if we ever leave a legacy...

another year 'bites' the dust... Jan- July

2012-01-04T18:53:00.005-06:00

I like to reflect.. it helps me process and see what the Lord has done.. My rock star life is never boring.. and this year was no exception. I am regaining my voice and learning to use it again. Thanks Taylor Swift and Hope Solo for the inspiration. Part 1 ...

2011-2012
Jan. '11
Amelia and Nicole visit me in the frozen tundra of CT. We get snowed in from multiple blizzards and have a blast with Shiner. We also go to NYC!! I continue my BB coaching at Masters, Dog walking fun, and watching Uconn basketball games at the XL Center and Gampel. SO MUCH SNOW! Happy birthday Amy :). I put pressure on myself to think through whats next.. but that takes so much effort...Loved spending the holidays with the fam!

Feb. '11
Dog business continues to grow and thrive. I am dressed head to toe in snow gear but am enjoying it. I also love my Young Explorers class at church. Concussions have hit my team hard. So hard in fact, that we have coined the phrase 'concussed'. It is hard to see the girls struggling and missing school with headaches and dizziness. BOO CONCUSSIONS! Planning for Sports Camp begins. It's great to be with my church during the planning stages. Future.. Connecticut? Church Planting? Back on Campus? Kids? Teaching? Will the Village join me??

March '11
UT spring break an only mean one thing!! Amelia and Nicole are coming to visit!!! And we're staying in the Castle!! And there is snow! CT Whale and Uconn games, watching Griff play soccer, and Ultimate Frisbee begins. Throw in a surprise trip to Austin for Centex, family birthday fun, and lots of dogs, and the month flies by!

April '11
Final Four fun in Indy with Nicole. We see the Indy 500 track, LATZ :), and Uconn upset by ND.. so sad. Texas A&M wins it all, but Howl at the Moon cheers us up! :) Coaching Ultimate Frisbee is a challenge but I'm enjoying the players. I'm holding down the fort while my parents go to Florida, when I'm stopped in my tracks. During a Doggy consult I'm attacked and bitten by a dog :(. Ambulance, ER, doctors, pain = no fun zone. I try to keep up the business but need help. Dad, Tracy, and Nicole to the rescue! But I'm in a lot of pain and my right hand is useless. Griff starts baseball and I try to keep up with everything, but by Easter I'm rethinking the dog business and thinking about what to do.. maybe teaching.... Nicole seems up for a move but Amelia has landed a job!! A Real job! YAY!!

May '11
Frisbee gets more challenging. So many doggy friends. My hand hurts so much. I'm very tired. I put some feelers out about jobs in CT but don't hear much. I reconnect with old friends in Florida and a job opportunity pops up. Fort Myers? Again? HMM? Off to Texas to celebrate Amelia and Nicole (and others) and have a meltdown at a wedding. Too many faces... Thankful for the Tooleys, Haugs and Allison Brown to pick me back up. They say Florida... but I don't know..

June '11
Masters Athletic Banquet. Great to see the kids from VB, Basketball, and Frisbee. I am bummed there is not a job opening there and am confused why the Lord wouldn't open that door. I keep on keeping on and go back and forth on whats next. Griff starts soccer , Gianna graduates from Pre- School and has her Dance Recital, :), Ella has a birthday, and I go see the Yankees/ Red Sox with Cheryl!!! Lots of clients, lots of family, but community is missing. Panda Mania is a blast and I'm convinced Kid's Ministry is where its at. The Gospel, the Faith, is so simple when its taught to children. God is wild about you. God made you. God listens to you. God watches over you. God loves you no matter what. God gives good gifts. I left this week refreshed in the gospel of grace. But it made me think, at what age do we add to these simple truths? At what age do we complicate and add to the gospel of grace... cause we do.. I decide to go to Florida to be back with kids, do sports and ministry, and enter back into Christian community. A big step of faith yes.. especially when I get the text from one of my players that she's been kicked out of her Christian school for admitting she is a lesbian...

July '11
This month is filled with emotions as I fight for this student athlete and fight against what I feel is an injustice, against the teachings of Jesus.. and just plain wrong!! This situation brings back all that I feel is wrong with how believers are called to live and love.. I question my decision to leave CT. I now know why a job wasn't provided at that school for me. I would have had to resign. I enjoy leading Sports Camp and being with Griff, Gianna, and cousin Carter. The UW team embraces my family, my birthday and Yankee Stadium :). I visit Florida which helps with my doubts, and I dance the night away with Michael Jackson and TC! Nicole comes and we prepare to move.. Saying goodbye to doggies and owners are sad.. goodbye to the family even more sad.. But a fun job awaits so the road trip begins! Hopefull on 3!

a birthday blog :)

2011-07-24T09:46:00.003-05:00

Friday was my birthday. Giddee UP! I was sang to at camp, received fun texts and facebook posts, and even got a phone call or two (Who knew you can use your phone to call people! Wow!).

I was then asked the birthday questions. Yes, there are birthday questions! This tradition was started by the Fairback family, and I have tried to pass them on to everyone I know. The great Sarah Tooley called my on my birthday and asked me the big 3. It was fanfreakingtastic.

The birthday questions are:

What is your favorite birthday memory?
What was the highlight of your year?
What are you most looking forward to this upcoming year?

You can add more or put your spin on them. But it is a fun tradition!

Here are my answers.. On this 35th birthday of mine!

1- Favorite birthday memory:
After camp a few years ago, my UW team shocked and awed me by singing me a special song. It really made my day. If you have facebook, you can see the video of this special moment!

https://www.facebook.com/home.php#!/video/video.php?v=568385204570&comments

2- Highlight of my year:
After having a really rough 2010 spring and summer, the Lord led me to a great peace about moving home and spending a year with my family. In August 2010 I decided officially to leave Austin and return to Connecticut, and the head and heart finally began to rest and heal. It was an amazing time to know I was right where the Lord wanted me to be.

3- What I'm most looking forward to this upcoming year:
The Lord blessed my time in CT as I launched my own dog walking and pet-sitting business. I enjoyed being outside withe pups and having freedom and flexibility in my schedule. However, as I taught a 5-6 year old class at my church each week, I realized I missed working with kids on a regular basis. I wanted to use my gifts and talents on a regular basis again. I wanted to be in an encouraging working environment. And the Lord has provided an opportunity. :)

SO is it someones birthday? Ask them the questions!! It will make that person's day!

God showed up... a look at my year... 2010-11

2010-12-21T09:09:00.009-06:00

i have more Christmas shopping to do. my creative juices aren't flowing yet. they will. oh yes they will. i have time, in between doggy walks and uconn games, to get er done.

as i begin to reflect on the season.. god's love for sinners through Jesus.. i have looked back a bit at the year. its been a year like no other... a ton of the highest highs and lowest lows.. miracles.. deep joy and hurt...new adventures.. a lot of steps of faith... sin.. repent...believe the gospel..step out in faith..

the waltz of the christian life eh? (thank you dancing with the stars for the visual)

yet the lord's faithfulness and care have blown me away yet again. so here we go looking back at the lord's handy work. god showed up kids..

Jan: Great time with the family and shiner in CT. Road trip baby- Memphis & Harrisonburg.. and a night on a highway in Lexington.. so much snow!! Uconn games, more snow, & family time!! a new hire at the church and great hope and excitement for the year!! Amelia off to Peru! road trip training begins!! bring on the verge! poor colt :(. hang outs! hang outs! hang outs!

Feb: verge.. Haiti.. holy spirit.. rocking my world... spark group encouragement & kerby lane... road trips full and gaining steam.. intern connection team fun.. hang outs ! hang outs! hang outs! loving me some renovate ut! trivia Tuesday nights at the saucer! Special Olympics volunteering too.

March: spring break road trips!! fort myers, memphis, omaha, sherman, gonzales, piedras, beruit, D.R. oh my!!! over 120 folks trained and sent! florida or bust! then to CT for family birthday fun! then i took the long way back to TX and stopped and saw the huskies in VA! followed by an amazing and refreshing time at uw head coaches training in colorado! a lot of traveling.. but the lord is speaking as I'm on the go!

April: final four in san antonio with the family!!! huskies huskies huskies!!!!! intern recruitment and road trip follow up. SENT training begins, acts reading with the staff, the lord moving and speaking.. hang outs! hang outs! ... and a then god says enough.. my time with hill country ut ends.

May: a blur of shock, confusion, hurt, and Jesus having the wheel the entire time- emotional, physical, mental, and spiritual exhaustion. Jesus speaking so clearly its incredible.. my condo sells in a day- I've never felt the lords love more then that day in he tooleys backyard... hotel tooley saves the day (and fill my stomach) . trips to vegas w' my sis and wisconsin to see melee kick ass... the packing begins. no idea what's next.. but feeling such amazing peace and freedom.. his voice was so clear... i feel so free...

June: uw training in oklahoma.. a soothing balm to a weary soul. then finishing packing & a few goodbyes as shiner & I leave austin for awhile for a road trip to the beach, and then to memphis and virginia to be with old friends who speak truth.

