April 8th, 2009

What a shock on our recent Spring Break trip to the Grand Canyon to poke our heads out of our tents to find this:



Despite temperatures that dropped below freezing every night, our trip to the Grand Canyon was great fun. A highlight from the trip was hearing how excited the students were when we scheduled an extended time with God into the middle of our trip. The beauty of the surroundings lent itself well to meaningful times in the Word.

Now there is only a few weeks left of school, and we are beginning to plan out our leadership team for next year. Would pray for our staff team?

Pray:

1. That God would lead us to the right form and structure this leadership team should take.

2. Pray for God to be leading us to the right students for this role.

3. Prepare the students' hearts that we will ask to join us on this new leadership team!

March 25th, 2009

The Bible study that started last semester with four students had 11 people at it last night. This is interesting to me because I was perfectly content with just four, and I haven't done anything to try and expand it. It has just happened. These are the guys that God wants me to work with!

Here are three things to pray this week:

1. Would you pray that my guys would make faithful decisions about their summers? I am hoping a few will come to STPs, a few on missions trips, etc. But no matter what they do, I want them to do it by faith!

2. Would you pray for good fellowship and times in the Word during our Spring Break trip next week?

3. Would you pray that I would have good wisdom in addressing a tough issue in one of the Berean's life this week? It is an uncomfortable one, but after some prayer, I feel God calling me to address it. Pray also that he would have a receptive heart.

March 18th, 2009

One thing that has been challenging in the last few weeks is the need to change the location of our Spring Break trip. Our original plan was to go to Mexico to work at my parent's church--a trip that I had been looking forward to all year. But sadly, we had to change this because of the recent violence in Mexico. Apparently there are many liability issues at stake, and because the students are still under their parent's authority (unlike a church trip), we were encouraged to cancel the trip. This decision was especially hard for me because of my close friendship with the church, and of course the fact that my parents are also involved.

Not to mention the fact that this decision came only three weeks before Spring Break. Now we are scrambling to put together a trip. We have decided to go to the Grand Canyon.

I know that God is still sovereign over our Spring Break! Pray:

1. For Emily and I as we spend a lot of time planning for this trip.

2. For all the details to fall into place.

3. That God would accomplish his purposes through this trip!

March 10th, 2009

I am tired tonight. I have felt a little fatigued lately. There has been missing from my communion with God some of the sweetness and ease.

This is a busy time of year. Last week I was in Florida, helping my campus director to train some of the Navigator staff. I have another trip planned for this weekend. In a few weeks, I have my spring break trip. I am trying to lead well the guys God has given me.

I need Jesus, not only to sustain me in my ministry, but to sustain me moment-by-moment.

Would you pray:

1. That God would refresh me in the Word and in prayer.

2. For the strengthening presence of the Spirit in all I do.

3. For new depths of intimacy with Jesus.

February 25th, 2009

Chris and Gus are best friends. They are also roommates at CSULB, and are even dating sisters!

Chris's brother is on staff with the Navigators at San Diego State. Despite that, Chris doesn't have much of a Christian background, and last semester when we started meeting together, he and I started at the very beginning. Even thought Chris has been faithfully coming to my freshman study (the Bereans), we have been moving fairly slowly. Chris likes to think things through thoroughly.

I didn't see too much of Gus last semester, but this semester, I began to hang out more in Chris's dorm, and Gus and I have had a few conversations. Gus is intrigued by spiritual things, and I think a little aware that something is going on in Chris's life.

Last Wednesday, Chris and I met in the afternoon to read the Bible together; this is our usual time.

Gus was also sitting there.

"Mind if I sit in?" he asked.

"No," I replied. And Chris and I talked about John 3, with Gus listening in.

Pray:

1. For the Spirit to bring the Word to life for Chris.

2. For Chris and Gus to be speaking about these things together.

3. For Gus to hear and respond in faith to the Gospel!

February 18th, 2009

Once a year, students from around "Sunland Region" (California, Arizona, and Hawaii) gather in a cold and rainy camp about 40 miles outside of San Diego. Navigator ministries from around 15 campuses will be present. My campus, Cal State-Long Beach is going to bring about 30 students. This is a great showing considering we average around 40 students at our NavNight. I will also be giving a workshop at this conference on Biblical Masculinity.

Pray:

1. That God would use the conference in the lives of the students, especially Chris N., one of the guys in my Bible study.

2. That God would guide and use my workshop.

3. For safe travels to and from the Remember Conference.

We will be leaving on Friday afternoon and coming back Sunday afternoon. My workshop will be Saturday late morning.

February 12th, 2009

Austin has somewhat of a remarkable story. His mother was a San Diego Chargers cheerleader and his dad is a wealthy chiropractor turned real estate developer. They divorced when he was little. In high school, in the midst of a complete spiritual vacuum, Austin was invited to a Young Life retreat by his girlfriend, and he gave his life to Christ.

But now he is in college, and although he is excited about Jesus, he has no background in the church, and very little concept of what it looks like to be a follower of Christ. When we first got together, I asked him what his relationship with the Bible looked like. He said he doesn't really understand why he should read it, since he already knows the story, and if he has to make a moral decision, he has a conscience he can follow.

But it wasn't that he was unteachable...he just genuinely was mystified. So when we sat down together and read Psalm 1 together, I could see the lights click on. When I explained to him that a Christian who is in the Word is a Christian who is fruitful, his first response was, "Well, then I want to read the Bible everyday. Where should I start?"

1. Pray that Austin will be fed through the Word and grow into fruitfulness.

2. Pray that Austin will see the need for fellowship. He is not too involved in the Navigators beyond the time when we meet together.

3. Pray that Austin will have an opportunity to reach his family with the gospel.