Days 4 and 5: Worship and Live

First of all - I'm super sorry about not giving an update last night - I got back in my room after 1:30am, and then couldn't get the internet working, so decided just to go to sleep--but some AWESOME stuff happened on Wednesday as well as today.

Wednesday (Day 4: Worship)
As we traveled through the book of Exodus, we got to the story of Moses receiving the Law from God while Aaron compromised and fashioned a golden calf for the people of Israel to worship. We studied the Scripture and applied it to our own lives--we may not bow down and worship a golden cow...but we do worship idols. We spent time studying the concept of worship and how we are created as worshippers, and if we don't give Jesus our whole heart, we WILL worship something or someone else. It was a powerful evening as we were challenged to be open and honest about the idols in our lives, and it was freeing as we confessed these things to each other...but then it got even better. Many of you may not know a soon-to-be freshman, Robby Myers, but God truly got ahold of his heart that night! As the main session came to a close (which was outstanding), Robby was moved to tears, and as we talked, he said he is beginning to understand God's Word in ways that he had never been able to before, and that he wanted to give his life completely over to Jesus. We eventually talked about baptism and what it means, and he got so excited that he couldn't wait to get home. We called mom (Barbara Davenport), asked how she felt about this decision, and she was all-for it. We will show video of Robby's baptism into Christ on Sunday morning (hopefully)--as we did it in the Lee University garden fountain! It was awesome! Praise Jesus!!! (Robby is the one in the middle of this tennis court picture...click to enlarge)



Thursday (Day 5: Live)
Today, really, was icing on the cake. It was a reinforcement of what God has been pressing on the hearts of the students, and a final encouragement and challenge to make this commitment and excitement for Jesus a daily desire and routine. It was also "skip-a-meal" day (I can explain later if you'd like me to) and "extended recreation" day...which meant: white water rafting! We had so much fun and got so stinkin' wet--it was truly an incredible memory-making experience. We only lost four students to the rapids, but that's not a bad ratio. Just kidding! Nobody was injured other than maybe a bruise or two, and we all walked away talking about who was the strongest, most brave, most crazy, and most wet among us! I'm sorry I won't have any new pictures up on the slideshow to your left...today was just a whirlwind, and I have not imported anything yet.

To end the evening, Eric Epperson did a fantastic job giving us the challenge to step up and live this kingdom worker concept out at home, and then they did something unique. Every student received a card inside an envelope as they walked into the session this evening. They were told that on this card is written a challenge that they are personally challenged to accomplish and complete...and that these challenges are not small or easy. As we return home tomorrow, I encourage you to ask the students that attended (you'll notice us wearing our shirts on Sunday) what their specific challenge was. (they ranged from committing to go on an over-seas missions trip in the next year to getting a part time job for the soul reason of sharing their faith with co-workers).

I will close the CIY Move blogging with this truth: Relationships are key. This group of 31 people are closer than we have ever been, and it's only been 6 days. It proves the fact that when we spend intentional time with people for the purpose of talking about God-stuff and EXPECTING God to show up and move in our lives--unity happens. Unity in our mission, unity in our personal relationships, unity in our passion for worship, etc. So please, please, please, when we get home - make it your goal as parents, friends, and family to be excited with your son/daughter/friend... Fuel the flame, even. Partner with them in their challenge to do something bigger than themselves for the kingdom. The emotion of the trip will eventually wear off, but I implore you to help maintain the passionate desire to see His kingdom advance!

Day 3: Crossing

...the Red Sea, that is. We dove into Exodus 14 today, and as the Israelites were finally freed from their bondage and slavery, they almost immediately came upon a "problem." God took them the long way around and they ended up at the Red Sea with nowhere to go and a huge Egyptian army storming towards them! That's exactly what happens to us when we are set free from sin - God begins leading and guiding us...but not always when and how we thought. In fact, Satan is ticked off and he is coming at us full force, and we are left, standing at the water's edge with no place to turn, grumbling against God! Oh how quickly we forget the power and wisdom of God when times get tough. The beautiful thing is, though, that if we listen to Him, he will do AMAZING THINGS! He parted the sea (can you imagine being the first Israelite out of the 2.5 million of them to step out into the newly created path?? Kinda scary). We were challenged today to not only let Jesus free us from sin and bondage...but to begin living out that freedom as "Kingdom Workers." God calls us to step up and make a difference in the Kingdom, and we started our journey today in finding out what it is that He is calling us to. Pray for the students to be able to remove all distractions over the next couple of days in order to clearly hear the call that God is placing on their life, specifically. I truly believe with all my heart that this generation can and will turn the world upside down for Christ!