July: shiner and I make it to connecticut! rest, naps on the deck and family time help me recover my strength for 3 weeks of UW sports camp in VA, CT and MA . so great to be with a UW team partnering with churches to use sports to share the love of Christ. CA CAW! birthday questions at 5 guys too! then return to CT, and reach out to a few campus ministries and church plants about the fall.. but not feeling settled in that direction at all... read 'the shack' and 'a tale of three kings'..

Aug: mental battle still tough..a week in cape cod enjoying 'eat, pray, love'. head and heart decide to stay in CT for awhile.. not sure what to do now.. but feeling rested and excited.. make contact with the master's school.. and over drinks at chili's a new business venture is pondered.

Sept: jv volleyball and varsity basketball coaching jobs! lods of love ct pet services is launched! loving your pets well while you're away!!! young explorers class begins! trip to austin to say goodbyes, watch the yankees get spanked and grab a few boxes... god is moving and healing.. and we got season tickets to uconn basketball games! also saw jennifer knapp live and chatted with her.. kansas cd plays really loud with the top down! i am home.. after 14 years away, I've moved back home!!

Oct: settling in and finding a rhythm. my home church away from home becomes home :): valley community baptist church and its saturday night service. volleyball is much more then bump, set, spike. shiner loves my parents and their comfy couch. are time with griff, gianna and ellafanfreakingtastic! feeling blessed to serve so many clients and their pups!!! and it's not that cold :)

Nov: ellie, shiner and I have fun while family is in aruba.. uconn men and women begin their awesomeness.. a very thankful holiday with the family.. and a lot of pets to love on! and the Connecticut Whale are back!!! hometown paper interview too! busy busy busy but jesus has taken the wheel. so blessed! and it's not that cold (with a few layers)

Dec: wow it's december. where did the semester go? (yes i still see life in semesters) in awe at what the lord has done to bring me to this point. his voice was so clear in the spring and his love and leading has been incredible. family. the masters school. valley. lods of love ct. and 89-0. nicole and amelia are visiting! and keith tooley is a pastor once again.. all is right with the world. happy birthday jesus! (and supposedly its cold.. but a Christmas miracle has me adjusted fine to the elements!)

yes god showed up. he spoke. i listened, obeyed, stepped out in faith.. and my goodness, his love, care and provision have been truly amazing.. i am still a stumbling, bumbling, big fat sinning ragamuffin.. but a very loved one as well.

a thrill of hope! the weary world rejoices! for yonder brings.. a new and glorious morn!!

i can't thank sarah, the tooleys, trish, jimmy & christine( go road trip!!) lisa, susan at cfrc, md, todd, justin, sam and the uw staff, susan & britton, sharon & jane, jordan, bradford & aubry, nicole, the masters school, my family & the college students enough.. they prayed for, cared for, and loved me very, very, well. may you know the love of christ more this year..

i hang out with my family. i care for and love on cats and dogs. i coach high school sports. i pick up poop. i watch uconn sports. i do px90. i teach kindergartners about jesus.

and all is right with the world... God continues to show up!

88-0

2010-12-21T00:02:00.003-06:00

yes my huskies are about to (god willing) make history. the uconn women's basketball team will play florida state tomorrow night, and if they win, will hold the record for most consecutive wins by a men's or women's collegiate basketball team..

giddee up. i will be there yelling my head off and hopefully drinking in celebration afterwards.

but it got me thinking.. what would it be like to be 88-0 . to find a way to win every night you faced an opponent. no matter the talent against you.. no matter the opposing coaches game plan.. no matter the injuries or illnesses.. no matter the team you have assembled.. or changes to that team.. no matter the leadership.. or changes in that leadership.. no matter the venue.. the time.. the crowd you play before...

you find a way to win.. over seasons.. over years...

to give your all every game.. in front of 1000's of witnesses.. and to not stop until victory is attained..

and this is about basketball... a game.. a hobby for some.. a job for some..

and these are women.. the weaker, sensitive ones..

not one coach.. not one team.. has solved the uconn women's basketball mystery...

well yes heather.. since leaving austin you've gone coocoo for uconn cocoa puffs..

nah.. I've always been this nutty. (see tattoo on right calf)

but as I've cheered on my huskies from my couch and in the stands, its begun to hit me what it must be like to be 88-0..

the pressure and expectations..

but also.. why don't we all give it our all each and every day.. when witnesses are watching.. or not..

do we have an inner drive and passion that makes us stop at nothing until the goal is accomplished..

i have felt that.. most of my time in austin was like that.. when I'm coaching now i feel glimpses of it.. but i look around and don't see many with that look.. that drive.. that passion..

to go 88-0.. or strive for anything close to it..

church.. what the hell are you doing most of the time?

right right.. its women's basketball heather.. well then, where the hell is Tennessee? Stanford? unc? duke? lsu? and all the other women's basketball powerhouses?? not every all american goes to uconn. what is it about this land of storrs that has produced this streak?

freakin tree..

88-0. in basketball.. in life..

giddee up huskies...

Titles of books I haven't written yet...

2010-11-20T21:20:00.004-06:00

1- For the Love
2- The Art of Sarcasm
3- How to Be a Passionate Sports Fan
4- What Really Happened (and other conspiracy theories put to rest)
5- How to Survive in the South
6- How to Survive in New England
7- Sweet Nectar of the Gods- The History of Diet Coke
8- Singleness- It doesn't have to be Akward (or suck)
9- Holy Spirit on 3 (co-written by MD)
10-How Christians have screwed up Christianity
11- Why God should hit the re start button
12- Why People Hate Christians
13- Why Jesus Hates most Christians
14- Thank God my Father Raised me a NY Yankee Fan
15- Weddings- How the World has set the cost and stolen the image of the Gospel
16- Authentic Community: The story of a Longhorn band member, Ultimate Frisbee Player, Church Staffer, Nurse, 2 dogs, 2 cats & a llama

# 84

2010-09-04T10:55:00.009-05:00

Top ten's lists are everywhere.. of course they are best on Sportscenter.. Letterman is just too weird for me.. but the city of austin seems to major in top ten lists. the city seems to be on every list!

top 10 up and coming cities
top ten place to live if your single
top ten greenest city
top ten film making city
top ten place to live in ten years
top ten place to meet your mate (ok might have made that up)..

but everyone seems to know how cool austin is.. and over the past 5 years when i told people i lived they, their response was always, "what a cool city" or 'i've heard great things" or "that's right by san antonio and the riverwalk right?" :) . yes my coolness factor increased while living there.

But i've decided to leave austin, the #1 live music city capitol of the world.. and move home.. to the #84 best places to live :).

ok bristol.. or connecticut, actually, doesn't have any cool slogans... or the ones we do.. need a little work:

bristol- home of the oldest wooden roller coaster
connecticut- the nutmeg state!
hartford- we're in the middle (of boston and new york!)
hartford- the insurance capitol of the world
bristol- home of espn!! (ok that does make us really cool.. and i have seen sportscenter live!)
hartford- we used to have the hartford whalers
connecticut- home of the University of Connecticut Huskies!!!
hartford- part time home of some UCONN games :)

so yeah.. its no austin.. and i think you can fit like 10 Connecticut's or more into the state of texas.. but i've decided to come back anyway..

why? well leaving my job at hill country ut didn't mean i was leaving austin... and in the months following my resignation I did a lot of resting and traveling, but it was always in the back on my mind to return to austin eventually, jump in with another church and continue to hit the ground running in my burnt orange tee yelling hook em (as i secretly checked the UCONN , NY football Giants and Yankee's score :).

but then, after a month of sports camps in new england, much prayer, godly counsel, reading a small book that was recommended to me (ask me and i'll tell you), and family time ... i've decided to leave the city of austin... and move home..

god gave me 3 reasons.. although there are a few more... but the big 3 are:

1- to preserve unity

2- to spend more time with my family

3- to bring the gospel to new england and the ridiculous amount of college students and other folks up this way who think people that are way into jesus are nut jobs.. along with other things i'll tell you later..

do i love the college students at the University of Texas and do i miss them? YES! I also miss dear friends that knew my heart well.. I miss mama fu's and trivia nights.. I miss renevate ut meetings and partnering with other ministries to get all of our students on mission. i miss the village and walking shiner in hyde park...

but #84 was calling. God has been calling me 'home' for a long time. so here am! not sure for how long.. awhile i think.. will i return to austin ? yes! my stuff is still there ! but also dear people i love.. so keep your ears open for a 'heyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyy' really soon..

will i return for good some day? you never know.. jesus is silly that way.. but for now i have a uconn football game and ny yankee game to watch...

What I'm jamming to..

2010-08-12T11:15:00.002-05:00

JOHN'S FIELD
Melissa Ferrick
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J1aOSqA479g

Time seems slow when I'm sittin' around at home,
Waitin' for this winter to lift,
So I feel my way around my half-lit house
At dawn, 'cause I haven't gone to bed yet,
And then, oh, no! Here comes a song again,
And what's this? I think I might be cryin'.

