adamlepp.com

It’s been raining here this summer…a lot.

And when it rains, it down pours.  you can’t stand in it for more than 2 seconds without becoming drenched.

Farmers are having a tough time with all this rain, and a lot of people are complaining about it.

But I have something else to say about it.  Let it rain!  Let it rain!

I believe God is trying to show us something through all this rain.  Water is a symbol of cleansing, of healing, and of restoration.  I believe God is beginning something big, so big that we can’t begin to comprehend it.  I think God is starting to cleanse this generation.  I think God is starting to heal our wounds.  I think God is going to restore these lands.

So let it rain, let it rain!  God we ask, we beg of you.  Open the flood gates of heaven and let it rain.  Let your grace, your mercy, your holiness rain down on this generation.  Purify us and make us holy.  Open our eyes to the wounds in our life.  Show us where there is emptiness and hurt in our beings, and fill those holes with your joy, with your healing power.  Restore this land.  It was was green and lush with vegetation, but now is dry and dusty.   Make it full of life and peace once again.  Let it rain, let it rain.  God, won’t you please open the flood gates of heaven and let it rain.

So there I was in church this morning thinking about where I was.  And I don’t mean physically.  This summer has been one of my toughest yet, under almost constant spiritual attack, and to be honest, not doing all that great of a job at fighting back.

While sitting there, the worship team leading us in some great songs, I just start to listen.  Not to the music, but listening for God to speak.  And guess what, He did!  And He reminded me the very simple truths in life.  Why was I struggling so hard this summer?  Well, in the terminology of John Eldredge, I wasn’t partaking in a battle and I definitely wasn’t on an adventure.  And without those two very important things in a man’s life, it’s easy to loose purpose and get caught up in sin.

The thing is, I know where the battle is on campus, and I know what it looks like.  I love fighting there.  But what do I do when schools not in session and the battle seams liks it isn’t there.  The truth is that it still is, but I believe the lie that it is far away.  The truth is it just looks different durring the summer.  As for my adventure, I’m still not sure what that looks like.  I can tell you though that in my adventure, I have no idea whats going to come next.

So, with that in mind, I’m going to fight.  I going to fight till my last breath and give it my all.  And I can almost bet things are going to get messy.  As the pastor was giving his sermon this morning, he quoted a couple of different guys (whose names I don’t remember).  One of the quotes talked about how the safest places to be was in the center of God’s will.

The safest place in the world is to be in the center of God’s will.

The other quote:

The center of God’s will is dangerous. To live outside God’s will puts us in danger, to live in His will makes us dangerous.

I love the second quote.  I love being dangerous.  I love being inside of God’s will.  It’s adventurous, it’s exhilarating.  It brings purpose and meaning to life.  It taking steps based on faith, rather than facts.  It’s scary.  It’s awesome!

So yeah, I have no idea if this post made any sense or not.  I have the strangest feeling it doesn’t, but that’s ok.  Love to hear your thoughts.

Peace and blessings,

Adam

As many of you (or at least some) know, I’m just completed my 5th and final year of college.  I graduated with a computer science degree!  I’m super excited!  I learned something the other day though, and I started thinking:  ”I’ve lived in Brookings for almost 5 years now and I had no idea about that.”  So I thought I would pass on to you 10 things I have learned at college that I think you should know.  Some are serious, some are funny, but all are true.  Here we go.

1. You can buy stamps at Wal Mart.  Seriously, I lived right across the street from Wal Mart for 3 years, but always made special trips to Lewis to get stamps.
2. The people you hangout with easily influence you.  Hang out with heavy drinkers, chances are you will start drinking too.  Hang out with people who care about social justice, chances are you will too.
3. Your friends are your family.  At college, it’s often hard to visit parents and family a lot.  Choose to befriend people who will care for you and love you.  Love and care for them too.  When something comes up, and it will, they are the first place you will go.
4. Don’t take your laptop to class.  You’ll never pay attention to a lecture again (trust me, I wrote this one while in class and I had no idea what the professor was talking about).
5. Your sin does not define you.  God create you, you are His workmanship.  Your identity is found in God and God alone.
6. Be unified.  Matthew 12:25 says that “Every kingdom divided against itself will be ruined, and every city or household divided against itself will not stand.”  I’ve see so much division, been apart of a lot it, and every time the group or people fell to ruins.  Be unified.  Humble yourself and love, even if that means you don’t get what you want.
7. Guys – “in the heart of every man is a desperate desire for a battle to fight, an adventure to live, and a beauty to rescue.” – John Eldredge
8. We are a mess, but it’s beautiful!
9. We might not always be faithful, but God Always is.
10. Be who you are.  Only then can you come alive and become who you are.

I thank God for the trials and tests of college.  Through those trials, God transformed my life into where I am now and I wouldn’t be here today if it were not for them.

I know I’ve learned many more things in the last 5 years, but these are just some of them.  How about you?  What are some things you have learned in college and want to share with others?  Post in the comments.  I’d love to start hearing back from you.

As always, may God bless you,
~Adam

I stumbled accross this video on Facebook the other day and wanted to share it with you.  It’s very inspiring and worth watching.  Nick Vujicic was born without limbs and this is a part of his story.  Check out his website.

After following the tread on Facebook about this video, someone posted a link to a video called The Butterfly Circus.  It’s a 20 minute film and worth every minute.  You can watch the full 20 minute version at The Doorpost Film Project’s website here.

He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation. For by him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities—all things were created through him and for him. And he is before all things, and in him all things hold together. And he is the head of the body, the church. He is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in everything he might be preeminent. For in him all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell, and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether on earth or in heaven, making peace by the blood of his cross. (Colossians 1:15-19)

How cool.  Here are some more images I found.