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Power In The Christian Life

Since I have been involved with Cru as both a student and staff, I’ve read a number of applications for a variety of things, including small group leader applications, summer mission applications, staff/intern applications, and even applications to sing in our campus worship band. One question that is usually asked on these applications is, “What is your understanding of the Spirit-directed life?”

It’s always interesting to see what people write down to answer this question, and it usually ends up being a confusing paragraph on a divine leading from God or some sort of “burning in the bosom” on what the Lord is directing them to do. Now, I don’t know exactly how heartburn or pectoral muscles come into play when the Spirit of God is working in someone’s life, but the one thing that has become quite clear to me is that many students don’t know what it means to live the Spirit-filled life.

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Longhorn Cows and Chronic Pain

I recently took a trip to Austin, Texas and was met by the most quintessential Texas-y thing upon leaving the Austin Airport. No, a cowboy didn’t ride up to me on a horse and hand me a plate of barbecue, but it was pretty much the next best thing.

A coworker and friend of mine who I was traveling with, Nate, rented a car at the airport, and as we pulled out of the parking deck to head toward the highway, Nate realized quickly that we had no idea where we were going. He needed to find the address of our hotel and plug it into his phone, so we pulled off the access road we were on, and saw on the GPS there was a side road up ahead that came to a dead end. It was perfect for getting out of the flow of traffic and figuring out where we needed to go, so we turned right and headed to the calmer spot.

But as we pulled toward this dead end, Nate and I immediately realized what we were driving up to was nothing as boring as a cul-de-sac. At the end of this road, not even a quarter mile away from the airport, was a Texas Longhorn cattle ranch.

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The Dating Project

The company I work for (Cru) is partnering with a documentary called The Dating Project. I had a chance to see the film via a preview screening, and I can personally tell you the movie is good. Like, for real good.
It’s not a Christian film, even though it’s funded by Christians, and the subjects it addresses are ones that make it incredibly easy to transition into spiritual conversations after you’ve seen it with someone.
 
In fact, I’m writing a short e-book to act as a discussion guide and small group study that will bridge the gap quite nicely between the film and the dating book I wrote. The producers of the documentary, and Fathom Events themselves even approved a 45 second commercial that will be attached to the beginning of the movie that will advertise for the e-book. It’s kind of weird, but I’ll be on the big screen in 700 theaters nationwide.
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Big Break in Panama City Beach, FL

It’s almost here! I can’t believe spring break has arrived so quickly, but I’m surely thankful it has.

I’ll be heading down to the sugary white sands of Panama City Beach, Florida to emcee the first two weeks of Cru’s annual spring break conference, Big Break. Big Break is a conference with great teaching, worship, and evangelism, all wrapped up in the context of a warm, high-energy, fun-filled environment. I’ll be doing my best to bring the funny during the first two weeks of March–won’t you join me by the gulf?

Click here to register and find out the details for the Big Break conference in Florida.

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The Old Taylor Can’t Come to the Phone Right Now

It’s been a little over a month since Taylor Swift’s Reputation was released to be purchased online or as a CD in tandem with a magazine at Target. Initially, I was asked by multiple people what I thought of the album, and I could never really give a cut-and-dry response, because my opinion was as varied as Taylor’s album itself.

Now, however, after listening to Reputation all the way through multiple times (probably more than 20 or so), I feel I can more accurately describe my opinion of it without hemming and hawing.

It’s no secret that I’m a huge fan of Taylor’s music, and when 1989 came out a few years back, it solidified my admiration and respect for an artist who simply knows what she’s doing when it comes to releasing an incredible collection of songs that are able to move another human being on multiple levels. She showed bravery, heart, spirit, and maturity in her songwriting, coupled with catchiness that hooked me for years. I absolutely loved it.

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It’s Almost Here

It’s almost here! Nope, I’m not talking about Christmas (which is also almost here)…I’m talking about the fact that we’re only about three and a half weeks away from Cru Winter Conference /// Baltimore!

When the clock strikes midnight on December 8th, the price of the conference will go up $50, so college students, now through 11:59pm on December 7th is your cheapest option for attending the life-altering event that includes A-list speakers like Sam Allberry.

Sam was one of our speakers at the conference last year, and his time up front was so well liked in 2016 that we asked him to return this year and do three separate talks over the course of our four days in Baltimore. I promise you nothing but an incredible time of worship, Bible teaching, deep community, and fun connection with others.

Plus, I’ll be emceeing this year and I’ve been working hard to deliver an exciting time during our main sessions in the ballroom together. One of our emcee videos is already complete, and I’m plugging away at a fresh Taylor Swift parody that will entertain you and simultaneously embarrass me. It’s a win/win!

Head over to the Cru WC /// Baltimore site and register now! It’s a perfect way to invest your winter break instead of just spend it.

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As You Were

A little over a week ago, Liam Gallagher released his first solo album As You Were. For those of you who don’t know, Liam was the lead singer for the English rock band Oasis back in the 1990s up through 2009. He and his brother Noel rocked the UK and America with hits like Wonderwall and Champagne Supernova, but infighting between the Gallagher boys ultimately ended the band. In fact, to this day Liam says Oasis will never get back together because he still can’t stand Noel.

That being said, both Noel and Liam moved on to different musical endeavors when Oasis broke up. Noel started Noel Gallagher’s High Flying Birds in 2010, and Liam started Beady Eye around the same time. Beady Eye never received the acclaim that Oasis did, leading many to believe that the bulk of Oasis’ talent rested with Noel and his song writing skills.

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Baltimore

The Cru Winter Conference in Baltimore, Maryland is inching its way closer to us every day. We’ve got quite a tremendous lineup planned this year with speakers like Sam Allberry and Darryl Smith, along with The Bridge Band feat. Danni Peace leading worship.

This is typically the month when I start preparing my monologues for the emcee gig I do at the Winter Conference, so it’s all starting to feel real. I’ll prep and write scripts for the videos we’ll shoot, plot the structure for each main meeting, work on interview questions, think about group games, and giveaways. Bottom line, it’s full-steam ahead to December, and I’m thrilled to be a part of it once again.

If you’re a college student, and you want to learn more about it, be sure to head here and sign up! The earlier you register, the cheaper it is! Four star hotel from December 28 through January 1? Yes, please!

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CruWC /// Baltimore Sneak Peek

The preparations have begun! Well, we’ve actually been preparing since January, but you get my point.

This weekend is the official Sneak Peek event for Cru Winter Conference /// Baltimore! Around 70 students and Cru staff from the east coast will be attending on Saturday and Sunday at the Inner Harbor of Baltimore, and they’re in for a treat. They’ll attend this weekend for free and get the insiders view of what our big conference will be like when December 28th hits later this year. The purpose of this weekend is to create buzz for the Winter Conference, and encourage the students and staff to get excited for how great the event is going to be.

I’m thrilled to be a part of Sneak Peek again this year, and I’ll be speaking a couple of times too over the weekend. Of course, there’s more information to come on the main event in Baltimore this December, but until then, you can check out the Facebook Event here. We hope to see around 1,450 students and staff at CruWC /// Baltimore. Join us!