A few months back before I got rid of Facebook I had my posts from my blog here on Blogger.com imported as Notes into my Facebook. When I finished up my Facebook fast and went back to the lovely online networking tool I realized that my blogs were no longer imported. I didn't really do anything about it; but, I decided to this morning. As I was doing my normal morning Facebook stalking I found that my good friend and roommate Joseph had posted a Note about deciding to start posting Notes and that motivated me to reimport all of my blogs and let people have the opportunity to read what I write on my blog. At first I was a little concerned about people being able to read what I write, but then, I decided I didn't care...because it's just me and I hope people can accept that. So...here it is, my Blogs are going to start turning into Notes!

Labels: Facebook

Wow...that's all I can really say. God is moving in mighty ways in my life right now. With my intership/with relationships/with my feelings towards others/with what I'm learning about social injustice/with so many different aspects of what I'm going through. Our God is such an awesome God...I'll update more lata!

Labels: God, social injustice

I really have no reason to post an entry right now other than I want to...

So, we are getting towards the end of summer; the days are long, the afternoons are hot and usually accompanied by a thunderstorm. Orientation will begin in about 5 weeks and classes in less than six. People that have graduated and been living here this summer will be leaving and I'll be heading back to Lutz for another year...

I don't know how I feel about next year. I mean, I'm excited about the incoming Freshman and about getting to know them and, hopefully, be a part of their lives. I'm excited about seeing everyone again and about hanging out on the hall and in the Caf and on the quad. I'm even kind of excited about homework and classes starting again...

I can't believe it's already July 12!

Labels: classes, Gardner-Webb, school, Summer

So, I decided to get Facebook back after fasting from it for 40 days. I didn't get Myspace back and I don't plan on it. It felt really good not to have Facebook or Myspace to worry about while I got rid of it...at the same time, I feel like I need Facebook to keep in touch with others and for the things I'm involved in on campus. So, I guess I'll have it again, but I'm going to make a effort to not let it get in the way of my work or spiritual life, and if it does, I'll get rid of it again...

Where do I even begin? I'll just tell you about the whole weekend...

Friday at about 12:15, Sarajane, Ben and I left Gardner-Webb to head to Nashville for TheCall...and I was sooooo excited! We stopped in Hendersonville to get lunch and window chalk to write all over they car and then we were off. We got into Nashville at about 7 Friday night and checked into our very nice Holiday Inn Express. We headed out for downtown Nashville and at dinner at Hard Rock (which was amazing I might add) and then walked around downtown. We went back to the hotel and got in the bed since we knew the next day would be an early one.

So...5 AM Saturday morning the alarm clock went off and the day was on. We got up and showered and downed some Gatorade and water to start preparing for the day of fasting. We arrived at LP Field at about 6:15 or so to a line outside of the gates. We hung out, read some of the Bible, and then the gates finally opened a little after 8 o'clock. It took us a little while to get through because of security, but we finally got in and made our way to the field. It was so amazing from the start. They had a time of early worship until about 10. At first, we were somewhat tense; those around us were worshipping and dancing and having a blast, but it took us a little bit to get into it.

At about 10 Lou Engle came onto the stage along with some folks with shofars and began the day. The shofars were blown one after another and then in unison as Engle read the scripture from Joel 2...it was so powerful. Then, different representatives from different ethnic groups came forward and prayed for the day and for the participants from that group; Native Americans, African Americans, Asian Americans, Latino, Jewish, and worshippers of at non-denominational, inter-denominational, denominational churches came forward and prayed. What so so amazing is that the Native American prayed in English and his language, and the Latino pastor prayed in Spanish and the man that was born Jewish prayed in Hebrew. After that U.S. Senator and Republican Presidential candidate Sam Brownback came on stage and asked for forgiveness from the Native American, African American, and Latino for the way our government has treated them. What a powerful part of the day! Michael W. Smith read a letter sent from President Bush and then the day started. We began by praying for our president and those in leadership roles in government; we asked for forgiveness for the negative comments we've made about our president and prayed for him.

From there, we moved on and prayed about more and more issues. We spent time listening to statistics related to sexual immorality, pornography, sexual transmitted diseases, and abortion. We prayed for an end to the sexual revolution and for God to bring revival. We prayed for freedom from pain and thoughts of suicide and cutting. We learned more about the spirit of Baal that has come over the church and the toleration of Jezebeel in the church. We officially divorced Baal.

We prayed for abortion to end. We listened as a woman who was once an employee of planned parenthood and who performed abortions wept and asked for forgiveness for the children she killed. We listened as a young girl who had an abortion asked for forgiveness. We listened as a man who paid to have his child aborted asked for forgiveness. We heard stories of children being adopted by families and an entire community at Justice House of Prayer in San Francisco. Lou Engle read from a Dr. Seuss book, "Horton Hears a Who!," that is the story of abortion and was so moving. We prayed for an end to abortion and decided that as Christians we have to be willing to step up and adopt children and have to improve foster care and training for mothers. We received LIFE bracelets (they can be found at www.bound4life.com) and a piece of red LIFE tape that we put over our mouths and prayed for an end to abortion for 10 minutes. In case you're wondering, Bound4Life is a group related to TheCall that silently protests in front of abortion clinics and court houses by placing red tape with the word LIFE written on it and praying for an end to abortion.

