Archive for the ‘Creation’ Category
September 2025 Update
Category Creation, Family, Friends, Fun, Illini Life, Jesus, Ministry, Photos, Scripture, Spirituality
June 2016 Update
Category Creation, GCM, Illini Life, Jesus, Ministry, Running, Scripture, Spirituality
May 2011 Update
Category Creation, Friends, Fun, GCM, Illini Life, Jesus, Ministry, Photos, Spirituality
Easter Sunday with Illini Life
Category Creation, Family, Friends, GCM, Illini Life, Jesus, Ministry, music, Photos, Spirituality
Being in campus ministry has it’s differences from being a community church. One of the obvious places we see this is during the holidays. Student and University schedules are built around being able to return home for Christmas, Thanksgiving and so on. At the University of Illinois some years Spring break falls at a time that allows students to celebrate Easter at home. Most often, though, it does not – leaving many on campus rather than travel quite a distance to visit family.
In this place we, Illini Life, get to step in and be a community that celebrates and remembers Christ’s death and resurrection together. It’s one of my favorite times of the year – we’re reminded that our God conquered the grave, the tomb was empty and in the same way we have been risen to new life in Him. A time worthy of celebrating such as this shouldn’t be contained behind the walls of a building nor in the solitude of loneliness.
Each year we gather those that are still on campus and celebrate the empty tomb together in an open air service right on the heart of campus – the Krannert Amphitheater. Afterwards we gather at a home in the community for a feast.
This past Sunday Amy and I enjoyed celebrating with our church home and our students. Early that morning I had gotten up to get on my bike and ride into the country. Enjoying the solitude and early morning sun I began singing the words of Charlie Hall’s “Marvelous light”
Sin has lost it’s power,
death has lost it’s sting.
From the grave you’ve risen
VICTORIOUSLY!
What a great God we serve!
January 2011 Update
Christmas in Vermont
Amy and I spent the week before Christmas in Killington, Vermont with her family. It was a combined Christmas celebration and pre-celebration of her youngest brother’s high school graduation. We both agree, it was a sweet Christmas present and welcomed time with family to play and relax.
Here are some pictures from our time on Killington Mountain.
Celebrating Baptism
Category Creation, Friends, Fun, GCM, Illini Life, Jesus, Ministry, News, Spirituality, Technology
I spent last week in Orlando, FL near the headquarters of GCM, as a stop along the support raising trail back to campus. My good friend Chris hosted me at his place for the week as I worked at finding times to meet with folks and share about the work I do and – during the off hours – spent much time working on upgrading the GCM network firewall with our IT department.
Shortly after arriving in Orlando I found myself standing on the beach facing the Atlantic Ocean. Chris’ church was holding their Baptism service – which is much more of a celebration than most churches I’ve attended. I loved the atmosphere and excitement as we celebrated brothers and sisters making a public display of the inward commitment they had made to follow Jesus.
Together in community we shared a meal, cheered as 113 folks were baptized in the waves of the Atlantic (including some more notable figures), worshiped together in music and voice and shared our lives. This church thinks about baptism much the way that Illini Life does – it’s an event we want to celebrate as a church community. It’s worthy of celebrating as we watch others make a public declaration to the church body that they belong to Jesus.
Chicago Marathon – Fast Approaching
Well folks, we are less than a week away from the Chicago Marathon. Amy and I have been training for nearly 18 weeks specifically for this race coming off the Illinois Marathon 1/2 marathon and Mattoon triathlon this summer.
I’m eager to beat on the streets of this great city after several years off of marathoning. This well run race has always been a favorite of mine.
This will be Amy’s first marathon, I hope you’ll join me in cheering her on and wishing her luck as she tackles this huge goal.
If you’re interested in following our progress in the race you can sign up for runner updates to your mobile device, follow the directions here.
Just Keep Running!
Warrior Dash
This weekend Amy and I met up for our good friend Alan (also a GCM missionary that we work with at U of I) and ran in the Warrior Dash, it was muddy goodtimes.
We ran 3.17 miles, through mud, over abandoned cars, wooden barriers, through a mud pit, over a 8 foot hay bail wall, cargo net, hills, fire, and under barbed-wire (to name a few obstacles). As you can see we were covered in mud at the end.
Running has grown to be a hobby Amy and I enjoy doing together and share with a lot of our friends and students here at U of I.
Happy Birthday To You
Today marks the anniversary of this beautiful woman’s birth. Happy Birthday Amy!
