If you didn’t already download the podcasts of the main sessions you can do it here. I made sure I snagged them b/c there will come a time in the life of our students, leaders, and youth ministry that a reminder about what God has done will be refreshing. Sometimes being able to bring up a simple idea from Francis Chan, the idea of Holiness from Dan Seamen, or the idea of a simple, passionate, basic love for Jesus like Brennen Manning talked about at Project 132 brings back the calling and feeling of an experience that means something.

Thank you so much for allowing be to share this wonderful experience of LIFE with you guys ~ your witty comments and beautiful stories have encouraged and challenged me.

PLEASE CONTINUE to share your Jesus story both online (here or our facebook group:)) and with everyone you come into contact to. It’s amazing how much our honest God stories speak to people around us.

May God continue to bless you as you live out your calling to be a disciple of Jesus ~~

my bad:)

but right now i thought of updating, but it’s pre 6am and we’re about to board our flight to go back to good old non-thunderstorm mega humidity New Jersey….ahhh…that just sounds good….

i’ll try to update later today or early tomorrow…depends on my (and my daughters) nap schedule:)

it’s about 12:23am and things are finally settling down for day two. What a day…

we started off with running with a sweet morning session, a seminars marquee (Almost like a choose your own adventure b/t the head, heart, and hands), then back to session 2 with a REAL choose your own adventure then to youth min time…

and that just took us to 4pm!!!

i can honestly say that today was amazing. the idea of understand a vintage (original) truth and a simple but power view of God made for some great conversation. in my group the idea that God desires our best and not getting destracted by the gifts thta he’s given us were a hot topics of discussion. we just marveled at how much we (our church and the church of america) get caught up in church stuff and lose sight of the wonder and beauty of the Giver…

should be interesing to see how God continues to shape and challenge our views and relationships with him ~

holy cow!!! all i can say is that it was amazing!! the swift, the skit guys, and kent BROUGHT THE WORD!! it was a great night~

now it’s 12:00am and i think it’s time for bed since our group gets to go in early tomorrow~

much love everyone…see you for a great packed day tomorrow:)

see you there~~

if you thought he was cool…get ready to go vintage with “OLD SKOOL!!!!” with some very…distinct…characteristics, he’ll be sure to grab your attention no matter where in orlando you find yourself.

keep your bookmark set to the LIFE site for some videos to come…

i begged to have them up weeks ago…but they said “they couldn’t handle old skool!!!! he’s too amazing and…unique!!” since i can’t show you videos yet…i’ve snagged an unpublished pic of Old Skool.

if any one asks, you didn’t get this sweetness from me:)

Service Projects:
Are there still spots available? YES!! on July 5th and 7th we’re working with Hands on Orlando for a wide variety of service projects ~ want to sign up? go here!

Is there any church plants that we can help out with? YES…but all those spots are already full right now…

If you have any other specific questions you can send an email to: life07service[at]pnw-cma.org

Excursions:

Can I get some discounted tix??!! YECK YEAH! go here.

I already bought tix somewhere else. Can I still book some transportation to the Parks? For sure you can! you can actually sign up for transportation 4 days prior and 4 days after LIFE…so book away!!!

On a different note…
The Watts for LIFE project is going pretty well. I just got an email letting me know that they are almost at the $7000 mark!!! If you haven’t had the chance to get your group involved in that yet make sure you do. Thanks to everyone who’s helped so far~

It’s race day. that’s right everyone…tomorrow is the big race we mentioned here.

I was talking to someone from the church in New Mexico today just to try to get an update on where they were in raising the money they needed to help support the church in Watts. I’m gonna be honest, i was a little disappointed…their only at $3400. That’s $100 short of 1/2 way.

PLEASE consider how you, your youth groups, or churches can support this amazing ministry. I know we’re all trying to do what we can fundraising wise to raise money for our own groups…but I’m asking you to join me in helping support these guys. We actually just gave 10% of our last fundraising event to the project…it was only like $100…but it helped my students and church understand that LIFE 2007 isn’t only about us. God’s got a plan for every student there…

You can still donate. Go here to find out how.

I’ll try to give you guys an update as soon as i hear. Hopefully Kent will recover quick enough to come to LIFE;)

Good luck guys…we’re praying for your safety and stamina~

i got really excited today when i looked into my inbox at my office and saw a package. i always like soft packages b/c i know it’s not some book or promo material from a college or ministry that wants my group to come.

i looked at the sender, the CMA, and got worried for a sec. is this about my ordination?! my excitement turned to worry…then i opened the package…

IT WAS A PROJECT 132 DVD AND T-SHIRT!!!!! how awesome is that? every church who is going to LIFE 2007 gets the kit. i just watched the DVD…there are some REALLY WELL DONE promo clips for our youth groups about ways to help out with Project 132 and get involved.

and i love what matt peace says at the end of the note inside, “please help us by making our project your project”. this is gonna be sooooo awesome~~

join our facebook group and post on the board what you guys are bringing to Project 132. (you’ll love what i’m bringing;))

We’re about 2 months out from LIFE; all the fundraisers have been happening, kids are getting PUMPED, we’ve been booking planes, trains, and automobiles to get to Orlando and all the sudden a student who didn’t want to go in September now wants to go…

One part of us jumps for joy b/c that student wants to go and we understand that God has a plan for them to be there. Another part cringes b/c we’ve already made all these plans, booked all the hotels and transportation…and now we’ve got to try to squeeze another student in. And honestly, we sit and wonder why the heck they didn’t sign-up on time and start to get frustrated and wonder if it’s worth all the hassle to get them to go.

Maybe I’m the only one who feels that way…maybe not. After the initial frustration settles down, the Holy Spirit usually seems to open my eyes and heart to view that student like He does….precious and important. Praise God for moments of realization right?! It makes me wonder how often my actions should frustrate God, yet He shows me grace…

So with that in mind, if one of our students frustrates us by asking if he/she can still go…remember that God has a wonderful plan for them. I’ve found out by experience that registration is still open…so keep signing up your students:)