And I know this is not about fear or fault;
It's just my need to be clear.
So would you make way, everybody?
It finally looks like I'm movin' out of here.
In my dreams, I'm flyin' over still-life scenes.
I've been eatin' strawberries in John's field,
And I wake up wearin' brand-new shoes,
And then, oh, no! Here it comes, the song again,
And what's this? I think I might be cryin'.
I might be cryin'.

If life is just a series of fallin' down and gettin' back up,
Don't forget, everybody, to wear your seat belts,
'Cause I've been speedin' around this unknown known
And sometimes I forget, too:
Life is just a metronome.
With or without me, it would all go on.
With or without you, this would all go on,
And without you, I'm gonna go on.
I'm gonna go on.
And then, oh, yes! here it comes: a song again.
And what's this? I think I'm finally, finally cryin'.
Thank all the gods for cryin'.

Mr.Gray
Jennifer Knapp

It’s as bad as it has been
For over 20 years but then
I haven’t been here all my life
And all the wells are going dry
All the bankers saying “bye-bye, Mr. Gray,
We’re glad we met
But no money yet.”

If I show my hands
Would you watch them bleed?
Long enough to prove they are indeed in need of mercy
In need of mercy

Dawn always breaks the noonday high
Shade rarely offers alibi
Or decent rest for such a man. If I think, I can
Try harder some might say that I’m smarter
But only God knows
Only God knows who I am

Chorus

I try to laugh about it
I try not to cry about it
Mamma always hates it when I cry
What will it take to convince
This is just the road to excellence
Faith before the skeptic’s eye

I need your mercy me I need your mercy, mercy me.

Both are touring in New England too.. Lucky me!

What I've been doing...

2010-08-03T22:48:00.007-05:00

Visiting dear friends in Virginia
Trip to Yankee Stadium
Family picnics/ birthdays
Enjoying 85 degree weather
Walks against fatness with Shiner
Grilling out
Drinking a lot of Diet Coke
Enjoying 5 Guys Burgers & Fries
Watching The NY Yankees with my Dad
UW Sports Camps in New England & Virginia
Chatting with Church Planters braving it in New England
Researching health insurance & new cell phone services
Thinking of starting my own business
Drinking McDonald's Diet Coke
Driving with Griffin in the jeep with the top down singing and doing the hand motions while the "Go The Distance" CD is blasting..
Reading "The Tale of 3 Kings" and "A Million Miles in a Thousand Years"
Talking to Jesus

I'm heading to Cape Cod tomorrow.. Then hopefully Virginia again, then to Mohegan Sun and Yankee Stadium... :), while reading "Eat, Pray, Love", "The Prodigal God", and "People Can Change".

There is no where else I could imagine being, then here. Then is nothing else I could imagine myself doing, then this.

Jesus has taken the wheel. He is good. I feel/ am so free.

:)

I'm home...

2010-07-18T22:45:00.001-05:00

I am home. My family is here, my dog is here, and my team of interns are here. Sports camp at my church in Avon, CT begins tomorrow and I am excited. I hope my nephew has a blast and I hope my little cousins come and watch. Were expecting over 100 kids at camp!!

Please be praying for energy, a strong loud voice, for people to feel loved, and for God to move. We will also be doing a camp for inner city kids in Hartford every afternoon!! Giddee up!

Also pray on Weds. at 1:30pm!! That's when my closing is!! Come on Jesus!!

One week in Conn. Then off to Massachusetts. Please be praying!

I also finished the book, A tale of 3 kings. It was really, really good. Thank you John Herrington, for the recommendation.

I feel good. Satan is still trying to mess with my head. Please pray that I can fight him with the truth of scripture, and stay in the now, focusing on what god is now calling me to do each and every day..

Birthday week baby!! Jesus take the wheel!

I am home.

... if we ever leave a legacy, let it be that we loved each other well... I.G.

...some say that I am much to demanding to want a better place than here... J.K.

my summer vacation :)... so far

2010-07-09T21:41:00.009-05:00

I've been drinking.. lots of diet coke :); been doing lots of traveling; visiting old friends; hanging with the family; playing bananagrams; watching the yankees win; playing with my nephew and cousins; taking walks against fatness with shiner; laughing a lot; and preparing for camp!! it has been a great summer vacation.. so far!!! but giddee up.. sports camps are here!!!

for the 6th summer in a row, I am blessed to serve as a head coach with uw sports ministry. I will be training churches in virginia, connecticut, and massachusetts (east coast baby!!) on how to use sports as a vehicle to love on and share the gospel. i will be with a team of college students putting on 2 sports camps a day, seeing hundreds of children each week learn new sports skills and hearing more about jesus.. and having lots of fun!!

uw sports ministry is awesome!! god has used this ministry to heal and transform me, as well as 1000's of children over the years! it allows me to use my gifts and combines my love of discipling college students, teaching and coaching children, equipping the church, and connecting people to christ, his people, and his calling on their lives!!

uw sports ministry trains and equips churches in the US and overseas! The hope is to see 1 million people come to christ by 2014!! please check out http://uwsportsministry.org to see where the ministry is serving this summer and how you can pray!

I would like to ask you to pray for my team ! Here's a few suggestions:

energy
good weather
lots of campers!
holy spirit to do his thing!
safety traveling
excited and energetic church volunteers
that the good news of jesus to be proclaimed boldly and clearly
that the children will fill loved

i am still raising funds to support the ministry. my goal is to raise $1800 and the deadline has been extended until july 31st!!

if you would like to support me you can do it online!! just go to http://uwsportsministry.org and click on the giving link! then just follow the prompts and put my name in the memo! or you can email me and i'll send you my address to where you can send checks. all donations are tax deductible!

I will blog more in the upcoming weeks and share all that god is doing! thank you for partnering with me in life and ministry! thanks for loving me well!

-heather 'lods'

a sabbaths rest..

2010-05-14T17:47:00.011-05:00

so as i sit at the lake watching pti after a nap, it dawns on me how tired i am. I can't remember the last time i napped.. i'm not that guy... a napper.. college students nap! older, more mature adults nap! :). not heather lods!

so either the prescription meds i was put on today for my cough knocked me out, or i was really tired.. or both. :)

i am tired. and so i rested. but i also completed my list of to do's this week and came out to the lake to rest. i came to the lake for a sabbath.

god took a sabbath. and then he commanded us to take a sabbath. yeah its one of the big 10. its that important to god. jesus had no trouble restuing... i on the other hand, have a hard time resting. i, as many of you know, run and run and run and run.. til my feet fall off (shout out to mouse tales baby!) resting.. even though i have tried harder this year then any, is still very hard for heather lods...

but now i'm entering a season of rest. a sabbath season to rest, and then prepare, for a new work. recently the lord told me that my work at hill country ut was completed. i didn't believe him. no way! I hadn't helped them reach the entire campus yet! I hadn't help them connect every student to christ, his community and his calling on their lives to be missionaries yet! i had more hang outs to be had! right lord?? right???

no.

he told me that i had finished my work. he told me that it was time to leave and rest, and that it was ok to leave and rest. 4 years and 11 months after i had moved to austin to partner with some amazing people to plant a church specifically to reach the university of texas, he told me that my '6 days' of work had been completed, and now it was time to rest.

jesus.. really? really? golly... but.. ok. holy spirit on 3...

to rest, to be, to drink lots more diet coke :) to spend more time with my family, to take a sabbath. he has freed me from my work for a sabbaths rest...

this christian life is nutty. following jesus, trusting him, obeying him is nutty... most of the time i suck at it. i am faithful and loyal to people, sports teams, restaurants, walks against fatness, but stumble and bumble at this christ following spiritual faithfulness thing big time.

jesus always has to take the wheel.. he has to completely take over. and that is a good good thing. the best thing..

i want to thank hill country ut for allowing me this amazing opportunity to serve along side of them. it has been such a great joy.. golly so great. i was humbled and amazed at these folks great faith and love toward the students at UT. and they let a sarcastic ny yankees fan from new england in on their fun. they inspired me with their faith and belief that jesus would reach the city, and the campus. i have no doubt that they will! i will miss this community of believers!

i have so many memories...and my heart bursts when i think of students, dodgeballs, spring break trips. entrepreneurs, einsteins hang outs, walks, milkshakes, :) texts, the joy of emails and facebook chats, spidey sense, magical powers, renevate ut, missional communities, and just spending time with hundreds of students every semester, sharing my life and the gospel with them, and seeing jesus transforming their lives right before my eyes...

thank you jesus.

thank you for this season. to be used in your work was a humbling, incredible, joyful time. fanfreakingtastic.. amazing.. life changing..

thank you denny and bridget, for inviting me to come to austin to join the dream of hill country ut. thank you josh and erica for teaching me to worship. thank you sarah and candace for being my voice and knowing my heart. thank you adults for pouring into students and into me. thank you students for answering my emails :), for the hangouts, for not settling for less than all of jesus.

i pray that if i did leave any type of legacy at all, it was that i tried, i really really tried, to love people well... thank you for putting up with my attempt..

Thoughts from the verge....

