Countdown to London: 5 Days Until Departure

I had my 2nd calculus 3 test this morning; I think it went well. I have my ECD 220 (RA class) mid-term this afternoon. I have a very busy day ahead of me...actually, a very busy week ahead of me. I made a schedule last night of what I will be doing by the hour this week--that's how packed it is! There are blocks of time that I am not in class, or in a meeting, or at an event, that will probably be consumed by homework. I decided to take a break from studying right now to write on this thing because it's been a few days without something new. But other than this, I am going to be super busy until 10 pm tonight! Please note that my day started at 8 AM with my calc test. Tomorrow, I start again at 8 AM, but hopefully I will have a break here and there to just sit down and take a deep breath. The week or two after spring break will be like this too. Anyone reading this that is familiar with NCSSM terminology--this is like the last week of 3rd quarter. Except that last week was like this and the two after spring break will be like this too. So, a month of "last week of 3rd quarter"--I'm busy. Don't think this is complaining though--I might complain every now and again because I miss the days of kindergarten when you went to school and played and napped and then came home and played and went to bed. But, I am staying pretty organized right now, and I am making a big point to not lose a lot of sleep (me tired = more stress). So, I'm good. I just might not have much time to talk to anyone.

Let me know how you kids are doing--I'd like to hear from you and reading it up here might be the easiest way to do it because I am trying to limit time on AIM where I am just sitting and talking and not doing much else.

I looooooooooooooove you guys
and dang it's raining, at least I have swimming next :o)
JMM

Music

Burning music is against the law. Burning music is stealing. Sorry i had to get that out. I'm sure you guys can figure out who this is.

God Of Wrath, God of Love

Romans 1:18-21
The wrath of God is being revealed from heaven against all the godlessness and wickedness of men who suppress the truth by their wickedness, since what may be known about God is plain to them, because God has made it plain to them. For since the creation of the world God's invisible qualities-his eternal power and divine nature-have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that men are without excuse.
For although they knew God, they neither glorified him as God nor gave thanks to him, but their thinking became futile and their foolish hearts were darkened.

1 John 1:5-7
This is the message we have heard from him and declare to you: God is light; in him there is no darkness at all. If we claim to have fellowship with him yet walk in the darkness, we lie and do not live by the truth. But if we walk in the, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies all sin.

Being in a human state sin is pervasive to our being, it is inescapable, we have no way to achieve Godliness but through God. We must always give praise and thanks giving for though God is a God of wrath as mr, crowder says he is also a God of love, and while our sins condemn us his grace brings hope. It is our objective to be in the light, and this is only possible through Christ, now all of this is obvious to most of the people who read this my embellishment is of little importance but it has recently occured to me that i have made a grave error in my judgement, personally foul language doesn't bother me much because foul language is a human societal construct for the most part, and thus i have been unworried about the use of such language on some occasions, however, I forgot that to some i may represent God and as a Christian in the understanding of many that isn't something that Christians do and so i now understand that this is a habit that i must put to an end.

Romans 8:1-2
Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, because through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit of life set me free from the law of sin and death.

This is a passage i've used before (i like it) but it is always appropriate while our sins condemn us as preivously stated, Jesus came and provide us with GRACE bringing us into the light so that we may glorify God in our daily lives. Witnessing isn't going to be an something we do for the first time this year but rather we are merely adding another element to our lives. a more direct witnessing element. it is through our actions that we must witness first.

Jordan C

PS a reminder to sign your comments

Word for the Wise

Don't stay up until 3 AM if you have an 8 AM class. It's not a good idea. In fact, you will probably sleep through your 8 AM class. Kids, just don't do it. It's not worth it.

Oh, dag, so I'm just staring off into space. I am going to fall asleep in class today. I mean, I made it through English ok...but ECD 220 this afternoon is going to kill me. I don't think I will be able to make it. I have swimming next....I hope I don't fall asleep in the pool.

Man, I'm a retard. I'm going to be so busy for the next month, I shouldn't start losing sleep now. I procrastinated for a good, oh, I don't know, 3 hours last night--and THEN had to finish a paper. Good grief.

