The Realm of Randomness: July 2010

Here's some belated, somewhat condensed Urbana notes. I just felt like finishing:

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Oscar Muriu

4 doors Jesus walked through

1. From pride to humility

2. From power to powelessness

3. From privilege to poverty

4. From harmony to brokeness

-Make yourself nothing

-Humility means keeping our mouths shut so the poor can speak

-Be dependent on the people we go to

-We don't don't know how to be quiet and listen, our hurry hurts the poor

Will you be that radical missionary?

Be courageous in our generation.

Take the beloved church of Christ to the next level. We need a new movement.

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End of message

The Word according to Greg Lao: Time for the adrenaline rush to settle in.

9:49pm

Biblical Lament:

-is communication & interaction with God

-shows our reliance and dependence on God

-Demands humility and repentance before God

-stirs us to action and partnership with God

11:57pm. I'm back at the hotel. Man, that lament we did after the main session was intense and bizarre; so many people crying and sobbing, and I'm not normally like that. Bus driver on the way back was awesome. Anyway, thinking about stuff. Trying to go to bed. DON'T WANT TO FORGET THIS NIGHT!

Wednesday, December 30

8:56am We got to sleep in! So nice. Breakfast was good, I felt sick afterwards (felt great before), need to watch what I eat. IT'S SNOWING! :( Urbana and God are AWESOME! I can't believe tomorrow is the last fully day! No! I never want to leave! It's challenging at times, yes, but it's so amazing! God has worked in me at Urbana SO MUCH!

9:06am

Bible study notes

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We need each other

Collaborative

-We need each other to see fully, deeply. In new ways; people, culture, see differently, bring different questions to the text.

-God speaks through the texts of Scripture and experience. We need to open the Bible

Psalm 19

Numbers 21:4-0

Jesus is not very good with small talk ; )

In the John passage, Nicodemus comes at night- "Those who do evil hate the light"

God gives new birth and we must choose to step into the light or stay in darkness.

11:26am At session: York Moore

God's light has invaded the world

Jesus alone stands at center of world

The gospel is our great portal into this world

In a light-invaded world, every tribe, tongue and nation will praise Jesus

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12:43pm Finished lunch. It was a rustic italian vegetarian sandwich... with ham ; ) I've got communion practice at 1:15pm

3:51pm Communion practice went well. Some kinks to work out, but it's good. People were nice (at this conference, in general, everyone is so nice. Yay!). Called my family. I better fill out my Decision Card. I hope my blood sugar doesn't get too low.

4:17pm I am incredibly selfish sometimes, ya know that? Probably yes. Um... What was I going to write about? Um.... Maybe writing to stop trafficking? I don't know. I hope and pray that Kenya works out. I'll be praying.

6:25pm Our solidarity meal was good, met some people from Orange County, CA and New Orleans, so cool. Our meal was not too bad-beans and a tortilla. We each only get one tiny cup of water (approximately 2 ounces of water)-that's where it hits the most. But that's the point, to remember those who don't have access to clean drinking water and those who would consider this meal an extravagance (where we Americans would consider it a simple meal). While we talked, I looked at the line of people who were throwing their stuff away, and I spotted one of my friends from church. I told Carol I'd be back, I threw my stuff away, and my friend saw me! We only talked for 30 seconds TOPS, but it was still nice. I'm pretty happy that I got to see him! Well, better wrap it up, we're going to the session now.

7:41pm

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Talk: Denise-Margaret Thompson

The Earth is not ours, but God's, and since we love God, we must love what is God's.

God's promised redemption is for both human and non-human

Trinidad has a 100 year history of being an oil and gas country.

-These climate/global problems most affect the poorest people

1 Chronicles 12:32

Jeremiah 13:16

We have to trust in God's leading

Though His voice may not IMMEDIATELY be apparent, it will happen.

We need joyful obedience.

The world God loves is not just people, but all of creation.

Romans 8:26

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End of talk

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Next message: Sundar Krishnan

"So much of our prayers are simply repeats of what God already knows."

God has given us the privilege to partner with him through prayer.

When we pray, things happen.

*Pray big and bold*

If we pray this way, are we guaranteed results? Prayer is not about getting answers. Circumstances might not be changed, but you will be utterly transformed.

Pray big, pray bold, history belongs to intercessors.

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End of talk

Announcements from Greg Jao:

Worship is not just 30 mins of singing, but a lifetime of living for Him

Priority is God's call.

We fulfill commitments not by doing without falling, but turning to the cross.

9:51pm [After main session, in our nightly "track" meetings]

Sang "Everlasting God" by Chris Tomlin

God has entered into our world.

Christ has made God's glory visible.

The glory of God was being rebuilt through Jesus.

12:02am I feel like a... glutton, almost, for drinking water! Yeah, I'll try not to forget this moment ever. Um.... I cannot believe that this conference-this life changing experience where God spoke so much-is almost over. I have had such an amazing time! I don't want to forget this. I'm scared that the fire will die our, I don't want to forget ANYTHING! Especially my decision/commitment. Oh yeah-I made a commitment! I'm committing to serve on a short term mission trip for a week or two. Preferably this year, and hopefully Kenya, but I will pray. Oh, I will.

Thursday, December 31

8:13am Waiting for Ashley and Carol to come out of the Secret Location [that's our name for an out-of-the-way hallway with a bathroom. We try to use it because this bathroom has no lines, which is a miracle for a huge conference. And no, I'm not telling you where it is, it's a SECRET!] Breakfast wasn't bad (yogurt, eggs, muffin and orange juice). I actually enjoy long bus rides (when we're not getting lost), they help me daydream and think. I do NOT want to go back home. I hope Communion tonight goes well. Oh, of course it will. Besides, it's not about me, it's about Him.