2010-02-12T23:15:00.009-06:00

So I've had a few days to ponder anew, what the verge conference can do.. or has done in my head and heart. I haven't had much time to process, but here are a few things I'm chewing on:

The 'church' is a collection of Christ-followers who gather on a regular basis to worship, pray, take communion, baptize new (and I emphasize NEW) believers & learn the scriptures... not a building.. so I'm not sure we should even have our own buildings.. it confuses Christ followers. They forget they are the 'church'.

I'm moving to Haiti. Well not really, but the focus on the poor, the orphans, widows and the least of these was moving and convicting. But you don't need to go to Haiti to love and serve these folks. The Western 'church' must do more. I must do more.

The 'church' spends too much time on focusing on Christians. By all means Yes for Sunday worship, teaching and communion. Yes to a small group or accountability. But that's it. You got the Holy Spirit. You got a Bible. Come on- self sustaining faith on 3!! The 'church' should then go out and redeem the culture. Sunday 9am-11am- focus on believers. The rest of the time we are sent out to serve, love, and share Jesus with the world.

The definition of discipleship is not what you think. Over and over the speakers talked about discipleship in the context of people that don't know Jesus. Evangelism. I really thought they were speaking on the wrong topic. Nope. Just seems I had the wrong definition. Life on Life, investing your life and the gospel in someone... that doesn't know Jesus, that's discipleship!

Missional means many things to many people.. same with missional communties...and this has led to a simple thought becoming a jumbled, mangled, mess that people think is to hard to accomplish. I mean what do you love to do? Find people who don't know Jesus that love to do it too. Hang out! Be intentional! Too complicated? Love God. Love your neighbor (or classmate, roommate, hall mate, workmate, family, friends, etc etc).

Speakers like to wear black.

Frances Chan is a great communicator. I hope he can move his 'church' missional. I really do.

Ed Stetzer said it best. "The 'church' has made it acceptable to sit in the pews week and after week and do nothing, and call yourself a Christian." The American or western 'church' has said it's been born again, and knows the Living God, but lives pretty joyless, spiritless life.. Who wants that?

Frances's, can I call him Frances? He said that when he tells his daughter to clean her room, she doesn't go pray about it. She doesn't go get some friends and do a study on it. She doesn't go memorize what he said. She goes and cleans her room! But when Jesus says do something, or don't do something, what does the 'church' do? Convicting as all get out...

The 'church' should be the most generous folks in the world...and we should laugh the loudest & cry the hardest.

Spiritual disciplines are needed yes, but can we rename them, or preach a lot of gospel around them? I mean whats cool about spiritual disciplines? That's gonna make someone want to give their life to Jesus? We can't reduce the faith to them.

You shouldn't have to say missional disciples. Disciples should be missional. A Christ- follower is a missionary. We shouldn't have to beg Christ- followers to be missional.

The biting sarcasm of Jesus is awesome. I knew he was from the Northeast! :)

Are we for people or against them? Do we point out God's work in them? Can we find a little bit of truth & then just listen.. really listen?? I can list the people the 'church' is not for.. and so can the world.. sad :(

Ordinary life + gospel intentionality = hanging out with less church people and instead focusing on folks that don't know Him yet

More to come.. A lot more is stirring in my head and heart.. How bout yours? What's going on in your head and heart?

a few thoughts...

2010-02-06T23:15:00.003-06:00

So I went blog crazy over Christmas break, and then have been silent since.. My bad.. I had a lot of free time watching the snow fall in Connecticut with my family. But since I've been back in Austin.. Life has been nutty. That's typical in my world of college ministry. Mid Jan. until March it's crazy. Relaunching, motivating, tweaking, encouraging, gathering, connecting, praying, data collecting, spring break training, 35 day journeying, a new pastor acclimating, and then a conference... So I apologize being absent.

In the mean time I've been enjoying my dog and our daily 'walk against fatness' and my roommates- 'The Village", as we call it. I have enjoyed living in community.

However, there is a stirring inside my heart.. Been growing for awhile now.. It may just be excitement over my Uconn Lady Huskies, and the NY Yankees, but I think it's something more.

I'll be back with more thoughts.. Jesus take the wheel...

2009 was a very______________ year :)

2010-01-02T23:00:00.001-06:00

2009 was a very freeing, revealing , unbelievable , eventful , love-filled , defining , very blessed/ at times challenging but full of grace and full of growth , surprising/ life changing , surprising , fantabulous , stretching , emotionally straining , slow , interesting , odd , challenging , crazy , adventure-filled , growing/ epiphany , ridiculous , emotional , learning , radical , trial & error , revealing, humbling truths , chaotic , amazing, breathtaking , unique , emotional , eventful , learning , interesting , crazy , humbling, excrcuciatingly great , jazzy , perspectivizing , long , crazy & eye opening , anxious , nonstop , faith invoking , glad its over , unbelievably intense , good & bad , satisfying , encouraging , emotional , blessed, golden , challenging , enlightening , humbling year (not my words.. yours)

Missional Resources- Equipping the saints to be missional christ followers that love people well

2009-12-31T12:15:00.005-06:00

To reach our campus's, and our cities, and beyond, we need to learn from each other and train and equip the saints for the work of the kingdom.. Here are resource's I've collected that you may find helpful. The link is to a google doc with the same content! We're trying to develop missional christ followers that love jesus and people well... Holistic missionary training I call it.

http://docs.google.com/Doc?docid=0AW63Pm_t9djdZGZwYjJmanJfMjVnZjloNXZoaw&hl=en

missional community resources

I also have the syllabus of our entrepreneur (missionary) training program

Books:
Exiles- Michael Frost
Radical Reformission- Marc Driscoll
Connecting- Larry Crabb
Hudson Taylors Spiritual Secret- Taylor
The Present Future- McNeal
The Shaping of Things to Come- Frost
SHAPE- Rees
ReJesus- Frost
Heart of a Servant Leader- Miller
Enduring Community- Habig
Ordering your private world- Macdonald
The Unlikely Disciple- Roose
The Enemy Within- Lundgaard

Articles:
Advancing the Gospel in the 21st Century- Keller
The Three World Views- Glen Smith
The Missional Church- Keller
Creating Community- Lance Ford
Looking Outside- Brother Maynard
Clarifying our Calling- Glen Smith
Evangelism by Networking- Glen Smith
Beginning a Conversation- Ed Stetzer
Being Intentional- Bischof
Holistic Formation- Bischof
How Can I be Missional- Emerging Grace
Gospel Discipling- Smallman
Marks of a Spiritual Leader- Piper
Cultivating a Tender Heart- Macullum
Being Intentional About Passing it on- Bischof
Living on Mission- Coram Deo- Will Walker
Life if David Brainerd- Jeremy Lantz
William Carey: Father of Modern Missions- Royer
The Real Reason for Revival- Dr. Martyn Lloyd- Jones
A Theology of Work- Bob Thune
How to Exegete your culture-
Christ in the City- Keller
Getting Upstream to Transform the City- Keller
A Vision for the City- Villafane
Core Team Health- pdf
Decoding UT- hcbc-ut
Missional Contact Sheets- hcbc-ut
Establishing Missional Communities- hcbc-ut

2009 : books i read this year

2009-12-31T10:37:00.010-06:00

I am a seasonal reader; which means some seasons I read a ton and in others not so much. But here's a blurb about books I've read this year. We should always be learning and listening to other voices. I recommend reading many different authors :). And if folks tell you not to read a certain author.. I'd go ahead and read them and let the holy spirit guide you. The ** are ones I really enjoyed.

*Hudson Taylors Spiritual Secret: classic on going all in - exegeting your culture- missional living

Missional Church- Guder: Theory that inviting folks to join our christian community first will lead to life transformation 2nd

*Heart of a Servant Leader- Jack Miller: Pastoral letters to missionaries around the world- drips of gospel sonship

*Vintage Jesus- Driscoll: Sarcastic and revealing look at who Jesus really was.. and is

Vintage Church- Driscoll: Sarcastic and revealing look at who the church should be

*The Yankee Years-Joe Torre: Guide to dealing with stress and finding your leadership style

*Reaching the Campus Tribes- Hines: Why we need to blow up most college ministry methodology and start over on our unique campuses

**The Unlikely Disciple- Roose: Non- christian college student transfers from Brown to Liberty for a semester and lives to tell the tale

Idols of the Heart- Fitzpatrick: What happens when you don't believe the gospel

Serving as a church greeter- Parrott/ Fusion- Searcy: Loving people well the moment they walk through the door of your church

*I once was lost- Everts: fascinating look at the '5 thresholds' folks must walk through in coming to faith- it's my story too.

