First NSO

First "new student orientation" of the summer! Please pray for fruit. The spiritual kind...

Asher Ascending...

I couldn't think of a better alliteration...

As you most likely know already, Emma and I had our baby boy on April 3rd!  Baby Asher Thomas was 7lb .5ounces, and has currently been packing on the weight, at least a couple times now put on a pound in a week, and is almost 11lbs now!

I won't continue to be that parent who talks about nothing but their kid...so I'll just post a bunch of pictures, instead. :)

still the 1st or 2nd day of being 'out'...he has grown since! 

He still loves to stick his hands on his face

There are 6 boys in the church under 6ish months
 (one was absent this day) 

thanks to the Isenbergs...

he has good form, but I'm working on his distance 

he has started smiling a bit

 

I missed the moment before when he was stretching
and his arms were sticking straight up even further

March (and April) Mashup, pt 1

Its been two months since I posted an update.  I've just been so swamped I haven't even had 5 minutes to write a blog!  Not.  I do apologize for not updating more in the past couple months of ministry, but I'll try and make up for it in the next couple posts.

1. First, a thankfulness for the blessing and responsibility to teach the Bible to students.  Every Tuesday, in Weary Wil's Sports Grill in the Union, John Reiners and I met and talked about all sorts of things; how he is doing, how his devotional life was, sin, victory over sin, uncertainty about life, etc.  We also spent a significant amount of time studying Colossians.  We do what's called the "Inductive Bible study method", which (in a nutshell) is carefully observing, interpreting and applying God's Word.  My time with John this past semester was honestly some of the best time in the word
   with a student I've had in a long time.  He was/is an astute guy, eager to not jump to conclusions and humble to acknowledge what he didn't know.  Unfortunately, John is transferring to STI in Sioux Falls next year, since he got a full-ride scholarship to study automotive repair.  So, seems like a great thing for him, but I'll miss him.

   

   John attended our leadership recruitment weekend
   (2nd from the left)

   

   right in front, on the right.  John attended our apologetic/Christian education classes every Monday night all year

   

   3rd guy from the left in the back row

Free book, or source of contention?

Also...Free Book Friday is today...it's Friday...

So, today's book is "Is God Anti-Gay?".  It's written by Sam Allberry, a pastor in the UK who struggles with same-sex attraction.  The book is incredibly helpful, and as you can see, , is quite short, making it approachable and possible to read within just a couple of hours.

Giving it away in like 10 minutes, complete with this short video trailer on repeat at the booth:

Trent, a funny guy, one of our freshmen this year.

You can watch the trailer here:
  

As well as a handful of great little videos here as well:

https://vimeo.com/118286830

and here: 

https://vimeo.com/118284292

and here:

https://vimeo.com/118284291

Or watch the full-length 10 minute interview here:

Leadership update

The gang on Saturday night

Quick Update: Our leadership training/recruitment this past weekend went great!  We had a couple of students with significant/legitimate reasons they couldn't be there, but for all who were it seemed to be a helpful and good time of bonding and studying the nature of leadership, what Equip is, what we do, what requirements are of being on leadership, studying some great and deep theological things that we love here at Equip, and on and on.  It's a fairly packed Friday night and Saturday, but well worth it.

Please pray God would draw those present to officially apply for leadership and that they would

1.  have a heart to reach the lost, and
2. serve their peers and give of themselves to others for the glory of God next year here at SDSU.  

"Kimberly" misspelled her name :) she started over...

Leadership Recruitment

So much of what we do here on the campus of SDSU (rhymes), is done through and dependent on the nature of our student leaders.  How many do we have?  Are they soled out on the gospel and the need for ministry? How mature are they? Are they teachable/humble and willing to learn and be corrected and guided? These and so many more things make an enormous difference to how the ministry 'on the ground' actually goes.

This weekend is our "Recruitment" weekend, tonight for about 3 hours and most of the day tomorrow we'll be going over some leadership skills, theological/biblical convictions that we love, what 'discipleship' and 'evangelism' are and why they matter, and more.

I'm excited, and we would very much appreciate and 'covet' your prayers for us these following hours.  Please pray God would bring conviction to potential student leaders, that He would grant Brando and I clarity and conviction in the teaching, and that we would gain some new student leaders that would make a difference for the outreach and discipleship of this ministry for next year.

(I couldn't find the most recent leadership photo from our last Spring weekend, but here are some older ones...cause I just don't like posting without a picture :)

Speaking at the Philosophy Club...most likely

Quick Update and prayer request:

Spent a couple hours today at the weekly "Free Book Friday" (FBF) booth on campus.  Gave away 5 books, 3 of which were the focus book of the day "What's Your Worldview?"by James Anderson.

I usually spend 70% of my time at FBF standing speaking with students, and 30% trying to get through my to-do list.  Today, I spent almost the whole time standing and talking with students, much of which was talking with a student who leads or helps lead the SDSU Philosophy Club.  I met him this past summer, and have spoken with him several times since.  Today he stopped and we had a good conversation regarding the nature of the book, which is essentially written like a "choose your own adventure" novel, except that you answer questions to determine what your 'worldview' is, or simply "what you believe".  It's very cool, and he was interested.  After talking about it for awhile, he invited me to speak at their club, and I agreed.  However, we need to finalize a date (their meetings have a bit of conflict with Equip large group meetings), as well as figure out what I'm actually going to speak on.  

So, the prayer request is simple: please pray for wisdom to decide what to speak on, to do it well, and that a date could work out.  I'm eager for the opportunity to speak to students who choose to be involved in a philosophy club, and want to display Christ well, make him known through whatever topic might be addressed.  

Ps.  Here is the video I played from 11:00-1:00 to advertise the book.  It's not actually a video about the book, but it's pretty close.