8:27am Getting ready for Bible study. These have really been challenging. They have been stretching me so much.

8:34am Can't believe it's the LAST day of 2009! Crazy.

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Random Notes from Bible study:

If we encounter Jesus in the Scriptures and make room in our hearts for His word to take root, we will not leave our study unchanged.

We want to be hospitable to the Word of God (Mark 4:20)

[Note: We talked about the Woman at the Well, John 4, I think]

Jesus had to go to Samaria because the Father willed Him there.

She [the Samaritan woman] put a toe into the light, Jesus turns on the switch.

To avoid "Samaria" is tragic-we could miss out on a place rich in salvation, history and on collaborating with Jesus.

How would Jesus' model help you reach out to those with whom you are not at ease?

God is ruthless, he will make us like his son.

10:39am So hungry, need to eat. People are singing "Happy Birthday" somewhere, and I don't know who it's for.

11:00am "Hosanna in the highest!"

--Antoine Rutayisire----

[Note: He is from Rwanda]

Lord, here I am, use me" (What he would pray whenever things got difficult)

Antoine grew up hating the Hutus (he was Tutsi)-he lost his job because he was Tutsi

He couldn't accept praying to his enemies.

He had a long list of people he hated-but God says, "There is no cause for hatred".

Rwanda Genocide in 1994-Antoine survived, but God said he must keep forgiving the Hutus and telling them that He loves them and to share the Gospel.

When you're wounded, remember the Cross of Jesus and Christ praying "Lord, forgive them."

---End of testimony-

--Talk: Ramez Atallah--

The calling is to obedience, not success.

Are you captivated by Jesus? Will you be on fire for Jesus?

In the story of Jesus in Samaria, Jesus saw a ripe harvest, his disciples thought that the Samaritans were rowdy strangers. Opportunity, problem-What do you see?

No longer the Savior of the Jews, but Savior of the World.

---End of talk highlights----

12:14pm Stats for decision cards:

2,292 people recommitted/committed to Christ

5,000 people committed to serve cross-culturally

2,610 people committed to serve in long term missions

4:03pm Just finished with a seminar "The Church in Latin America". It was interesting, I already knew most of the info, but it was still good. Getting ready for LAST track meeting!

6:47pm. Dinner was good (despite having a leaky water bottle). We counted down to midnight (because it was midnight in London)! It's 2010 there! As we walked into dinner, the Imperial March played.... It was kind of funny. After dinner, I saw my friend from church. We talked, got a picture together and went on our separate ways at the conference. It was fun. This is so weird that it'll be 2010 here.

7:54pm Cool dance, awesome worship.

8:03pm Alec Hill talk highlights: God's call after college

Vision will blur and the fire will die if we put missions aside until "after college".

Lord is less concerned about promises you make this week than he is about the promises you make right now.

Be missional on campus.

Let's go to those that are not like us, venture outside our comfort zones.

Don't defer being a missional Christian for after college. You never know who will be impacted by the gospel.

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--Talk highlights by Brenda Salter McNeil----

Do we really mean that we have "a river of life flowing in us"?

The Samaritan woman gets a bad rap in Scripture. She grew up in a context that discriminated her. Samaritans were considered half-breeds and women were considered property; their only purpose was to have children (this is why, in the Bible, many barren women grieved).

She was not a bad person, she was a thirsty person.

You never know when Jesus is gonna show up.

If we want to be credible witnesses, we HAVE to go through Samaria.

Nobody's fine, we're all in need of being fixed up.

We have got to go out with the power of God.

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9:58pm We had a 17 minute break. All the lines for the ladies room were LONG. I dashed upstairs, ran to the Secret place, ran back and made it with four minutes to spare. NICE. Praying Communion serving will be smooth.

11:27pm We came so we could go! So I guess I should be happy. Communion was wonderful, serving was good.

Focus on what God did when people ask about Urbana.

11:40pm 20 more minutes.

2:14am Happy New Year! Bus got lost. God is amazing. Walking detours are weird. So tired.

January 1, 2010

12:41pm We're off! Check out was at 12pm, so we got 7-8 blissful hours of sleep. I was happy. So glad I got to know Madeleine. We're in Hamal IL, Heading toward Lebanon (IL).

12:49pm We think that once we stop for gas, we'll stop for linner, dinch or dunch (lunch and dinner combined).

1:35pm Listening to Urbana worship CD.

Found out that Illinois is only #3 for most corrupt state! North Dakota is #1.

3:08pm We got gas and Subway for dunch. Was good. Hope my blood sugars doesn't get too low.

We're in McLean IL, where I see two interesting signs: "Won't save No Bunny" and "Guns Save Lives.com"

4:35pm Apparently it's 9 degrees F outside! Brrr.

4:52pm Apparently there's an article called "Afterlife of Trash".

5pm I'm kind of quiet. But God's still good.

5:30pm We're home!

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END OF URBANA NOTES

Yeah, that took a long time.

The Realm of Randomness

Friday, July 23, 2010

I'M BACK!

Sunday, July 4, 2010

1 MORE DAY!!!

Long Overdue Urbana Notes

Saturday, July 3, 2010

2 MORE DAYS!!!

Friday, July 2, 2010

3 MORE DAYS UNTIL KENYA!!!

Thursday, July 1, 2010

FOUR DAYS UNTIL KENYA!!!

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