Sigh
I hope you all have a great Monday
And, I hope that this "case of the Mondays" doesn't turn into a case of the Tuesdays too.
<3
Jordan M

FAITH

   Matthew 9: 20-22
Just then a woman who had been subject to bleeding for twelve years came up behind him and touched the edge of his cloak. She said to herself, “If I only touch his cloak, I will be healed.”
Jesus turned and saw her. “Take heart, daughter,” he said, “your faith has healed you.” And the woman was healed from that moment.

Matthew 9: 27-29
As Jesus went on from there, two blind men followed him, calling out, “Have mercy on us, Son of David!”

   When he had gone indoors, the blind men came to him, and he asked them, “Do you believe that I am able to do this?”

   “Yes, Lord,” they replied.

   Then he touched their eyes and said, “According to your faith will it be done to you”; and their sight was restored. Jesus warned them sternly, “See that no one knows about this.” 31But they went out and spread the news about him all over that region.

Luke 19: 15-19
One of them, when he saw he was healed, came back, praising God in a loud voice. He threw himself at Jesus' feet and thanked him–and he was a Samaritan.
Jesus asked, “Were not all ten cleansed? Where are the other nine? 18Was no one found to return and give praise to God except this foreigner?” Then he said to him, “Rise and go; your faith has made you well.”

Today at church the pastor was talking about extreme faith, and abraham but i didnt personally it was the best scripture for the question but rather examples of people seeking Jesus, rather than the skeptical abraham

Faith is incredible, and of course everyone talks about having child like faith because children don't have any doubts and skepticism they believe what there parents tell them is truth, the believe more profoundly than the people who tell them sometimes.
but further we to obtain a deeper faith we need to be challanged and every so often theses doubts creep into my mind. What if im doing it wrong and its a feeling of absolute terror sometimes, but then i have moments of absolute clarity where i realize that there is no other way for this world to have come to being with out God, how could billions of cells randomly create something so complex as the human brain, and i see the depth of the faith of people around me and realize that this is a stage being broken so that i can be rebuilt better stronger, when a foundation is created first you digg into the ground for the rock and the building will stand God has to do that to people to, if there was never a doubt than i merely operate on what im told rather than fostering a relationship with God
Praise God for being God
further i was thinking the other day about how youth leaders try to make God look "cool" when they're chasing the wrong objective God is INCREDIBLE but kids and youth need to be told why, but sometimes it seems that pastors don't think kids can handle the depth of God when if its not shared you create a 1950's tv God you pats you on the back and dust off your knees and give you a dime for ice cream, but God wants us to talk with him and communicate and do his will not the other way around and sometimes it seems no one says that
amen

Jordan C

Missing Out

The song "Offerings" by Third Day is where its at. The cd "Anthems of Praise" by Jonathan Stockstill is where its even more at. You guys are missing out on this greatness.

Luke David Oltmans

Things Are Coming Together

I know you kids got Gene's email from today about camp, but I just wanted to say that it filled my heart to read "This years theme is PRAY.... so let's start praying for our staff and
campers." That soooo relates to what we've been talking about--praying for our staff and our campers, putting our FAITH what God will do with this summer.

I just want to put this out there for you guys, because God's been leading me in this direction a little bit (still needs some more prayer): what if we fasted at least once before this summer? I've really only fasted once, and it was recently; it was quite an amazing experience. It really made me focus on God and show God that I believe in what He will do. Pray about it, and let me know what you think.

This verse has been in my profile, but I like it, and want to put it up here:
"...for everyone born of God overcomes the world. This is the victory that has overcome the world, even our faith. Who is it that overcomes the world? Only he who believes that Jesus is the Son of God." 1 John 5:4,5

love you kids bunches
Jordan Mc

Funny Conversation

Brooke and I had this conversation:

GiNcHiBaBy: yeah he (steve hurley) said hes gonna fight steve smith over which one gets to be my valentine
GiNcHiBaBy: and hes like "remember, steves old"
GiNcHiBaBy: "he may be able to fix anything you want, but he's old"
J M M JoRdAn: hahhah
J M M JoRdAn: steve smith asked me to be his valentine...
GiNcHiBaBy: hes a player
J M M JoRdAn: well dang

It made me laugh. The Steves are funny fellas.

