First Things and First Week

So last night I joined with some SEMO students in Towers East to spend some time praying for the University. They have been faithful to text me every week saying that they are getting together and I have never been able to make it but last night the Spirit really put it on my heart to go. I am so glad that I did. It was wonderful to be in a place where folks were really seeking God in prayer. There is a fire burning in Towers. Honestly I hadn't been around a group like that in a while and it was so refreshing to see it led by students. If you are around you are welcome to come with me in the future, I will be there as often as I can be. A few weeks back a passage in Acts 6 grabbed my attention. The apostles were getting weighted down by doing everything in the church including taking care of those in need, so much so that they aren't able to lead well. So they put new leaders in place to take care of the needy so that "we apostles can spend our time in prayer and teaching the word." Their first priority was prayer and teaching the word. They made time for prayer, in fact, they chose spending time in prayer over feeding the hungry. Prayer came first. That shook me. I hope it shakes you too. First things first.
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On a different note, I have been working on our schedule of events for the first week of school and we had planed to have inflatables and music out on the field next to Parker on Friday night, the day after move-in. Apparently the school has a big ice-cream social planed for that same time, so we need to move it to another day. I'm gonna go talk to some folks at SEMO and see what they think but I was wondering if you had any suggestions about what we could do during that day instead of conflicting with a major school event. We can move something from another day easily. I will post the original schedule below and you can tell me what you think. Thanks so much!!!

The Vision is Jesus
-Brett

Thursday- Ultimate Frisbee
Friday- Inflatables, Music, Food, Drinks, Lighting
Saturday- BBQ (Mechanical Bull), Blues Band, Fugative
Sunday- Welcome Back Picnic. Ignite!!! Assassin…
Monday- Water day, Pass out water bottles, Mud V-Ball?
Tuesday- Kickball
Wednesday- Lunch, Movies at Night
Thursday- Capture the Flag
Friday- Day-Glo? W/ Campus Out Reach?

Websites and such

So yesterday I got back from Clearwater, FL visiting friends and family and we had soooo much fun. I stayed up late one night playing Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles on the original Nintendo and spent another night with an old friend catching up till 3 in the morning. I hope your summer is going as well as mine so far.

Among other things, I have been checking out website options for Ignite and I have a few questions for you all. Do you think it is worth it to us to have a great website? Will people honestly make use of it or is Facebook adequate? What would make you use a website of ours often?

I have been looking at a company called Clover that makes websites for ministries. Please check them out, play around on the demos, and let me know what you think!

One last thing, remember to take time with the Holy Spirit this summer. Things start creeping in and it gets lost fast. He's speaking, let's be listening. Love y'all!

-bRETT

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=90Tueundpyk

Packets and Fear

This week I had the chance to go hear John Bevere speak a local church in Cape and it really spoke to my heart. John is a Christian author who wrote a book that was very important for the campus ministry that I was on staff with in college called "Thus Saith the Lord?", which was about listening to the voice of God and how to act with wisdom and maturity instead of the mess and immaturity that often accompanies people trying to hear God's voice and speak for him. Last night his main message was that God will not show his presence is people do not have the fear of the Lord, but having a deep reverence for his power, authority and knowing our deep need for him. Not being afraid of God, but knowing that life without him would be scary. I think that I have become passive about God's presence, like its no big deal. The Holy Spirit got my attention last night and showed me that my attitude is a real problem. I love Jesus, but often I don't fear him. I know he is my friend but often my heart stops knowing that he is God. He has no reason to show himself to me, to use me, to speak to me, to light up my life with his fire until I know all the way down to my marrow that he is God. Holy. I hope that hits home with you too.

On a different note, I wanted your opinions something. During the year we receive the names and addresses of incoming freshmen who filled out "religious preference cards" (maybe you remember them) and would like to receive information from us about Ignite. I want to send them a small packet from us. What should we send them?!!! What would be cool, helpful, and different? A card with our info of course, but what about a worship CD from La Croix, or a hand written letter from a student, or your favorite recipe for ramen noodle casserole? What would have made you think, "I am sooooo checking them out when I get to SEMO!" Let me know what you think!

-Keep the Flame,
bRETT

This is a test...

Hey everyone, just wanted to get this thing started! I want to use this space as a place for us to communicate this summer about the coming school year, to share what God is doing in our hearts and to get ready as leaders. You can sign up for this deal pretty easy.

An Acolyte is the one who assists in the work of worship, primarily in our tradition by keeping the flame on the alter. In essence, this is our job description. Worship is work, community is work, but if the flame is present we can be consumed by God's fire in our hearts.

Please respond to this post with something of your own so we know that you are on board. If you can, post the best youTube vid that you can find regarding fire. Here is my contribution...



Keep the Flame,
-Brett