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.

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

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

www.youtube.com/watch?v=AW579icDRSA

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)

www.youtube.com/watch?v=_e4zgJXPpI4

How cool.  Here are some more images I found.

Saturday – December 26, 2009

It’s a rough ride down.  We were suppose to leave at 11 in the morning, but it ended up being much later due to the winter storm we were experiencing.  The Interstate is closed, and three members from the group are stuck on the West side of the state.  As soon as the Interstates open up, four cars decided to head on out, one stayed back to wait for those stuck still out west. We left from Brookings and made it to Sioux Falls to pick up a few more.  We soon found ourselves divided though.  Do we continue on in the bad weather, or stay there for the night.  After some discussion, and payer, we decided it was God’s will for us to move forward.  God blessed us with really good weather and safe travel to Sioux City, where we stayed the night.

Sunday – December 27th, 2009

The conference starts at 6:00 that night, so after a brief nap, we get up and head out on the road at 4:00a.  Travel is good and God blessed us all the way there. We arrive at the Hostel we are staying at.  The host was super nice and kind.  They actually gave us a night free, as well as providing free bed sheets and towels.  We quickly(ish) unloaded and started walking towards the conference.  It’s about a 4o minute walk.  We go through the registration process and head to the large group session that started at 7:00p. And wow, was it intense.  You could feel the presence of the Spirit of God.  Here there were 16,000 people from all over to worship one God.  Wow.  We started singing the song “Doxology”

Monday – December 28th, 2009

Today, we had our first Bible study.  It was a small group (read less than 100 people) study, and we dived into John 1:35-42.  Very cool stuff.  I  was reminded that in Jesus, we are given a new identity by God our Father, but I was also realized that the identity He gives us doesn’t come in fullness right away, but rather fullness in time. After the first large group session, I laid down near our group and pretended to sleep.  I was broken and just wanted to cry, so I did, and prayed.  I’d become very distracted during the worship session.  I don’t know why.  So I cried and prayed.  Finally, I was like, just keep fighting this war and things got better.

At the first seminar, we talked about sharing the gospel.  The interesting part though was when we started talking about Mark 1.

¹⁴After John was put in prison, Jesus went into Galilee, proclaiming the good news of God. ¹⁵“The time has come,” he said. “The kingdom of God is near. Repent and believe the good news!”

We defined near.  I always thought it meant a temporal near, but it turns out that isn’t it.  Apparently, when Jesus says the kingdom of God is near, it means that it is physically near, like you can reach out and touch it near.  How cool.

The evening large group was a full circle of emotions.  We praised and thanked God, sang in multiple languages, heard/saw Rahabs story, and heard about slavery.  Intense.

Tuesday – December 29th, 2009

Today was super intense too.  I missed all the sessions but did stop over at InterVarsity booth in the Global Connections room.  I spend about 20 minutes talking to a guy about going on staff and he asked me to come back later to do three 15 minute discipleship like meetings.  I signed up for a time slot and came back.  Each meeting ended up taking closer to 30 minutes, but it was awesome!  God really took away any reservation I had about wanting to go on staff today and I can’t wait to talk to Aimee to start going down the application process.

Break time

I think I’m going to get this part posted.  It’s almost been two months since Urbana and I want to give you all something.  I’ll do my best to get Wednesday and Thursday up sometime in the near future, but no guarantees.  I apologize for taking so long on this.

I’ve been thinking about my blog a bit and realize I haven’t posted much recently.  I’ve been thinking, and I think it’s about time that the purpose and direction of this blog change.  A lot is going on here at South Dakota State University since Urbana, and while I will continue to tell you about what is going on in my life, I’d like to also share with you what is going on on our campus and in the lives of people on our campus.  I probably won’t get much into it tonight, being that it is 12:30, and I’m tired, but I can tell you this.

I see a new song coming forth.  I see a generation rising up.  Something is happening on this planent that has never happend before.  It’s new, and it is real.  I can’t wait too watch it unfold through out the semester.  I heard a prayer said at iHop and this is how it went.

From the north, to the south, to the east, to the west.  Every college campus, revival!

And so that is my prayer too, as well as for the church and the nations of this world.  I believe it is coming and so I ask for your partnership in this.  Will you join in praying with me for revival for the nations.  Also, pray for us as we go out.  I thank you in advance for your prayers and support.

I am off to go sleep now.  May your morning, day, and/or night be full of blessings.

~adam

A friend of mine was visiting the other day.  He was talking about his daughter.  She was born into a pretty crappy situation, and her mom didn’t want that for her.  My friend adopter her.  And here is what he was saying:  ”There isn’t a thing my daughter could do that could stop me from loving her.  She might piss me off, or get herself into trouble, but I lover her.  She isn’t my flesh, begotten by me, but I love her has much as I love my own begotten son.”

I know without a doubt my friend would do anything for his daughter.  And that is the power I was speaking of.  It’s love.

