Special Time...

Hello, friends! 

I was talking to a coworker of mine the other day about how busy life has gotten with school and all the extracurriculars that have started. Ezra is playing soccer and both Ezra and Thaliea are in Cub Scouts. Between the stuff for the kids and our commitments with church, Megan and I have both mentioned how it seems like we have something every night of the week. 

One of the things that I used to do with the kids before they were in school was "Special Time." It usually involved me taking one of the kids to QT to eat a donut and to talk about their day. Then, I'd drop off that kid to pick up the other kid to do the same (Jonah was usually napping). It was great because the kids felt like they got some one on one time, and I got to eat multiple donuts. It really was a win-win. When Ezra started school, it got a lot harder to find time for us to do "Special Time." Now that Thaliea's in school too, she's also missing out. In some ways, it's a definite bummer. 

But, as I was talking to my coworker, I realized something. I'm coaching Ezra's soccer team, which is sort of like our own special time. I'm leading Thaliea's Cub Scout den, which she absolutely loves because to her, that's our special time. On Mondays, when both of the older kids are at school, Jonah and I run errands and such for our own special time. It looks different but it's still something that resembles one-on-one time with each kid. 

We only have 3 kids, compared to the 4 that my parents had, so I'm not sure how they juggled all of it, especially when I think about all the extra-curriculars my siblings and I did. I have also noticed that Ezra is going on more play dates with his friends, which means he clamoring less for "Special Time." I guess that just comes with the times. Still, I'm super thankful for the ways time that I have now to spend with each kid individually. Hopefully, they'll remember our Special Times with fondness and know that I saw them each as their own person and loved them best I could. 

Have an excellent day!

~Adam

Pray for Fall Conference!

Hello, friends! 

InterVarsity Fall Conference has a very special place in my heart. It was at Fall Conference during my Freshman year that I had a major encounter with Jesus and really started my faith journey in a profound way. As a staff, I've seen students have those same profound experiences with Jesus at Fall Conferences. I've had the pleasure of preaching at Fall Conferences and directing Fall Conferences (I'm pretty sure I was much better at the former than I was the latter). 

Fall Conference is special for a number of different reasons. In InterVarsity land, it is often the official "end of NSO season." Much of the invitation that happens during the first few weeks of school is to get students to Fall Conference. It's pretty common for students who attend Fall Conference, especially those who make significant decisions to follow Jesus at Fall Conference, to be committed to the Fellowship for the rest of the year. Added to that, Fall Conference is special because we know that the Holy Spirit moves there. I've seen it with my own eyes. I've experienced it as a student and as a staff. Fall Conference changes lives in a really cool and powerful way. 

Creighton is going to be having its Fall Conference this weekend, from Friday-Saturday. Megan, as interim Area Director for Nebraska, will be helping with conference logistics. I'll be with the kids but we plan on visiting after soccer on Saturday (#GoBlackWidows). 

Would you please be praying for Fall Conference this weekend? Pray for the staff as they lead students. Pray for the students who will be in attendance and for those who are thinking about coming. Pray that the Holy Spirit will move at Fall Conference and that this will be a catalytic moment for the IV chapter. Pray for all the logistics, from travel to housing, to snacks. Pray that the kids (or me) won't miss Megan too much while she's gone. =0). 

Have an excellent day! 

~Adam 

Back in Lincoln

Hello, friends!

Last week, after a while summer off, I got to return to Lincoln, Nebraska to hang out with the ACF crew! I'll be heading out there every other week to see the crew, join in on Bible study, and generally be of as much help as possible.

Classes just started a few weeks ago, and everyone is still getting used to their schedules, so Figs (the student leader) wasn't sure if folk would come. However, I had a trick up my sleeve...

Free food.

That's right, I'm not above a little bribery. Dinner was on me and we got the best fried chicken in Lincoln. It was fun to catch up with folk, get to know them more, and to a little planning for the year to come. One student joked, "maybe we should just do Bible study here every week." She was a little taken aback when I said, "Sure!" =0).

I'm looking forward to this year with ACF. It's always fun getting together with students and connecting with Asian American students is always a joy. My hope is that I'll be able to cast vision for the crew to be more than just an insular Bible study but a real missional force in Nebraska. I'll buy as much fried chicken as it takes to make that a reality.

Have an excellent day!

~Adam

Find Your People!

Hello, friends! 

On Sunday, I had the honor of preaching at Bridge Church again. We're currently going through a sermon series called "Find Your People" based on a book by Jenny Allen. 