Compelled by love- Stetzer: What should motivate you to live missionally

*Practicing Greatness- McNeal: How to lead well

Off Road Disciplines- Creps: The title got me.. I admit.. but reminders of the disciplines that will keep you walking with Him

Rejesus- Frost: How we should be mini Jesus's to the world

The Blueprint- Ma: Helping college students to see themselves as missionaries on the campus

Sticky church- Osborne: How to get folks to stick to your church.. the right folks

On the NT, OT, Church Leadership, God- Driscoll: Attempt at being brief and sarcastic while sharing deep truths

**Ordering Your Private World- Macdonald: I read it every year..

*The Shack- Young: I should have read it years ago.. don't think too deeply, just enjoy the story.. it's fiction remember?? :)

*Going Rogue: Sarah Palin Bio- She got screwed by the man.. beware she knows how to handle a gun.. and wild caribou

Irresistible Revolution- Claiborne: Christian Pacifist calls for a new way of living.. in Philly

What should I read next year??? :) Holy spirit on 3!

Home for the Holidays

2009-12-30T09:55:00.000-06:00

I decided to drive home from Texas to Connecticut for the holidays. Yes, it is many states away, and in the heart of winter, but I wanted to bring my dog home and stay awhile with the family. So I packed up the jeep with diet coke, found a friend to tag along, shiner jumped in, and off we went on an adventure.. and yes we hit the 'storm of the decade'!

I haven't lived in Connecticut since the summer of my sophomore year of college- go JMU. Since then, I have lived in Harrisonburg and Vienna, VA; Fort Myers, FL; and Austin, TX. It's been like 14 years since I've spent an extended time at home due to my workaholicness. Since then I've worked for:

Chilis- Server, Cook, Trainer & Corporate Trainer for New Store Openings
Fellowship of Christian Athletes- Summer Camp Staff & College Staff at JMU
Intervarsity Christian Fellowship- College Staff at JMU
Mclean Bible Church- College Ministry Staff
Leesburg Park & Rec.- Pre-k-3rd grade Sports Instructor
The Little Gym- Sports Director, Program Director, New Gym Trainer & Lead Teacher
Southside High School- Women's Basketball & Soccer Coach
Fort Myers Christian School- K- 8th P.E. Teacher, Athletic Director, Men's and Women's Basketball & Soccer Coach
UW Sports Ministry- Head Coach
Hill Country Christian School- K- 8th P.E. Teacher
Hill Country Bible Church UT- Church Plant Core Team, Student Fellowship Director, Associate College Director, College Director & Connections/ Missional Communities Director

Many places, many jobs, and much time away from my family. I've tried to visit 4-5 times a year since. so that's like 60-70 visits, maybe more.. I have loved my work and have felt very useful in these positions and have seen much fruit of the my labor. Not sure why God has chosen to call me out and use me- a sacrcastic, sports loving, single from New England. But his calling has 'kept' me from my family.. and it's very, very hard on me.

Yes, I know my S.H.A.P.E. and am living in the calling and gifting. I have magic powers, and can connect folks to Jesus, His community and His calling on peoples lives, but the head and heart are heavy some days..

So I drove home, unpacked, and am staying awhile.. Shiner likes the snow. I like have Uconn, Yankees, and NY Giants on every sports show and newspaper in town. I like seeing my family everyday. I babysit, run errands, and just be.. with the family. Don't worry, work is getting done via emails, facebook, texts and calls.

Call it a vacation, a sabbath, a holiday. I call it a disconnect and reconnect. Much needed.

The work will be there when I get back.. It always is. :)

Why you should go on a Spring Break Trip..

2009-12-02T22:48:00.000-06:00

If you don’t believe it when I tell you that a spring break trip will change your life, here are some stories that may convince you otherwise. Take a look and come on a trip! You won’t regret it!

:)

Josh Williams:
My trip to Omaha in the Spring of 2009 was momentous. I have a close relationship with almost everyone in our group, and continue to grow alongside them. At Coram Deo, I relearned the gospel. I experienced a group of people who loved Jesus and pursued Him in every aspect of their lives. The learning was non-stop: from the day I got back, I had an insatiable desire to grow and learn more about this God I love.

Stefan Berthelsen:
"You want me to do what? Give up my own break of Spring Semester? And go to... Omaha? You've gotta be kidding me..." That's what I was thinking when I got asked to go on a Spring Break Trip last year, and yet somehow I ended up packing my self and a week's worth of provisions into vans early Saturday morning last Spring Break. How did I end up on van that morning? Well, God slowly removed the petty excuses... I've gotta go home and see my friends. I want a week to myself. That's a lot of money. You name it. God broke it down. He's a provider. He's a God who opens doors of opportunity because when He is in your life he shakes it up and breaks you for the path he wants you to be on... Yeah, I fought it at first. I like my way until God blows it up and shows me how much more beautiful his is. Over and over again.

Not knowing exactly why I signed up in the first place, I went to Omaha and came back with something different. I am not going to tell you I came back a NEW me (we will leave that type of superficial transformation to Extreme Makeover Home Edition), but there was something different. An attitude. A desire. A new family.

In Omaha, the passionate teaching of men who lived and breathed the Gospel to different communities of people woke me up. They taught us about the persistent, continuous, and deafening power of the Gospel in our individual lives in a new way. The same message I have always heard but from a fresh perspective. They taught us by helping us do it. I remember driving around Omaha with a recent college grad volunteer named Bill. Bill liked Kurt Vonnegut; so do I... we hit it off. Our conversations reminded me over and over again of what we had been learning all week. The importance of living with, caring about, and truly loving the people you so desperately desire will find the joy we have found in Christ.

Not only a new perspective, I came back with a new family. The people I shared a hotel room with, cleaned a devastated basement with, and road fourteen hour in a van with were my team, my gang, my chums, (any more 50's group references, anyone?). Not only this group though, but I also felt like Hill Country was now my home. Another community that I was a part of because I knew we all had a common goal: to spur each other on in this race we are running in, to let his redemptive power consume even the foulest parts of my soul, and to reach those at UT who need the Gospel just as much as I do.

Collin Huber:
This past spring break, I went on the trip to Omaha with HCBCUT. Honestly, I had very low expectations going into the week. I mean, how fun could Nebraska really be for spring break? But God cornered my heart during that time. On one hand, He made me vulnerable because I was going to a new place with new people from the church that I did not know all too well. I was forced to be intentional and put my pride on the line for the sake of getting to know others. God also convicted me deeply of the way I use my time. Every reason that I had for not going to Nebraska over spring break was a selfish one. I would not have as much fun there as I would at the beach. It is not as comfortable spending a week with people I don’t know as it would be with people I do know – and so on. He revealed to me how completely trivial my ambitions were towards my life because they were all aimed at how I could improve myself.

When I got to Omaha, I spent a week with the leaders of the church that we were visiting and what I saw from their lives was a deeply convicted obedience to the Gospel that was not a duty, but a sincere delight. This was the greatest lesson that God taught me during my spring break trip – that committing my life to Him brings more joy and fulfillment than anything else my heart could ever desire. Since then, I have been able to pursue that fact alongside the other people who went on the trip with me and God has been true in satisfying my heart as I chase after His purpose for me. Before this past spring break, I would never have believed anyone who told me that I would spend my holiday in Nebraska, but in hindsight I am forever grateful for my time there. God used it to lean on my motives towards life. He rescued me from my ambitions of self satisfaction and encouraged me to live as His son because that is the only thing that brings true satisfaction.

My time in Omaha truly changed my perspective towards life and faith and it taught me the meaning of true joy. I do not plan on returning to the sentiments I had before that trip and I would not have it any other way.

Kaity Harlan:
When I first came to Hill Country, I knew immediately that this was the church for me. I immediately jumped into a freshman bible study at the church and started serving in the worship ministry, but I was still having trouble feeling connected.

I was asked to go on the Spring Break trip to Memphis and I said yes. I still remember being nervous for the first meeting because I literally didn’t know anyone else who was going. Even by the time we were loading up the vans and heading to Memphis, I still didn’t feel like I really knew anyone on the trip. But over the course of the next week, our team grew closer than I ever could have imagined. I not only learned some amazingly practical ways to be missional and the importance of having someone disciple me, but I also made some lasting friendships. I remember coming back from Spring Break feeling really connected because I knew that I had 18 other people in the church that I had grown really close to. I actually met one of my best friends in Austin on that first trip! Honestly, if I hadn’t gone on that first trip I don’t know if I would have stayed at Hill Country because before that I didn’t feel like I had any friends here. Now I’ve been on two trips, led one of them, and am on staff here at the church.

The Spring Break trips changed my life because they changed Hill Country from being this place I go to on Sundays into my home here in Austin where I feel loved, encouraged, and surrounded by friends!

Krissy Cunningham:
My freshman year I was asked to attend the Memphis trip. I was hesitant at first since Spring Break was my time to go home with my family and friends. But I decided to take a risk and go. It has literally changed my experience at college. I learned the importance of discipleship and service through the ministry we partnered with. In addition, I was able to experience fellowship with my church body. This was the biggest benefit. I had built relationships that kept me wanting to serve and be involved with the church after the trip, which was critical in a time that I was searching for my identity in Christ. I was now able to call Hill Country my family away from home (and lets not forget that I also met my future husband...haha).