On a less spiritual note, it rained ALL DAY today, and I will try and post some pictures tomorrow of the soaking wet football games and the extreme mud wrestling--It was intense! :) Oh, and I will NEVER bring rubber bands for an illustration ever again...when the innocent game was over, a war broke out. I have more welts and bruises on my body now than the Israelite slaves did!!! We are having a blast and growing closer, though--I guess a few rubber band slaps are worth the bonding and memories (I can't promise I didn't retaliate against your kids though :).

Day 2: Freedom!

Today has been full of fun and excitement as well as some pretty heavy, serious times. After a good night in the dorms (girls have awesome dorms!), we had some pretty good cafeteria breakfast and then started a day all about slavery vs. freedom. Each of the students had a "d-group" (discipleship group consisting of about 8 student and 2 leaders), where we had some great teaching about the reality and gravity of our sin. We took two paper bracelets, wrote sins that we personally struggle with (on the inside of the bracelets), and wore them all day on our wrists...as part of the evening session, the adults took a third bracelet and "shackled" the students' hands together as if they were handcuffed to represent the fact that sin enslaves us. After some prayer and meditation, they were encouraged to break free and throw away their "chains" - it was a very powerful moment. In fact, in our "youth group time" at the end of the night, we split into guys and girls and got very open and honest with each other about specific sins in our lives that we want to eradicate...and there was a combination of tears, shouts of joy, and earnest prayer happening! No one was forced to talk, but many were moved by the Spirit to confess things and get the burdens off of their chest in a safe, non-judgmental environment. Here is what I am even more excited about...students are being freed from sin and death...and we still have 3 more days here to get to talk about how to LIVE OUT this newly found Freedom In Christ! Today's theme (Freedom) was based out of Exodus 12 (the end of the 10 plagues, and the letting go--i.e. 'exodus'--of the Israelites from Egypt), and was obviously very applicable to us and our need to be freed from our own slavery to sin. Celebrate with us the many decisions to get radical about confessing and eliminating sin, and please pray for tomorrow as we talk about the "Crossing" (Red Sea)--where is God leading us, and how do we know his will, leading, and direction for our lives?? It will be an extremely enlightning and important day! Thank you for wanting to keep up and know what is going on as well as being in prayer for us as we are at Move. Please feel free to leave a comment on the blogs (as it encourages me to continue writing at 1 am or later as I go to bed! :). Love you all - God is good.

Here, and In Position

We made the 12-hour drive flawlessly! God totally helped keep us safe, and I know that he helped us drivers stay awake and alert (in addition to several pops and energy drinks :). Feel free to give Brent O'Connor a big pat on the back, as he drove the all-girls van! We lost an hour as we got into the Nashville area (we are an hour ahead of MO), and arrived at Lee University in Cleveland, TN around noon. We enjoyed some free time/nap time until hamburgers and hot dogs at 5pm. Then the conference officially began, and it was a GREAT opening session! The atmosphere was one of energetic expectancy, and God filled the place as we worshipped Him. The speaker, Scott ?, did an excellent job of setting up this week's theme by discussing Exodus 3--Moses and the Burning Bush - How we, like Moses, have been sought out by God for a purpose that He designed us for, and we must get into a position of willingness! When we give excuses, God simply remiss us of who he is (I AM)! Please be in prayer for tomorrow (Monday), as we will be talking about the slavery in Exodus, and how we are slaves to sin...it will be a very heavy day as the students come face to face with their sin, and the reality that Jesus is the only one who can break those chains and give us true Freedom! I love and appreciate you all - thank you for your prayers and support!

Runnin' crazy!

This summer has been awesome! This picture was at JH CYOKAMO, getting ready for an 80's bowling night. We've had both weeks of camp, two AXIS Wednesday night worship times, a massive fireworks stand, a float rip, and a partridge in a pear tree so far...and it's not over! God has truly been moving at Carterville (very evident this week at VBS!), and we are getting ready for our last two big trips of the summer - CIY MOVE and JH Bodybuilders. I know that these weeks will absolutely change lives, and I plead with everyone to be in prayer over these weeks. "MOVE" is in Cleveland, TN (Lee University) for the high schoolers, and Bodybuilders in an inner-city St. Louis missions trip (teaming up with 3 other youth groups). Please be praying for God to prepare the hearts of the students now, and to blow them away at camp!! I believe we can change the culture of worship at CCC beginning with youth if we take it seriously! Thank you, Jesus!