JMM

Whats goin on?

I didnt get one of those fancy emails from Gene about coming to camp that weekend. I guess i'm not working then....

luke

Happy Valentine's Day!

I LESS THAN THREE YOU GUYS!!!!

jm :o)

out of it

I must admit, going to dinner with jordan last night really sparked my enthusiasm for this summer. Don't get me wrong...I was enthused beforehand...but now...wow. In telling me about all that you guys are discussing and looking forward to doing, I sat down and thought how wrapped up in my own stuff ive been lately, that I havent even taken that much time to ponder what I wanted camp to be this summer. I think i just looked at it like i did every other summer. But last night I realized, with this much enthusiasm, it should, and will be so much more. I mean wow, to see you go out planning all of these themes...im amazing and awe-struck. Someday, possibly, I hope to fill the tracks you guys leave behind as totally awesome and amazing counselors.
-Petra

Because Luke Said So

"God I'm losing apathy/ and God, I'm gaining urgency/ God I will follow just show me the way/ Show me a world that is hungry for, thirsty for, God"
-Urgency by Brevada

Ahh this song is so amazing. I heard this song for the first time last night, well actually it was the first time I heard the band (unfortunately it was their last show) and its so amazing!

Luke told me to post in here, so I am going to.

Hmm, lets see...Lent has begun, and this year I made my Lenten resolution to have two-thirty minute quiet times every day, once in the morning and once at night. So far I have stuck to it and its been really great.

One verse that I have came across during one of these quiet times was Deutreronomy 30:19 which says, "I call heaven and earth to witness you today that I have set before you life and deth, blessings and curses. Choose life so that you and your descendants may live."

God gives us so many choices, so much free will, we don't have to follow Him, but why not? Look anywhere in the Bible and sin just seems SOO SOO STUPID, not worth the eternal suffering that comes from choosing to live that lifestyle.

God's been working in me a lot, really revealing things to me and it's been good, it's nice to feel really intune with Him, although today I must admit that I am in a weird mood that is making me lose focus, which I hate.

I am so ready for the summer and ready to be done with school. I feel really overwhelmed not just with school work but emotionally and I am can't really pinpoint the source of it all. I just don't want to be at school or at least not in the academic part of school.

I am really excited about all the plans we have for the summer, just being able to really and truly serve God with our entire bodies and making our everyday lives a ministry. Its so exciting, it will be amazing to see how God will start using us when we open up our hearts and lives completely for his use. We should all start working on this already, right now, finding outlets to serve God and allowing Him to use us, not just push it off waiting for the summer.

ok I don't feel like this a very good post but I shall write more later, when my brain and heart are more focused.

peace out kids, I am praying for you all everyday...live it up for the Big man

-Brooke

NAKED

I was telling Brooke this, but I wanted to share this with the rest of the crowd. Since we are coming up with all these great ideas and hopes for camp this summer...I thought about this:

In addition to the camp theme, the staff should also have their own theme: "Naked." We grow the most when we let ourselves be vulnerable to God and to each other. By just taking off the masks we wear and making others at ease to do the same, our staff will grow closer this summer. Another good byproduct of this is that if we make ourselves vulnerable and let ourselves be really known, then we will have a harder time gossiping. It obviously won't alleviate any run-ins between people, but it might allow us all to grow closer together and closer to God.

Just another crazy BIG idea
Heh, maybe we should come up with a game plan that incorporates all our ideas :o)
Jordan M

Got some 411

This is tentative stuff, very undetailed, I talked to Gene on the phone, and he said that for interviews that they're going to send an email out this week to everyone, and they want to try and do all the interviews on one weekend so youll be getting information from an official source, further it is Gene's intention to hire most anybody returning that applys.
jordan c

Accuse Me of Madness

Hosea 9:7
The Days of punishment are coming
the days of reckoning ar at hand.
Let Israel know this
Because your sins are so many
and your hostility so great,
the prophet is considered a fool
the inspired man a maniac

2 Corinthians 5:13-17
If we are out of our minds it is for the sake of God; if we are in our right mind it is for you. For Christ's love compels us, because we are convinced that one died for all, and therefor all died. And he died for all, that those who live should no longer live for themselves but for him who died for them and was raised again.
So from now on we regard no one from a worldly point of view. Though we once regarded Christ in this way, we do so no longer. Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation, the old has gone, the new has come!