The second trip was to Omaha and I was one of the student leaders. This was a great time of growth and trust. I had to learn to let the guys take lead and how to support and encourage them. In addition, I learned how to deal with conflict and improvise as the schedule would change. Seeing the team grow and learn was excellent. Furthermore, I learned what a missional community was...Living life on a daily basis for the glory of God. It was really neat to see how the church was reaching a city one action at a time. Most of all, prayer was established. Speaking with him and sharing my joys and fears allowed him to work to the fullest extent.

Nathan Byard:
Honestly, last spring break trip has had a huge impact on my life. It wasn't noticeable to me at the time, but looking back it was the turning point. I had a lot of things going wrong in my life and didn't feel like I was spiritual enough. I didn't feel adequate, I didn't feel like God would use me, I didn't feel like it would change my life like everyone said. But I went anyways cause of that ever so tiny feeling like God might have wanted me to. It was a lot of fun! I made a lot of friends! But I didn't feel a whole lot different. There was no giant hand reaching out of the sky putting me back on track.

Its been almost 9 months, and looking back, that trip really was the turning point. It got me connected to people at church. They loved me and cared, so I started going to church more to see my new awesome friends. Going to church helped me get involved in a missional community. The people in that missional community took time to talk to me, went through scripture together, and helped me work through all those issues in my life that were dragging me down. I have since been reconnected in my faith, a new fire in my soul, and a new passion! I am a completely different person then last year and truly believe it's cause of the spring break trip I went on. And now, I never thought I would, but I am leading one this year. I cannot wait to see what God does this time!

Lola Longe:
I guess spring break in St. Louis opened my eyes to the need of those around the world. But it also reminded me of the need of those who i see everyday around me. In one of the neighborhoods we visited in St. Louis, there was an apparent need of re-structuring in order to create a friendlier, safer, and cleaner environment. There was also a need for safety from the gangs that were present there, and from the police officers who routinely incriminated the innocent. The other neighborhood we visited in St. Louis was a typical suburban town, with nice houses with nice cars residing in their driveways. It was visually more appealing than the other neighborhood, with a seemingly smaller problem of gangs and corrupt policemen. However, the people there keep to themselves, and were not as particularly open to listening to us speak about Jesus, as the first neighborhood had been.

This is one of the most important features of the trip I learned: there is a need for Jesus every where we go, no matter what we appear to need, or think we need. I think that if people in those two different neighborhoods lived a life in which they fully sought God's kingdom, they wouldn't have the problems they had, and even if they did, they would still have joy and love that would get them through difficulties. This was an important lesson to bring back to UT with me. My goal was to recognize that we are all in need of saving, and to bring the truth to those around me. I don't need to go somewhere else to help people, when people around me need help too.

Take a step of faith! Join the Road Trip 09-10
Beruit, D.R., Omaha, Memphis, Gonzales, Piedras Negras, Fort Myers, Sherman

Register at :
http://hillcountryut.org/connect/ministries/spring-break-missional-training/

A church plant for college students???

2009-11-21T14:54:00.000-06:00

Are you nuts? Planting a church for college students who: have no money, are flaky, and over committed; Who are only in school maybe 30 weeks a year; Who skip out on the weekends & Sunday worship, for trips home, to see friends, attend football games, etc. etc; Who, if they are Christ- followers, are involved in multiple ministries; And if they don't know Jesus yet, have no interest in our Jesus our our church...

What were we thinking???

Wrong question.. It's who were we thinking of???

Over 50,000 students at UT...
Over 5000 of those are international students..

90% who don't know Jesus..yet...

But take a passion for college students.. A committed staff.. Faithful adults.. A few college students crazy enough to jump on board with us...And the Holy Spirit...Jesus has showed up..

Read about our journey.. The good, bad, and ugly:

http://www.hcbcut.com/docs/HCBCUTCaseStudy_2009.pdf

I hope it inspires you and your church to partner with us.. or inspires you to reach your neighborhood college campus..

If we can help you reach your campus in anyway, just let us know!

Hill Country UT - A missional community of Christ- followers, committed to connecting students at The University of Texas, (and other surrounding campuses), with the life transforming power of Jesus.

http://www.hillcountryut.org

An outsider's perspective on Christians... Read this book!

2009-11-07T13:49:00.000-06:00

What do people that don't go to church think about Christians, Christianity, and the church? What do folks from other parts of the country that are unfamiliar with evangelical Christianity think of those that call themselves born again Christians?

We call them non- Christians, unbelievers, people that don't know Jesus yet, and other names I don't care to use here.. We are always trying to get them to understand us and the gospel.. to speak their language so they will "taste and see that the Lord is good".

But would we be willing to leave behind the Christian culture and safe world (christian bubble) we are in and enter into their world, not to convert, but to truly understand their life, morals, faith or lack their of. To be honest learners.. and listeners.. and friends?

I recently finished the book "An Unlikely Disciple", by Kevin Roose. It is about a self- described non- christian who decides to enroll at Liberty University (a very conservative Christian University in Lynchburg, VA founded by the late Jerry Falwell) to learn about evangelical Christianity by totally immersing himself in the culture. He does this not to mock or slam or write the sequel to "Saved" (a great movie by the way). He does it to try to understand this foreign culture to learn and write about it.

Crazy right? This was my first response. (I think I said " Are you freaking kidding me??") My second was please Lord not Liberty!! Not Jerry Falwell! Not the university with the dress code, curfew, and fines for swearing, touching, and watching R rated movies!! Oh the horror! (now I did not go to Liberty so I apologize for my stereotypical views about the campus. I do however have many a friends who have gone to Liberty and also heard, like many of you all, Falwell's comments after 9-11)

Back to the book..

Kevin was a journalism student at Brown University (a very liberal 'pagan' place.. Christians beware!!! :). He grew up in PA not really going to church or with a solid faith. He was your typical college student. Partied, hooked up, wanted to save Darfur etc. etc. He did not have any folks around him that are like 'us'. Why?

There are just not many Christ-followers in New England. Better put, there are not many conservative evangelical Christians in the North East. And like 6 of the top ten non-religious states are in New England. It is a foreign land up there.. very different than the South.. or the country of Texas where I live.

When a journalism assignment brought him to Liberty one weekend, he encountered a few Liberty students in the lobby of Falwell's church, located on the Liberty campus. Not to give too much away, but the encounter freaked him out. Yes freaked him out.

But it also caused him to wonder who are these people ? It was like bumping into tourists from a foreign land... hearing a language you've never heard before. That encounter took him on a semester long journey away from the 'safety' of Brown University, away from his loving but non-christian parents and friends, into the lion's den of.... Christianville, USA. (His parents we're scared to death by the way of this idea and pleaded for him not to go!!)

The book is his account of going undercover as a student at Liberty. It is a fascinating, and I believe open and honest look at Christianity. It is hilarious and challenging. It should be read by all. Do I agree with everything he says??.. No.. Not at all. But it's his honest search for understanding that is so amazing, and refreshing to me..

And needing to be heard by Christ-followers.. no matter where you live.

FYI- I grew up in New England. Connecticut by the way.. I am a Yankee true and true! Loud, sarcastic, non-touchy feely, family loving, passionate NY Yankee, MY Giant, and UCONN fan, loyal to a fault, former nominal Catholic not really.

It wasn't until I was a sophomore in college, at James Madison University, a public school in Virginia, where I first encountered "born again Christians". Totally freaked me out by the way... but also made me curious as to who the hell are these people... :) (now there's a good story)

Read this book. It's at Barnes and Nobles.. I don't think its at Lifeway.. sorry.. you'll have to be brave and leave the bubble..

Seniors... don't waste your year.. or you're life!

2009-09-22T12:25:00.000-05:00

It's your senior year.. where did all the time go? Just yesterday you were a wide eyed freshman wondering where your classes were, shopping for a church and ministry; making friends and finding your way.

As a freshman you ran around getting involved in all sorts of activities.. ate way to much mac and cheese and went to every football game.. yeah! You were poured into by upperclassman and adults who cared about your spiritual health. You saw godly people of the opposite sex and got giddy but decided to just be with Jesus..

As a sophomore you dove (or were pushed) into leadership, led folks and served and got overwhelmed but leaned on Jesus.. and still ate way to much mac and cheese in that kitchen you loved in your off campus apartment. You held parties for way to many occasions,and had a blast. You wondered who your future spouse would be..

Junior year you got your rhythm, felt much older and wiser, and began to think, huh.. holy crap I'm a junior! You wished you were a wide eyed freshman who could just sit and soak and listen but knew you had so much to give back so you tried to balance the two. You were asked about summers and internships and jobs and loss some sleep over that.. You think or thought you found your spouse.. and wondered why it was so easy/hard.

Senior year.. yessssss you've arrived. You are legal. You are the leaders of the school, church, life etc. You are tired, yet giddy for this year. You wonder what your place is at church or ministry. You are busy interviewing for jobs, trying to get motivated for classes, trying to not get overwhelmed with future stuff. You feel burned out. but have learned so much and have so much to give.. But don't know how best to balance it all. Did I mention your legal now too :) and planning how to date long distance or get engaged or how you can meet someone before the real world begins..

