Art*Music*Justice Tour

I went to the Art*Music*Justice Concert on October 25th - it was in Carrollton at my old church (Bent Tree Bible Fellowship). Wow! If it comes to your city, or if it is close to you please, please, please go. The artists that participate are so talented, so humble, and speak truth so clearly. It has been a long time since I was blessed in such a way. I was able to commune with God as a part of a community, not merely as one individual among many. I felt connected to the rest of humanity, not just to those in the room, but connected to the Holy Spirit who lives, moves, and breathes across the nations. And I was encouraged that I am a part of an amazing history, I was greatly encouraged and awed by all the saints that have gone before us - giving their lives fully to demonstrate the love, power, compassion, and justice of our great God. In a time when so much of what I hear and see The Church doing reflects so little of God's character, I was so abundantly joyful and my hope was revived that God hears the cries of his people, he seeks to free those in bondage and pleads the case for the widow and orphan. And amazingly he gifts his people with courage in the face of great fear, oppression, and darkness in this world that is not our home, to overcome the powers of darkness and build His Kingdom of Light, Hope, Love, and Peace on the earth. There are people who are fighting the darkness, everyday. I pray that I might be among their number.

This particular event's proceeds went toward ending human trafficing, an evil (and I dont use that word lightly) and growing movement in our world. Currently the practice of human trafficing enslaves 27 million people around the world. This is more than at any other time in human history. And if you think it only happens in far off countries you are wrong - the CIA recently reported that as many as 50,000 women and children are brought into the USA every year under false pretenses and then forced unwillingly into roles as abused laborers, servants, and prostitutes.

Please educate yourself about this issue. Here are some helpful websites: ijm.org, notforsalecampaign.org, humantrafficing.org, freechains.org

Please pray for those who are broken, suffering, and in bondage due to human trafficing. Pray for it to cease.

Consider writing a letter to your local and state officials asking them to approve stiffer laws against human trafficing.

Amazing Burger

My area director for InterVarsity (boss basically) does a great job of visiting with each of us campus staff at A&M every month or so. I always enjoy his visits because it helps me refocus on my goals and strategy for campus...but I also really enjoy being cared for, namely, through a free meal. We usually try to share a meal together (all the staff and Josh), but we also get to invite our spouses/roomate.

So this past weekend we went out for lunch to a place Drew and I had never heard of: Koppe Bridge. There are two locations in College Station, and we went to the "newer" one which was a little ways south of the main part of town. It was really enjoyable - the weather was perfect, we sat outside, surrounded by nature and it just felt like being at a backyard bbq with friends!

But, I have to tell you about their burgers! Drew ate 1 and 1/2!! They were so juicy, thick, and really good. The burger basket came with fries too which tasted completely home made, you could taste the potato, not just the "fried". I enjoyed mine too, but not nearly as much as Drew did. So we all finished, attempted to finish, or helped others finish (Drew) their huge burger, talked, and then headed back home...very full... so full in fact that neither one of us was even remotely hungry the rest of the day. We even went out to see a movie and amidst smelling all the wonderful, buttery movie theatre popcorn, still could not find our appetite. We ended up skipping dinner and eating an apple around 10pm. That is how filling these burgers are, so be forewarned: they are good, but you wont eat for a day! Drew got up this morning and still wasn't hungry :)