It was a lot of fun to put together this sermon. There were a few changes to the schedule that needed to be made that actually ended up with me combining two different sermons. I still managed to keep it under 30 minutes though. =0). 

As I've been preaching at church more and more, I've been heartened by the kind words that various folk from church have given me. I really enjoy preaching and it's good to know that other folk don't mind me preaching either. One of the comments that has come up on more than one occasion is that I do a good job of taking complex ideas and making them simple and easy to understand. I can't say that I'm doing that intentionally, but I'll take it, for sure! 

Enjoy this week's sermon! If you're ever away from your local church and are in the area, stop on by Bridge! I think we're pretty great. 

Have an excellent day!

~Adam

Tabling!!!

Hello, friends! 

Yesterday, Megan drove to Hasting, NE (about 2.5 hours away) to do some tabling with Zack, a student leader at the InterVarsity group there. All said and done, she said it was a great time! Zack is an RA (Residential Advisor) so he knew everyone who came by. There were some folk who were really excited about joining the Bible study and it seems like there's some real momentum there! 

There are many reasons I love my wife, but one of them is how welcoming she is to people. Tabling is a great example of that. Megan knows exactly how to make people feel welcomed and engaged, with just a short conversation. She's also a great trainer and developer, so I'm sure that Zack learned a thing or two about how to table well. 

During the start of the school year, tabling is one of the most common and best ways to meet students on campus. I love tabling because of the random encounters that lead to lifelong friendships and even life change. The prospect of a free cup or some candy may be all that's needed for a student to feel welcomed into a community and can even be the first step towards a student following Jesus! 

Friends, right now, tabling is happening all over the Central Region. Staff like Megan and students like Zack are meeting students, new and old, in random, chance encounters on campus. Would you please pray with me that these encounters would lead to something more? Pray that students tabling would be bold in their invitations and grow in love for strangers they may not know. Pray that students walking by would have their curiosity stoked. Pray that this would be the first step towards a great school year for these InterVarsity chapters. 

Have an excellent day!

~Adam

The most wonderful time of the year!

Hello, friends! 

You know what song I have had stuck in my head all day? This one (you're welcome...). =0). 

After a very long, and a very full summer, Omaha Public Schools started today. For Ezra, who's now a second grader, it's a chance to see old friends and get back to the thing he loves most in the world, playing soccer during recess. 

For Thaliea, it's a different story. She's in kindergarten this year, which means a new school and MUCH longer days. Thankfully, she has the same kindergarten teacher that Ezra has, so there's some familiarity there. Given that she can be a little nervous entering new places, we're hopeful that today will be a good day for her. 

Having 2 of the 3 kids in school all day is a new experience for us. I'm sure Jonah isn't going to mind having some alone time with Meg and me during the days he's not in daycare. For me, since Wednesdays are a work day anyway, things have felt mostly normal. Monday (our Sabbath), when it's just Jonah and me, may be when the newness of the situation hits me. For now, I'm just glad that the kids are in school and we haven't gotten any calls about needing to pick up anyone. 

Please be praying for us as we enter a new season of transition. Pray that the kids will enjoy their new classrooms and be leaders of kindness. Pray that Jonah won't get too lonely without his big sister around. 

Have an excellent day!

~Adam

Pray for the Big Dig!

Hello, friends! 

In less than a week, students and staff from all over the Region will be coming together outside Kansas City for The Big Dig, our newest Regional student conference. We'll be digging into the Word, digging into community, and digging into New Student Outreach (NSO) plans before the school year officially starts. 

Personally, I'm really excited for what God is going to do at the Big Dig. The last time we were at this retreat center was in May when Megan directed International Getaway and that was pretty awesome. I'm expecting God to do show up just like he did then. 

Also, I'm excited about starting something new within the Region. In years past, we had student conferences at the end of the year (like when we have Getaway). Putting the Big Dig in August means that recruitment is a little tougher but it also means that we have the opportunity to bring momentum into the school year, instead of hoping that momentum doesn't leak out over the summer (spoiler alert: it always leaks). 

Friends, there has been a lot of preparation and work put into getting the Big Dig up and running. One thing that I'm certain of is that we need lots of prayer help too. So, I'm asking for your help. 

The link below will take you to our Regional Big Dig Prayer sign up. It would mean the world to me if you would take commit to praying for the Big Dig and our staff, students, and alumni in attendance as the Big Dig is happening. 

PRAY FOR THE BIG DIG

Have an excellent day! 

~Adam