I hear you! I understand!! I've been there! I came to know the Lord in college.. sat and soaked.. led small groups.. was put in leadership.. felt overwhelmed and burnt out.. then went into ministry full time!!!! I saw all 8 of my roommates get married within their senior year and 2 years after college. I went to more weddings my first 5 years out of college then in my entire life time combined!!! Ha!

Here this:

I want you to have a great senior year!
I want you to love Jesus more!
I want you to find great jobs!
I want you to find a godly spouse and have an amazing marriage!
I want to see Jesus move and transform you and those around you!

But you have been through so much! You do have so much to give to those bright eyed underclassman! But you do need to think through what happens in the next season. You do.

So I have a few nuggets of wisdom for you. For this your senior year.. And the next season of your life! You may disagree with some things.. super.. Just ask the holy spirit what you should hear or not. Holy Spirit on 3!!

Senior Year Nuggets of wisdom:
- Be with Jesus.. However you do your relationship with your savior thing.. do it.. make time for it. Or you just won't.. and you will suffer for it.

- Be careful with your new found freedom. You got wisdom, life experience, time and the law behind you. Just be wise. Don't peak to soon :) Pace yourself with your fun zones ok?

- Give back to those younger than you. Take some freshman through scripture; go on a weekend mission trip and spring break trip; Take some underclassman to HEB or Walmart.

- Serve in the church. Don't be the guy too cool for school. Be a greeter, help plan events, hand out bulletins.. Don't ask to lead, just be a servant!

- Begin to Live missionally in your neighborhood and at your job (if you have one) - this is where your future missional community will be! Get some practice investing in these places!

-Join a community group.. You're not too cool for school. Meet in a small group with other believers each week. After graduation, when all the weekly ministry meetings pass away, this is where your spiritual community will be.. a small group through your church

- Get more involved in your local church. If you've been a para church ministry person during your four years.. fantastic.. but there aren't many para church ministries for folks after college.. Your local church is where the action will be. Get a taste of it now!

Future planning- Life after college.. a few things to think about...

- Find a church and THEN find a job... there is not a good church everywhere.. the salary, insurance, benefits.. its not enough.. your spiritual life is the most important thing... it is.. so before you sign the dotted line.. do a church search.. please please please...

- Before you move somewhere new for a job, grab some friends to go with you. Starting somewhere new is hard.. especially after college where you had great community and were known. How about taking your community with you to that new city.. and start over together?

- Do your homework before you sign up.. Make sure the company is one you want to work for.. one you want to tell others you work for. Are they shady?? Don't be shady :(.

- Make sure you have a life. Work is not life, but a part of your life. Your weekends, hobbies, vacations etc. are important. Make sure this new job allows you to be you.. and not consume you.

- Don't start that new job until July/Aug. Give yourself time to sleep, play, recover, travel, etc before you start a job that gives you two weeks vacation a year. Take a break. You have the rest of your life to work.

- Establish some credit. Get a credit card.. Start buying gum with it. Pay it off every month. It will help you later (car loan, rent, mortgage etc).

- Start saving a bit. Start giving a bit.

- Spend a year volunteering and giving back.. to your campus church or ministry. :) Get a job that pays the bills and be a volunteer campus minister. We need you.

Seniors.. have ONE of the best years of your life!

Is one church and/or one ministry enough? a college students question....

2009-09-15T14:50:00.000-05:00

are you a believer on a campus? then you're probably in the midst of church/ ministry shopping right now.. which i applaud you for. you need a community of believers around you; you need to be taught the word; have people praying and care for your soul; using your gifts to build up the body; being help accountable; yes yes yes.. if you're not seeking out a church to call home while you're at school.. please check your spiritual pulse.. and preach the gospel to yourself.. holy spirit on 3 :)

but, alas, some of you have your shopping cart full of churches and ministries, and are ready to jump in and be a part of multiple ministries on a weekly basis. 2 churches on sunday; 2-3 different bible studies; serving here and there and everyone; multiple social circles in multiple communities..

yeah no beuno.. while i appreciate your zealousness for heaven points.. and your desire to find community and not miss out on any opportunities.. it is not wise to be a part of multiple ministries and multiple churches at once.. yes i said it. committing to less is better.. for you and for them.

why? you just want to know god more.. you just want to worship more.. you just have so many interests and gifting.. you'll be missing out.. they'll be missing out on you :) i know i know.. how can you just pick one church or one ministry and go all in.. why should you?

well giddee up..

1- consumerism..bad- the more churches and ministries you're in.. the more you consume.. yes.. but as you take take take.. how much do you give back- with your time, talent, $$, etc.. you sit at the table and eat.. and then get up and go somewhere else for another course.. leaving your dishes behind.. leaving other people to serve you.. but you're not serving or investing there..

2- relational quota- how many relationships can you maintain..well? the more communities, bible studies, groups, etc that your in, the more relationships youll try to maintain, how deep can you go with so many folks vying for your time? will you really be known, or just be the guy who comes, says hey, and then leaves.. to run to the next group.. dont be that guy :)

3- serving- yeah, see # 1, are you giving back? are you using your gifts to serve the body? or just taking?

4- do you leave room for margins in your life? are you so busy running to and from different christian activities, that you don't have time to stop, reflect, pray and see god at work around you? hamster wheel life? just keep running.. noooooooooo

5- how many people that don't know jesus yet do you know.. like really know??.. and how many know you? the more churches and ministries you are involved in.. the less ministry you're doing.. yeah.. not what jesus taught. investing in peoples lives takes time... time

so one church.. one ministry is enough. and best. one small group. one serving team.

don't be a consumer.. go all in.. be taught, be cared for, be known, be trained and equipped, be sent out, be called to worship... one church!- one stop shopping!!!!

College students- pick a church and go all in

2009-09-11T17:20:00.001-05:00

New campus, new city, new friends, new church ?? I have met with a ton of college students these past few weeks, all shopping for a church to atend while at UT. I welcome thoughtful shopping.. I do. But there comes a time to commit.. Yes the word all students love to hear..

Here are a few suggestions on how to find a church that's your flavor:

1- you hear about Jesus alot-
gospel, gospel, gospel

2- you like the worship-
if you don't like the music.. Or it's too loud.. Or whatever.. Stop moaning and go somewhere else.

3- the teaching helps you know Jesus better...
Do you leave church thinking wow.. God spoke to me? Again if your complaining or comparing.. Leave

4- getting connected and involved is a simple process..
Simple.

5- you can use your gifts and serve
- you should be able to serve where your gifted, not just where there are needs

6- you are known there..
The shepherd knows his sheep- the church should know and care for it's flock. Which means they should know who walks in and out of there doors.. If your church doesn't know it's people... If someone doesn't know you, your joys and your struggles, leave.

7- they don't just let you sit there
- you come on Sundays, sing, pray, learn, then leave and return next Sunday... Yeah no bueno.. You should get involved.. And the church should pursue you to get involved. If your just sitting there.. And the church let's you do that.. Bad news bears

8- they are reaching folks that don't know Jesus..
And training you to do the same..

9- they don't fill your life with Christian activities-
if it's a Christian country club - that fills your schedule with Christians , there not listening to Jesus

10- they acknowledge they are jacked up and in need of the gospel too

So shop yes, ask questions, but then, pick a church, commit, and go all in.

Side note- being involved in multiple churches and ministries is not wise. Yes I said it. That'll be my next blog.. :)

Heather Lodovico
College Director
www.hcbcut.com

... if we ever leave a legacy, let it be that we loved eachother well...

33 and counting...

2009-07-22T16:45:00.001-05:00

Today is my birthday :) 33 years ago today the lord decided it was time to introduce me to everyone. 13 years ago in Jan. he decided to introduce me to himself.

Now I do the best I can introducing others to himself .. And live like a child of the king.. I often fail miserably.

Jesus lived 33 or so years.. 30 years behind the scenes, not drawing a crowd.. Then he went public. 3 years he made such an impact that the world is forever changed.. And will continue to be changed. And I will continue to be changed

Now the 3 birthday questions..

1- favorite birthday memory? Last year- my Uw team sang the song "hero" to me.. I haven't laughed that hard in so long. It was fantastic!

2- good, and not so good of this past year?

Oh gosh- July to July... It's been a really tough one... The good? Time with family; uconn winning and seeing them win; Nicole getting saved ; the village - Nicole, k.t., shiner, Oliver and me; spring break selection process; mass. Camps; px 90; Disney and beach trip; driving my jeep; going to dog park with shiner; leading entreps; meeting with Krissy; shape week during 35 days; alot of good ole fun!!

Not so good?

Job stress; Satan attacks; seeing people I love go down; seeing my family in pain; feeling not able to bounce back from it all; griffins struggles; battles with sin

3- what am I most looking forward to in my 34th year??

Clarity; more time with family; more life transformation;

Birthdays... A reminder of gods love and faithfulness.. :)

Heather Lodovico
College Director
www.hcbcut.com

... if we ever leave a legacy, let it be that we loved eachother well...

Family time in conn.

