or in english on your toes)
• This bible in a year is killer
• The community of others doing it has been mind boggling and encouraging
• “God owns it all” ~Dave Ramsey
• Video preaching works! I gotta be honest I was pretty pumped to get to church and watch a video by Dave Ramsey.
• Not only does video teaching work but video teaching ON TITHING works
• I LOVE this semester’s group of small group leaders. I really enjoyed spending saturday with them
• 2 Killer ideas from Nathan Uy: Resident day, Small group leader day. 2 HUGE successes
• Dodgeball always brings out the laughs
• Thanks to First Baptist Tally for letting us use their gym for 3 hours.
• The more I get to be a dad with all the kids the more I wanna do this with excellency
• I am proud to rock the minivan(even with the topper)
• I love being home with the family more than ever
• Bible in  a year has me taking many notes I am sad I cant blog them all
• Its crazy to read how dishonest Abraham was at times.
• Powerful to know how strong his faith was still and how God kept his covenant with him
• “The church that is content with not growing is saying the rest of you can go to hell” ~Rick Warren
• When I see a rainbow I still think of God’s covenant
• Busy Christianity can so easily remove us from our mission
• I am so thankful I work with friends.
• When ya dont have vision for the future it feels like running on a treadmill
• I think I found my new sweet spot to pray for campus and seek God.
• “It goes past learning to using what you have learned” ~Naomi
• The world says who we are by what we do, the bible offers the truth that who we is based on what Christ did.
• Being up high looking over campus reminds me of God’s perspective