New Series

So April has kicked my butt with being extremely busy and I am very happy to be blogging again. So excited for LP tonight and our new series starting next week called “You Choose”. So my Lving Proofers what do you want to hear about? This series you will pick the topics it will last for the month of May. Nothing is off limits so if there is anything you have been curious about or any questions about the bible, Jesus or Christianity just leave a comment and it could be the next topic at LP!

My Focus for Today.

2 Corinthians 5:13

If we are out of our mind, it is for the sake of God; if we are in our right mind, it is for you.

Retreat time!!!

W00t! Small Groups tonight then retreat Friday here we go! It is going to be so much fun this weekend you are missing out if you are not going.  A lot of students worked hard these last few months to earn there retreat money.  Sad thing is no LP this Friday I will miss so many of you.  The lack of hugs is going to throw me into withdrawal.  But I will see everyone next Friday and it will rock! Question: Where will you be this Friday?  It’s wierd for me thinking there’s no LP so what are you guys doing? Hope your weekend is safe and fun!

Defying Gravity

Ok, so I’m a dork. I love musicals and Fantasy. Last night I saw Wicked on Broadway and it was amazing. What they took and changed from the book was excellent. The character of Elphaba (Wicked Witch of the West) sings a song at the end of the first act called Defying Gravity. That song defines the whole musical for me. It, like many things, got me thinking about just that.

The crux of the matter is this: Will we defy limitations to see God’s will done?
Do we believe that whatever God is moving in our hearts to have done can be done? Many times we are called and we see limitations instead of guide posts. This book I’m reading (“it” by Craig Groeschel) brings up an amazing point. “God often guides by what he doesn’t provide.” So to defy our gravity it is NOT about having more resources, time, friends, or whatever. It is about using what we do have and not caring about what we don’t. It is about using the creativity given to us by a creative God to accomplish supernatural results for Jesus. I love Living Proof this year. Next year will be BETTER because we are Defying Gravity starting now. I am asking Mackenzie to make a Defying Gravity group on Facebook. Who at LP will defy gravity with us? DO NOT SAY YES!!!! …unless you’re ready. We are looking for a commitment.
Check out this passage:
Luke 14:28-34
http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Luke%2014:28-34;&version=31;
A yes to Defying Gravity is a yes to do ridiculous amounts of work, prayer, and service to make a supernatural impact in the lives of the students in Central Connecticut.
If you say yes to Defying Gravity I expect to see you in small groups, if they meet at a time that you can not make I expect you to tell us when you can go. If you need a ride I expect you to let people know and find one.
If you say yes to Defying Gravity I expect that this summer most of your time is spent with us at LP. We have some awesome stuff planned to accomplish by the fall. You may have to work at a camp this summer…this does not disqualify you from Defying Gravity. Again the limitations don’t matter. Defying Gravity means you will do something huge with us even if you may not ever be able to see us at LP all summer.
In the musical “Wicked” there are actually 3 characters that defy gravity and it puts them through horrible trials. It is not easy, it is not always fun, but it changes EVERYTHING. I know close to 10 students who would find the questions “Will you Defy Gravity with LP?” rhetorical. It is an automatic yes. God wants more. Will you Defy Gravity? Will I see you at Small groups? If you are up for it you can comment now, and join the facebook group. It is not for everybody, it has to be your passion. If it is not that’s ok. You are still an awesome part of LP.
This is for the ridiculous. So answer:

Will You Defy Gravity?

When you show up you get to do awesome things

“Awesome stuff happens when people show up”

Just finished the video for Living Proof this Friday. It occurs to me everyone who helped in it are people who are up to get whatever needs to get done done. Ben Eiss who helps me edit the projects came to me over a month ago and said I want to be a big part of Living Proof “put me anywhere I will do it.” Christina G. Came to me many months ago and said “I have gone to school for video. I am tired of not being used, use me to help with video. Adam and Alex Cartwright were helping Ben and I with some ideas when we were in the office. They were here because they named a few days they would come after school to help with whatever needed to be done. They were in the office and between the four of us we figured out some cool video stuff. Will, Anne, Lissette, Ashley, Jon, and Erin all of similar stories. They show up to serve God however they can and in many cases doing stuff that is not at all enjoyable in order to see awesome stuff happen for God. As long as it is for God these guys take care of it. I think about Mackenzie who said she would take care of all the online social networking. She showed up so the twitters and facebook rocks throw in there Jeremy who manages MySpace. Thinking of Jeremy Last Friday he told me he was going to show up to do whatever needed to be done and because of that we had an awesome skit on Friday night.

In the book of Acts after Jesus had left the disciples there was a choice. The people who had seen Jesus and those who started to believe had to make the choice of whether they were going to show up. Those that did God used to do awesome things. Those that didn’t faded into the background and many left the church. Later Paul writes to churches and mentions by name those who had been showing up, not just hanging around. Considering the amount of people in the early church the list was short.

People who don’t show up usually feel disliked. Sometimes they feel forgotten or outcast. Almost 100% of the time they are given multiple opportunities to show up but let it pass them by. I can say with the volunteer stuff at LP, if you feel others get asked to do more or that you are being forgotten it is because I do not know you want to show up. I say this because I think this is true of most organizations and jobs. There’s doing your job and then there’s showing up. Those who show up get things done.

Everyday when I come into my office I could just “do my job” or show up for God. If you are not showing up in the areas you care about: marriage, relationships, work, church, school, etc. That is the reason why you may feel the way you do. For those who show up regularly in my life I think you. Anyone who shows up for Fellowship and Living Proof:  The reason things are as good as they are is YOU!!!