Let Us Exalt on Bended Knee

Pizza Theology

"'Call to me and I will answer you and tell you great and unsearchable things you do not know.'" Jeremiah 33:3

Well, this past little while we had an event called pizza theology. If you don't remember, it's where we have a four-hour teaching period on a subject and have a break for pizza in the middle. This year we had a guest speaker from a partner ministry, Campus Christian Fellowship up at Western Washington University come to speak to us on listening to God's voice in the modern age. This topic was a question we heard our students asking a lot, and many of them had great feedback for the day. So many of us, young and old want to hear from God to tell us what we are supposed to do. Many of these college students are wanting to hear what their careers will be, who they should marry, what they should do with life in general. And while God doesn't give us all specific directives for everything in life, He does have words for all of us, and it's important to be able to take the time and the discipline to hear from Him.

Sermon

"And He said to them, 'Go into all the world and preach the gospel to all creation...'" Mark 16:15

Early December I was able to preach my first sermon of the semester. More often my time in front of the students is with a guitar in my hand and a band behind me, but this time it was me all by my lonesome. Sermons generally make me pretty nervous because of how seldom I do them, but afterwards I'm always glad that I have the experience. I talk about 1 Peter 4:1-11 and much of what I've learned about grace this semester. If you want to listen to it, you can find it here!

Christmas Party

"So now faith, hope, and love abide, these three; but the greatest of these is love." 1 Corinthians 13:13

You know what's one of the most stressful parts of my job? Christmas Party, because it's such a big holiday! We have a themed party every and decorate the church to make it super festive. Families celebrate the holidays together and Christmas is the biggest one for families across the nation, including our spiritual family here in FOCUS. We have cores sign up to do song skits and it's always a blast watching people leave their dignity at the door in the name of group bonding. This year we had an 80s theme and required our song skits to include an 80s part in it. Our staff also does one every year! Check it out here (you'll have to scroll down a little bit)!

Keep FOCUS Growing: Next 20

"As long as it is day, we must do the works of him who sent me. Night is coming, when no one can work." John 9:4

We're having our annual Keep Focus Growing fundraiser going on right now! This year we're focusing (haha!) on the next 20 years. FOCUS has been around for 20 years, and we're anxious to see what God has in store for the next 20 years! This year I've taken a much larger hand in the fundraiser by directing the videos you may have seen. An absurd amount of work goes into each one to two minute video, check them out here along with cute pictures of alumni's kids and beautiful art made by our students! Please consider donating to this fund! We use it to really take advantage of the opportunities God puts in our path. This is just part of the stewardship we believe God has called us to, financially and spiritually. Next year may be the year that we plant a ministry at Southern Methodist University. It'll be our first venture into a private university! There have been many connections we've made and coincidences that can only be God guiding us in that direction, and we're slowly moving forward watching for the Spirit's guidance. The money raised as part of this fundraiser will be going towards things like this! We're trying to raise $55,000 this year, so please pray and consider being a part of this mission! 

Core Reunion

"This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down his life for us. And we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers and sisters. If anyone has material possessions and sees a brother or sister in need but has no pity on them, how can the love of God be in that person? Dear children, let us not love with words or speech but with actions and in truth." 1 John 3:16-18

As many of you know, cores (our small groups) are named that because they're the core of our ministry. And last year I had such a fun group of guys that I loved being around. We formed a deep bond, and I truly hope that they'll be friends for life. We all grew up a lot together last year, and this is what this community is all about: deep spiritual friendships that last a lifetime.

Thank You!

"I do not cease to give thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers." Ephesians 1:16

Because of you I get to do a job that I love every day. Thank you all so much for believing in me and supporting me. I am thankful for each and every one of you, and if there is anything I can ever do for you, please let me know! Please have a wonderful Christmas!