Madness is what should be aspired for, without those who would act in a radical manner there would not be growth. Different perspectives are a catalyst for change in the hearts of those who need the change. Madness encompasses all the meanings that are needed, madness, radicaly devoted, profound love, unchecked ambition.
The greatest compliment that can be paid to a Christian is an accusation of "madness", the apostle were accused, Paul was accussed, Elijah and Mosses, and JESUS. let us be madly in love, madly devouted and madly ambitous.

jordan c

Just a Heads-up

I went to the doctor on Friday about my wrist. For those of you who don't know, I have a ganglion cyst in my left wrist. It's pretty ferocious and it has been there since summer 02. I have been putting off surgery for a really long time, but as of Friday, surgery was put on the schedule. I will be having the cyst removed on Thursday, March 24. It's a pretty simple procedure; the doctor said it will take all of about 15 minutes...but I think they will have to put me all the way under to do it. I don't think they can just numb my arm.

Just thought I would update you guys!
Love
Jordan M

Another one....but this is big stuff

So this a big flurry of posts from us all...but i wanted to post this even before all of us got going. This is what i realized--witnessing is our sole purpose as christians, nothing else matters in comparison. I think this is something we all kinda know, but supress because we're afraid to do it. So i said nothing else matters, and of course i dont mean us growing or fellowshipping is not important, but all of that stuff will fall into place when we make our focus preaching. We all gotta read our Word daily and become more godly, but it all leads towards making us a better witness and more submitted to God so he can use us to the fullest potential. If you feel like there's something missing or that you've reached a plateau in your walk, i'd bet money that you need to step up in your witnessing focus. For me i've come to a point where i'm at a crossroads--if i step up to the plate in witnessing i'll see massive growth and God's power, but if i dont i'll reach a plateau and even perhaps begin backsliding. Scripture supports this in Philemon 6 "I pray taht you may be active in sharing your faith, so that you will have a full understanding of every good thing we have in Christ." If we wanna see God's power to the fullest, this is the best and only way to do it. Why dont we see miracles so much like they did in acts? Its cause we're not preaching the word--the miracles came in AFFIRMATION of the words they preached to the unsaved.
Brooke you mentioned preaching on the weekends this summer--i actually had that same thought last summer but never brought it up. I would like to just go in pairs to the mall and witness to folks (there are good methods for this).
Seriously guys, witnessing is where it all begins. Paul was one of the most godly men ever and acts tells us that when he got saved he began preaching IMMEDIATELY. I sure as heck wouldnt mind being like Paul, so lets be preaching.

Love ya'll,
Luke

So recently i have about the greatest thirst for God in my entire life, and its probably because i have so few things distracting me right now, and i don't have a campus ministry or church yet so i've been listening to Louie Giglio's sermons online and he spoke about being reborn in God recently and listen and it was awesome any way the scripture he used was from Romans

Romans 6:15-16
What then? Shall we sin because we are not under the law but under grace? By no means! Don't you know that when you offer yourselves to someone to obey him as slaves, you are slaves to the one whom you obey -- whether you are slaves to sin, which leads to death, or to obedience, which leads to righteousness?

Romans 7:15-8:2

I do not understand what I do. For what I want to do I do not do, but what I hate I do. And if I do what I do not want to do, I agree that the law is good. As it is, it is no longer I myself who do it, but it is sin living in me. I know that nothing good lives in me, that is, in my sinful nature. For I have the desire to do what is good, but I cannot carry it out. For what I do is not the good I want to do; no, the evil I do not want to do–this I keep on doing. Now if I do what I do not want to do, it is no longer I who do it, but it is sin living in me that does it.

