musings and reflections

look for me at http://www.xanga.com/home.aspx?user=nolakid
from now on

Tuesday night was the first "dorm talk" I've ever given. "True Love" was the topic; it was fun. The crowd was...um, not crowded, but some folks were there, and we had a pretty good conversation.

Tonight was the first night of the Jesus Seminar www.nolaxa.com/jesus
I gave the talk, and conducted the discussion tonight, after a great meal prepared by Tracy Kuchler, and Uptown Church. This was actually the first "evangelistic" talk I've ever given on a campus. I've spoken evangelistically to individuals and small groups on campuses before, but never given an "evangelistic talk". I've even given such a talk to students, but just never on campus. It went fairly well. The topic was a tough one-- The Sins of the Church--but I really felt like the Holy Spirit helped me find a positive direction for the discussion, and good things were accomplished; good things like humility, and a platform for future trust and dialogue.

What I love about the Jesus Seminar is that it's evangelistic in the sense that the Good News about Jesus is discussed, but it's not "seal the deal" type evangelism. I'm not trying to sell anything. I'm really not even trying to convince anyone of anything. We're just talking about some important issues regarding Jesus and Christianity. Those who are present are journeying together towards understanding of one another, and even Jesus. There's really no pressure on me, besides to be clear, concise, and dynamic engough to hold attention and stir up discussion. My real responsibility is to love people.

Wow, the news is full of Tulane sports these days, which is fairly rare. Tulane's Baseball team scored a pre-season #1 national ranking, and remains undefeated after two weeks of play (4-0).

Also, in today's news, Drew Bledsoe is leaving the Buffalo Bills. His replacement: J.P. Losman second year Bill from, yes you've got it, Tulane. J.P. was the star quaterback for the 2003 football season here at Tulane. Jen and I saw him play twice. He's got spunk, and a terrific arm.

Roll Wave, Roll.

Mood: looking to chill after a long, long day
Listening to: Norah Jones

Last night we celebrated the Art of Prayer. We do this once a semester during our regular Monday night Prayer Gatherings. Students share their art work as an expression of love to God. We had singing, original song perfomances, a dance, a reading, two poems, visual arts (photography and collage), and home-maker arts; Jen made a beautiful chocolate cake, and Audry, a Tulane Freshman, hand-made some very nice stationery and envelopes. We used one to write a letter to campus missionaries in Germany, and the rest will be sent to Kirk & Amy so they can keep in touch with friends and family back here in the states.
We had a great time, as InterVarsity Christian Fellowship also joined us. What I liked most about the night was the fact that we truly worshipped God. It was not a talent show with all the attending ego. It truly was the art of prayer. Talking to and expressing love to God is not a science. It is art.

here's the poem I shared:

Does God sing in the Western metric style
with all its mathematic tones & scales?
Does God abide by alphabetic pitch--
  Italian speed notation?

I ask because I've never felt an eighth note fluff my hair;
I've never fit my head inside the hollow of whole,
or sat on the subtle hat of a long rest.

The music that surrounds my living and my dying,
the reproduction of my cells--
  their death and resurrection--
is more livid,
more intoxicating,
more alive
than anything Beetoven wrote,
and yet so soft as to indict a Brahms, a DeBussy
on counts of violence to the song God sings so long.

Hello friends, welcome to my new blog. Actually, this could become a community blog. My goals here are to keep interested folks and supporters up to date on myself and Jen, as well as the ministry, and to give students something interesting, and hopefully worthwhile to read. I plan to give regular updates on Jen and I, share regularly about Chi Alpha happenings and strategies, etc., and to develop a kind of review and commentary on the news--primarily campus news. This should be fun.