Into The Woods

Wow, the semester is already almost half over! That means it's time for the annual InterVarsity Great Escape - a weekend in the mountains outside of Cloudcroft at the Sivells Baptist Retreat Center. It's a weekend to get away from it all and enjoy a time of fellowship, Bible study, and fun. I always love going, and this year I get to be part of making it happen as a part of the staff team. My part is pretty minor (I wrote the quiet time materials and will lead one of the discussion groups), but it's been really cool to see the retreat coming together and to get a sneak peek to some of the stuff that'll be going on. Unfortunately, and contrary to our expectations, this looks like it'll be a low-attendance year, but regardless I'm sure it'll be a great time. Please keep the weekend in your prayers that the students may get the most out of it.

This past week was pretty great. We had a special Large Group, which we dubbed "Lost", with the idea that like the show Lost we would raise a lot of questions, but unlike the show we would actually answer them. What this meant was that the students set up a table to allow people to drop in questions related to Christianity. Then at the Large Group we had a panel of students plus Hans to answer them. They did a really great job, even on difficult and disputable subjects like the origin of evil and the nature of the Trinity.

I also had a good small group this time. There were 5 of us total, and one of the guys who showed up is actually a Mormon. It seems like he's really interested in going through the Truth Project with us, and hopefully it'll be a chance for him - and the others involved - to take a hard look at what the Bible says and begin to change their own beliefs to match it. Please pray for them all to have an open heart to the subjects we'll be going over and for me and my co-leader Javier as we facilitate the study.

The Great Escape coincides this year with the UNM Fall Break, meaning that there are no classes this Thursday and Friday. While that doesn't mean too much to me directly, it does mean that IV isn't having many of it's regular events like Large Group, which in turn means that I'm getting a nice break myself. It gives me a chance to think, to reflect, to pray. I am beginning to see a lot of how the semester has shaped up so far and where it is going. I would have to say that if I could name one thing God has been working on in me, it would be prayer. I have really seen Him answer prayer in my life. Not just a simple yes or no, though that has happened, but realizing how prayer draws me close to Him. I pray, and He listens, and that has been more evident to me now than ever before. From developing new relationships to raising my support to my Dad's struggle with cancer, God has been there for me the whole way. What a great thing!

We actually know a bit more now about my Dad's situation. He got results back from a CT scan, and it looks like several of the lymph nodes in his stomach are somewhat swollen, meaning that they will be starting chemo therapy sooner than they anticipated. We don't yet know what that means since the doctors need to run more tests to determine a method of treatment, but we are trying to prepare for the changes it will have on his life and on our. Again, please continue to pray for us regarding this situation, and remember that we worship a God of healing.

Oh, and thanks to those of you who tuned in to hear me Tuesday morning on the radio. It went pretty well, especially since my director Rod was there to answer some stuff that I didn't know the answers to.
Have a blessed week!

"And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the saints, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge—that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God."
- Ephesians 3:17b-19