We watched Blood Diamond (imdb link) last night.  And all sorts of emotions started coming to me.  Thoughts of these child soldiers, who are taken, brainwashed, and trained to kill.  Thoughts of young girls (as young as 12 or 13, or younger) who are tricked or forced into prostitution.  Thoughts of how their pimps trick them into getting hooked on drugs, so the girls feel like they have to prostitute themselves to get more drugs.  Thoughts of how a 12 year old virgin girl will be sold as a virgin 2o times at $500 dollars a night, but then is sold for the normal price of $15 a night because her body is too messed up to bring in any more.

Thoughts about how in other parts of the world, you can buy a slave for $100, but can usually bargain the seller down to $50, or maybe even as little as $2.5o.  Thoughts about how people will sell a saves organ to make a quick buck on the black market, leaving their victim on the side of the road to die.  Thoughts about how this happens on the other side of the world.  Thoughts about how this happens here in the US.  Thoughts about how that happens here in South Dakota.  Thoughts about how Americans are the number one promoter for human trafficking.

It goes on and on, but I couldn’t stop there.  I started thinking about the poverty I’ve seen in Honduras and other places.  And then I started thinking about those closes to me.  I know people that have been sexually molested as a child.  Or boys who grew up without a father, even though he was just down the stairs.  At least two my close friends have experienced a suicide in their family, one heard the gun shot.

What then is my point you ask.  It goes something like this.  I see all this pain and hurt in the wold.  I see people chained to things.  I see my own pain, hurt, and chains.  And I can’t stand it.  And so I try to break free, I want to see others break free.  I’ve come to see that we can’t…at least not on our own.

Isaiah 61 keeps popping up in my life:

¹ The Spirit of the Sovereign LORD is on me,
because the LORD has anointed me
to preach good news to the poor.
He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted,
to proclaim freedom for the captives
and release from darkness for the prisoners,² to proclaim the year of the LORD’s favor
and the day of vengeance of our God,
to comfort all who mourn,

³ and provide for those who grieve in Zion—
to bestow on them a crown of beauty
instead of ashes,
the oil of gladness
instead of mourning,
and a garment of praise
instead of a spirit of despair.
They will be called oaks of righteousness,
a planting of the LORD
for the display of his splendor.

⁴ They will rebuild the ancient ruins
and restore the places long devastated;
they will renew the ruined cities
that have been devastated for generations.

⁵ Aliens will shepherd your flocks;
foreigners will work your fields and vineyards.

⁶ And you will be called priests of the LORD,
you will be named ministers of our God.
You will feed on the wealth of nations,
and in their riches you will boast.

⁷ Instead of their shame
my people will receive a double portion,
and instead of disgrace
they will rejoice in their inheritance;
and so they will inherit a double portion in their land,
and everlasting joy will be theirs.

⁸ “For I, the LORD, love justice;
I hate robbery and iniquity.
In my faithfulness I will reward them
and make an everlasting covenant with them.

⁹ Their descendants will be known among the nations
and their offspring among the peoples.
All who see them will acknowledge
that they are a people the LORD has blessed.”

¹⁰ I delight greatly in the LORD;
my soul rejoices in my God.
For he has clothed me with garments of salvation
and arrayed me in a robe of righteousness,
as a bridegroom adorns his head like a priest,
and as a bride adorns herself with her jewels.

¹¹ For as the soil makes the sprout come up
and a garden causes seeds to grow,
so the Sovereign LORD will make righteousness and praise
spring up before all nations.

If you didn’t know, Jesus references this passage in Luke 4

¹⁶[Jesus] went to Nazareth, where he had been brought up, and on the Sabbath day he went into the synagogue, as was his custom. And he stood up to read. ¹⁷The scroll of the prophet Isaiah was handed to him. Unrolling it, he found the place where it is written:

¹⁸“The Spirit of the Lord is on me,
because he has anointed me
to preach good news to the poor.
He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners
and recovery of sight for the blind,
to release the oppressed,
¹⁹to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.”^[e]

²⁰Then he rolled up the scroll, gave it back to the attendant and sat down. The eyes of everyone in the synagogue were fastened on him, ²¹and he began by saying to them, “Today this scripture is fulfilled in your hearing.”

You see, Jesus is the Christ.  He is the only one that can free us.  He is the only one that can comfort us.  He is the only one that can heal us from our pain and hurt.  And so today, I cry out!  I’ve see Jesus do a great work in me and those friends I mentioned above.  We’re not perfect, but we know with the help of God, we can overcome anything.  But there are so many that have never even heard the name of Jesus.  Maybe you haven’t.  If you haven’t, but want to.  If you want freedom in your life, just cry out for God to come and work in your life.

If you have, then you know the power of this healing I talk about.  The rest of the world needs to hear it.  Both those that are trafficked, that those trafficking need to hear it.  Maybe it’s someone closer, your mom or dad, or maybe a sister or a son.  I encourage you, be bold!  Tell the world!

Well, I’ve been trying.  I’m definitely not perfect (thank you to those around me who are patient and put up with me over and over), but it’s like that Matthew 6:33 verse:

But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.

In my seeking after God these last few weeks, he has brought this passage to life for me.  He takes care of me and blesses me in all my situations, good or bad.  Praise God!

So yeah, I guess I want to encourage you to join with me and seek god first, in all things.  It’s worth it!