   So I find this law at work: When I want to do good, evil is right there with me. For in my inner being I delight in God's law; but I see another law at work in the members of my body, waging war against the law of my mind and making me a prisoner of the law of sin at work within my members. What a wretched man I am! Who will rescue me from this body of death? Thanks be to God–through Jesus Christ our Lord!

   So then, I myself in my mind am a slave to God's law, but in the sinful nature a slave to the law of sin.

Therefore, there is now for those who are in Christ Jesus, BECAUSE THROUGH CHRIST JESUS THE LAW OF THE SPIRIT OF LIFE SET ME FREE FROM THE LAW OF SIN AND DEATH


During this message i wrote in my bible I DIE FREE, while this is a battle cry of many slave rebellion, isn't that though what Christianity is, a rebelion against sin and death, a fight against the devil so we have been led to freedom, born into freedom by God, that is just awesome.
But at the same time how many times i have not done what i should have done in order to stregthen this rebellions, I have the key to the shackels around the lives of people i go to class with or play video games with and i have not used that key and thus have left these friends shackeled to the walls of sin and death, further I have not always adequetly combated the evil that i do not what to do but let my self do but only through God can i free myself and others from those demons that do not tire, By GRACE I have been save and without that grace where would i be

Jordan C

this is the sight for a couple of Louie Giglios sermons.
http://www.268generation.com/thirsty/louies_message_frameset.htm

JOY IN SPITE OF TRIBULATION

Here is an exerpt from my devotional that i thought was AWESOME!!!

huge wave that would frighten an ordinary swimmer produce a tremendous thrill for the surfer who has ridden them. The things we try to avoid and fight against - tribulation, suffering, and persecution - are the very things that produce abundance joy in us. "We are more than conquerors through him" "in all these things"; not in spite of them, but in the midst of them. A saint doesn't know the joy of the lord in spite of tribulation, but because of it! Paul said "I am exceedingly joyful in all our tribulation" I THOUGHT THIS WAS AWESOME - THROUGH ALL SMILE, AND LIVE WITH JOY!!!

Things are going great! love ya! Petra

Let's Get It Started In Here

I just took my first calc 3 test of the semester. I think it went ok. We shall see when I get it back if staying up studying until 3:30 am payed off. Man, I need a nap.

I only have one more class today, and it's swimming. Too bad I have a few other things to do too. I have to go to the CHASS (college of humanities and social sciences) major/career fair in just a few, then I will go swimming, eat lunch and then come back here to shower. At 2 pm I have a meeting with a woman from the Triangle area Red Cross to plan the blood drive that my RA committee wants to do in March. Hopefully after that I can get a nap in, because I am on duty tonight. I only have to be at the desk from 8 to 11 pm, but I have to be in the building otherwise. Hopefully I won't get any fun phone calls in the middle of the night.

On a different note, I came across this verse last night during my quiet time:
"Now it is God who makes both us and you stand firm in Christ. He anointed us, set His seal of ownership on us, and put His Spirit in our hearts as a deposit, guaranteeing what is to come." --2 Corinthians 1:21
Sounds like a banking system :o). But how COOL is that? His seal of ownership.

Also, some songs really get to me--just think how powerful "Worlds Apart" by Jars of Clay would be LIVE in concert. Blows my mind. Jeremy Camp also has some songs that are pretty stinkin' powerful worship songs (if you ever get the chance to see the man in concert, you MUST go). His song "My Desire" is super good:

This is my desire
This is my return
This is my desire
To be used by You

And I know my heart is to feel You near
And I know my life--it's to do Your will

Kind of reminds me of Audio A's "Hands and Feet"

Anyways, this is a flippin long post
so, I'm out
jordan m

A though has come to me

anybody want to a bible study using this board, like a once a week devotion everyone can read and discuss
just a thought
Jordan c

Acts 2: 42-44

They devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching and to the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. Everyone was filled with awe, and many wonders and miraculous signs were done by the apostles. All the believers were together and had everything in common.

I was in my new testament course and it reminded me of camp because much of this is shared in our experiences at ROC. And how much happier i feel when im in such christian fellowship and in the company of such awesome people as you guys.

Jordan C