Three couples got married during the day as a symbol of us as a people remarrying ourselves to God, and then the crowd took communion. The day continued with more worship and more prayer. Michael W. Smith led the crowd in song, as well as John Mark McMillan, and Jeff Deo. We sang and danced to the Lord.

At about 8:30, something amazing happened. They had 300 men, the number of Gideon's army, march down the center aisle with shofars. When they got to the front, Ricky Skaggs (yes, the musician Ricky Skaggs) let out 7 blasts on his shofar and on the 7th, all the other men joined in and the crowd went wild! For close to 15 minutes people screamed and danced and jumped up and down and the shofars kept blowing. The idea was that every great moment in history has a sound that accompanies it and, since TheCall was a great moment, that was our sound.

The day was completely amazing! My friend Sarajane and I both felt that a word that kept coming over us was freedom. FREEDOM! From sin and the things of this earth and inhibitions...freedom to love God and worship Him. The day was also full of repentance and there was a spirit of forgiveness about the whole event. We spent time asking for forgiveness and being open and honest about our wrongs; which was so amazing.

So...what's next? Well, right now, I can't stop talking about Saturday. I feel so free and fresh and full of joy and can't wait for more Calls. We plan to head to Las Vegas in September and then to Kansas City in December, Atlanta in January, maybe Berkeley in February...all leading up to TheCall DC II on 08.08.08. It's so exciting!

God is so amazing and I love him so much!

Labels: TheCall

So...we'll heading out for Nashville at about noon today. I'm super excited! I was just reading a blog that said so far 71,000 have registered so they're expecting about 250,000. They've put huge jumbotrons on the outside of the stadium so people can see it from outside.

I feel so full of excitement and joy that I can't stand it. I really feel like this week has been full of God and that he is definitely DEFINITELY moving to prepare hearts and minds for what 07-07-07 will bring to many people and our nation.

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"Even now," declares the LORD,
"return to me with all your heart,
with fasting and weeping and mourning."
Rend your heart
and not your garments.
Return to the LORD your God,
for he is gracious and compassionate,
slow to anger and abounding in love,
and he relents from sending calamity.
Who knows? He may turn and have pity
and leave behind a blessing—
grain offerings and drink offerings
for the LORD your God.
Blow the trumpet in Zion,
declare a holy fast,
call a sacred assembly.
Gather the people,
consecrate the assembly;
bring together the elders,
gather the children,
those nursing at the breast.
Let the bridegroom leave his room
and the bride her chamber.
Let the priests, who minister before the LORD,
weep between the temple porch and the altar.
Let them say, "Spare your people, O LORD.
Do not make your inheritance an object of scorn,
a byword among the nations.
Why should they say among the peoples,
'Where is their God?' "

"And afterward,
I will pour out my Spirit on all people.
Your sons and daughters will prophesy,
your old men will dream dreams,
your young men will see visions.Even on my servants, both men and women,
I will pour out my Spirit in those days.
I will show wonders in the heavens
and on the earth,
blood and fire and billows of smoke.
The sun will be turned to darkness
and the moon to blood
before the coming of the great and dreadful day of the LORD.
And everyone who calls
on the name of the LORD will be saved;
for on Mount Zion and in Jerusalem
there will be deliverance,
as the LORD has said,
among the survivors
whom the LORD calls.

JOEL 2: 12-17 and 28-32

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We want to return to God and want our nation to return to God as well...we can hear the sound of rain coming to America again!

By the way, I'll be updating my blog by cell phone on Saturday. Expect to see pictures from the event posted throughout the day!

Labels: 07-07-07, fast, gathering, God, Lou Engle, Nashville, Prayer, TheCall

I've spent the last week at home with family and friends and it has been great; but I'm definately ready to go back to Gardner-Webb. I came home last Friday and we rearranged and added carpet and new beds to my brother and I's room. Then Sunday we had a big church picnic. Monday through today has been pretty boring. I got my hair cut pretty short and go red highlights...I like it a lot. We had a big family and friend picnic yesterday. It was good to see everyone and to meet a bunch of counselors from the camp my younger brother has been working at.

This afternoon it is back to Gardner-Webb and we'll be leaving tomorrow at about noont to head to TheCall. I'm soooooooo excited about this weekend! I can't stand myself. I've become a blog junky and have been reading that 50,000 have registered and for every one that has registered you can expect five more...that's 300,000 people! How exciting! I just can't wait to get onto LP Field on Saturday and spend all day praying and singing to God.

Here we go...

Labels: fast, LP Field, Nashville, Prayer, TheCall