2009-07-17T23:49:00.001-05:00

I am spending the week in Connecticut.. Where I was born and raised.. And spent most of my days.. Ha. My family still lives there. Mom, dad, sister, nephew, aunts, uncles, cousins.. I'm here to see them and also run two sports camps for Uw sports ministries. A great ministry by the way...

New England needs the gospel.. So here Is my attempt to be a useful vessel in a very hard area. And I love little kids. I get them and they understand me.. It's an outlet for me to use my gifts with kids. I don't have that in Austin. I did when I was teaching, but I haven't found it yet working full time for Hcbcut. So Uw allows me to play with kids.. And reach out to new England. A win win eh?

I love reading the paper here. There are uconn and Yankee stories every day :) .

I love being with my family. I love watching the Yankees with my dad. I enjoy watching movies with my sister . I love talking about mj or the latest news with my cousin. I love hanging with my nephew.

However, my heart also aches. My family wants me home. They always have. I've been living away since my junior year of college. Now going on.. 11-12 years. They have been asking to move back ever since.

Instead I've moved farther away.. From long island, ny to Harrisonburg, va to Vienna, va to fort myers, fl to Austin, tx. I've been searching for home.. A place to serve, a community to be on mission with.. Warm weather :)

However today :

My 7 yr old nephew asked me why I live in Texas. I told him I like my job and my friends. He asked if I like my friends more than family. :(

He has asked me things like this before. He doesn't understand why I don't live with the family. He doesn't understand.

He also has autism. He is brilliant. But struggles socially. He is struggling. The family is struggling. It's been a very hard semester for them. And for me.

Ugggg.

I hope the trip is great. I hope time with the family is good and fun. I hope the lord uses the camp to bring many to him and encouragement to all. I hope taurasi gets to play in the wnba all star game and the Yankees win.

And I hope He sustains my head and heart .

Heather Lodovico

College Director

www.hcbcut.com

... if we ever leave a legacy, let it be that we loved eachother well...

It's very early....

2009-07-16T06:44:00.000-05:00

I don't know how people get up before the sun each day and function well. So not my gifting. Going to bed early may have helped, but after a long day of very fruitful meetings, packing, laundry, and checking email, facebook, and Twitter one last night, I found my mind and body restless... And then the alarm sounded.

Uggggggg

Godly people in the bible and in the past rose early ... I'm not spiritual enough.

I got up early for 12 years of school.. Waiting for the bus in the cold.. No fun. Had my share of 8 o'clocks in college.. And was up even earlier when I taught elem pe. Whose great idea was it to shape young minds before 8am anyway!!

Now I leave Austin tx for a stretch in my homeland - Connecticut !!! I'll be seeing my family, leading 2 gospel centered sports camps, celebrating my birthday, going to the wnba all star game, going to the new Yankee stadium, and touring espn..

I'll be up early each day for camp.. Uggg ...

Heather Lodovico
College Director
www.hcbcut.com

... if we ever leave a legacy, let it be that we loved eachother well...

risk to annoy

2009-06-29T12:07:00.000-05:00

while i'm emailing, facebooking, texting, chatting, calling and twittering with college students..it made me think.. do we pursue folks with the same intensity that Jesus pursued/ pursues us? i know we are not all initiators, and its hard for some to pursue without getting a response or being pursued ourselves.. but we should strive to be little jesus's to quote frost.. and live like him right?

its risky to pursue.. you may annoy... you may be misunderstood.. you may be rejected... yeah.. but jesus left the 99 to reach the one.. and was rejected by many.. and annoyed folks.. and was misunderstood..

do i wish my phone rang more? sure.. but that doesn't keep me from passionately pursuing folks- to help connect them to Christ, his community, and his calling on their lives.. dead people dont pick up the phone... but neither do christ followers...

Blog

2009-06-27T21:43:00.001-05:00

Now I can blog through email. Wow

Heather Lodovico
College Director
www.hcbcut.com

... if we ever leave a legacy, let it be that we loved eachother well...

2009-06-27T21:39:00.001-05:00

I'm blogging through text on my iPhone... Wow

my dog is named shiner

2009-06-26T23:28:00.000-05:00

yes after the beer... i love the new york yankees, the new york football giants, and the uconn huskies.. my father raised me right.

i know jesus.. somedays better than others

my big ole italian family lived in bristol and avon ct. i have over 80 cousins... im a new englander.. a yankee..

7 of the top ten least religious states are in new england... makes me sad

im on my second round of px90..

i got saved in college.. in virgina.. james madison university.. go dukes.. college students were meing missional there before the word was cool.. wish i had thought of that word.. id be rich.. if i had a million dollars..

i consider myself reformed..

i think i/ we can learn from anyone.. any church.. any author, pastor, book, sacred and secular. i used to be an arogant, ignorant son of a gun.. god's been and continues to work on me..

jury is still out on twitter.. blogging.. the south..

the red sox suck... its sad cause i really like the city of boston..

ive lived in bristol conn, garden city new york; harrisonburg, virginia; vienna, va; fort myers, fl; and now austin, tx; i dont think im done yet.

i have 5 tatoos- a turtle, soccerball, design by mandy latz, the word His in hebrew and the uconn huskies logo.. i have my next 5 picked out.

i have worked as a grocery bagger and checker- go walbaum foodmart, park and rec supervisor, data entry clerk, fast food worker, sports manager , factory temp work, waitress, para church staffer- intervarsity and FCA, church intern- mclean bible church, high school coach, little gym manager, chilis training team- opening 5 new chilis, elem. and jr. high PE teacher, athletic director, middle school coach, college ministry director, associate college director, and now connections director- at hcbcut

im used to and built to handle many tasks at once

i am a super lion.. or a DS...

i think the s.h.a.p.e book is gold to the believer. everyone should go through it and apply it to their lives

i connect people to jesus, his people, and his specific calling on their lives

im good at it.. like spooky good...

i spend way too much money.. help

this semester has been hard.. like very hard

i am very flawed

i dont trust people.. my heart hurts from folks ive let in and have bolted

i love my family.. and live too far from them.. it makes my head and heart hurt.

i have a thorn in my flesh..

i own a jeep..

diet coke is awesome. so are mudslides, cheese burgers, cliff bars, the p90x recovery drink, peanut butter and wheat thins..

random thoughts....

2009-06-04T23:19:00.000-05:00

here's a peak inside my brain...

-i leave for oklahoma in 12 hours.. to help train over 70 folks to reach kids.. and whoever else stumbles into camp.. with the gospel

- missional summer project starts next week.. i wont be there.. thats ok

- staff retreat happens when i come back.. i hope ill be mentally, emotionally and spiritually present

- i miss my dog already

-its amazing the village god has creadted in my 570 sq feet

- wish i lived closer to my family.. and that thought about getting closer to them is growing

- diet coke.. yes

- yankees.. yes

- kieth tooleys words today were much needed

- i dont trust anyone.. bummer

- i spend way to much money

- being a woman in full time ministry is hard sometimes

- my dog is awesome

- i am very flawed

oceans 11... hlods 11.. i like that..

2008-09-05T22:41:00.000-05:00

george clooney had a team of 11 to make off with all that money.. i just read a book that talks about 11 indispensable relationships you can't be without.. i've bought in to it..

we all know about the importance of a paul.. someone pouring into you.. but i think we put too much on that one person.. to be all things to us..

god has given us the spirit.. different personalities..different giftings.. this book tells of 11 relationships that will help us grow.. based of 11 people in the bible.. the author calls them withnesses.. god's dream team for us to travel this journey with us..

so who you taking with you? "Here is life's best buddy system".. chew on it a bit..

who's your nathan: you need an editor

who's your jonathan: you need a true friend

who's your jethro: you need a butt- kicker

who's your timothy: you need a heir

who's your barnabas: you need an encourager

who's your peter/paul: you need a yoda

who's your deborah: you need a back- coverer

who's your zacchaeus: you need a reject

who's your rhoda: you need a 'little one'

who are your VIP's: you need a lydia and a lazarus

where's your jerusalem: you need a place

the invisible 12th: holy spirit on 3 :)

who you got in your corner... who you asking how goes it with your soul?

woeful

2008-08-10T17:14:00.000-05:00

funny title for my first blog eh? this word.. woeful.. was in a hymn we sang this morning.. fairest lord jesus.. which is a great song.. but my mind got suck on this word.. woeful...

whoahful.. i understand that :).. but woeful.. as i tried to wrap my mind around it.. it seemed to capture my heart.. both words...

why woeful?
-two of my dear friends have left.. one to tenn.. one to morocco.. (i seem a bit dramatic dont i? well, you don't know my heart.. or the whole story.. ok maybe i am dramatic.. )
-i miss my family, and new england
- my sin sucks..
- the campus doesnt know jesus..

why whoahful? ha thats easy..
- im going to concert of praise- to celebrate with 8 other hcbc churches of gods faithfulness
- im his..enough said
- we're goin to reach the campus..
- two of my timothys are back..or on route
- i got final four tickets for the 4th straight year

there is more.. for both.. but as i sit next to my dog.. i know god is big.. and has my heart.. and if i go back to that hymn.. and read the other verses.. woe will turn to whoah.. holy spirit on 3.