UA gets it’s man in Anthony Grant
March 27, 2009
March 20, 2009
Dawson Tradition
Here’s a video of Brady and I singing, “Dawson Tradition”, at the Beach Breakaway talent show.
March 17, 2009
Breakaway Update
Breakaway is going great! I wish I had more time to post more updates but there is no way that the Breakaway experience can translate into words.
Sunday was our first full day at Breakaway and an awesome day it was. Our students experienced an awesome day of worship, food, mild weather, and fun. Bill Stanley is really communicating to our students! At Sunday’s “Late Night”, we shared an awesome worship experience together as we served each other the Lord’s Supper.
Monday was an even better day. The students were challenged to read the Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 5, 6, and 7) during their morning quiet time. Some students shared that they had never read that much Scripture in one sitting. Fourteen teams participated in the volleyball tournament. It was a great day to be on the beach. We had a candlelight service during Monday night’s “Late Night”. Students were challenged to take a lit candle and take it to someone in the room and either encourage them or mend a relationship. It was a beautiful experience to witness.
Have I mentioned that the food team is taking great care of us? Jeff Dance and his crew should win an award!
I miss my girls back home. Jaime is keeping me updated with Avery pictures.
I’m having an awesome time at Breakaway but I can’t wait to get home and hug my girls!
Continue to pray for us.
March 15, 2009
Breakaway Day 1
Day 1 of Beach Breakaway is in the books. The stressful part is over; everyone made it to Laguna Beach Christian Retreat in one piece. We departed from the Dawson Parking Building at around 9:00 a.m. with about 275 students and leaders in 3 charter buses.
Our students were introduced to possibly the cheesiest movie of all time (Sunday School Musical) on the bus ride…
Students caught breaking any of the rules this week will be locked in a room and will be forced to watch “Sunday School Musical” over and over.
We left the church in our rain jackets but arrived to the beach in our shorts and flip-flops. God blessed us with safe travel and a beautiful day.
After unpacking, the students had a few hours of free time to unwind before dinner. The kitchen crew provided us with a delicious spaghetti dinner. Our students are being fed very well!
The students were introduced to their small groups with a scavenger hunt “mixer”. The small groups consist of students of all ages and genders. We purposely take students outside of their comfort zones when we place them in small groups. Our goal in doing this is to build unity within the group.
The evening worship service was awesome! Dave Taylor and the band immediately directed our focus off of the beach and onto God. Bill Stanley introduced the theme of the week; The Journey is the Destination. Bill spoke from Jeremiah 29 as he talked about what it means to embrace the journey God has us on.
Believe it or not, most everyone’s lights were out at around Midnight. It was a great first day! Pray for our students this week!
March 13, 2009
6 OTs!
March Madness began at my house last night. Thursday was a great day for basketball. Phillip Pearson has Alabama playing the best they’ve played all season. The Tide rolled over Vanderbilt, 82-75 in the first round of the SEC basketball tournament. The UAB Blazers beat Southern Miss, 74-73 in OT in the quarterfinals of the Conference USA Tournament.
After watching “The Office”, Jaime and I turned over to the Syracuse-Connecticut Big East Tournament game. We started watching at halftime. Jaime called it a night after the first overtime. Syracuse finally won in 6, count ’em, 6 overtimes! The final box score looked like this:
I would’ve had several more hours of sleep if that cocky white dude from Syracuse would’ve gotten that shot of a millisecond sooner at the end of regulation.
March 7, 2009
March 5, 2009
John 3:16…Too Cliche?
Last night at eXtreme, we talked about John 3:16; a verse that most Christians (or people, for that matter) are familiar with. We see it plastered on billboards, cars, people (tattoos), and at most sporting events. While watching this year’s BCS National Championship game, I even was critical of Tim Tebow for wearing it under his eyes as seen below…
I think my comment was, “How Cliche!” I know, I’m a “hater”. I guess I’m glad he didn’t take it a step further…
I still haven’t found that elusive book of “Austin” in my Bible. It must be in the Apocrypha.
Have we cheapened this verse by the way we, as Christians, make this our battle cry? I wonder how many people have actually turned to a Christian way of living by seeing that verse behind home plate while watching a baseball game on TV? I’m not sure that is what Jesus had in mind when he commanded his followers to preach the Gospel to all nations.
With all the cynicism aside, there is real power when you hear or read the message of John 3:16:
For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. (ESV)
To give Tebow some credit (as if he doesn’t already get enough), what verse would be better for a non-believer to turn to if given only one verse to read. John 3:16 paints a great picture of the Gospel message.
I shared the following clip with my students last night from the movie, “Most” (Czech for “The Bridge”):
You see, at just the right time, when we were still powerless, Christ died for the ungodly. Very rarely will anyone die for a righteous man, though for a good man someone might possibly dare to die. But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us. (Romans 5:6-8 NLT)
It is not fair that God loves me that much. So often, I’m just like those passengers on that train; oblivious to the sacrifice that was made on my behalf. God forgive me for taking your sacrifice for granted. May I always live with John 3:16 in mind. And thank you dear Christians for always reminding me…
…but I’ll still roll my eyes and make fun of you.
March 3, 2009
Doggie Dreams
My dog, Rascal does some funny things in his sleep, but never anything to this extent…
Homesick 