Idols.

Lori's fun personality :)

Most of you know I lived in Branson, MO for most of the summer. There were about 35 students on the summer project we were hosting. One of those students is Lori. Lori is from Maryland, and is a student at UNT. I got to know Lori when I reported to campus in March. We met for coffee at Einstein Bagel on campus, and she shared her story with me. Lori is an open book, a woman who others naturally follow, and passionate about living a life intimately connected to Jesus.

Lori had the privilege of teaching the other student women on project on the subject of idols. Our church in Denton has been discussing this topic recently, and Lori has been learning a lot about this subject in her personal times with the Lord. I'll let Lori tell you about her talk to these women:

I talked about how we first have to identify what our idols are and then seek why we ultimately put those things before God. My main idol is relationships (with both boys and girls). Those are things God has given me, but when I make them absolute by going to them in troubled times over God they became more of a burden. My root idol goes back to approval and comfort though, so when I realized that's why I had been putting those things first, then I was able to find that in God. My favorite part of the night was the end where we all prayed. Everyone just said one word or a phrase that came to mind, whether it be something they want to give up, a fear, or what they're thankful for. My prayer was that the Spirit would be moving especially in that time and I think He was. I enjoyed speaking and I think it was a good learning experience for me.  Some of the girls were tearing up at the end of prayer, and they said they really enjoyed it and that it was different than anything they had ever done before!

Romans 1:18, 21-25  

Isaiah 44:9

Colossians 3:5

Romans 6:14 

This summer Lori discipled 3 staff kids -- here she is with Maloree

No other name.

I'm home from spending 10 days in beautiful Ft. Collins, CO for our US Staff Conference. About 5,000 staff from all over the United States came to be refreshed and encouraged by the leaders of our ministry as well as other well known Christian leaders. I felt challenged a lot over the past week and a half, and have been thinking a lot about how I live out my faith. Is Jesus really my life? Am I willing to do anything and go anywhere for the sake of people hearing about the scandalous love of Jesus? Over the past two years, the organization I work for has been asking themselves the same questions. Are we doing everything we can as a movement to connect people to the abundant life Jesus promises?

While I was in Colorado, it was announced that we will be changing our name from Campus Crusade for Christ to Cru. In speaking with people who do not know Christ but would be interested in hearing more about how they could begin a relationship with Him, 20% said they would no longer be interested in talking with us about Jesus if they knew our name was Campus Crusade for Christ. Most organizations would say 2% is considered a very high percentage of people to negatively respond toward a name. Wow. We are committed to doing anything we need to do in order for others to hear about the saving love and grace of Jesus. With overwhelming feedback from countless individuals that our name was actually hindering us from connecting with others about Christ, we have changed the name of our US ministry to Cru. I personally could not love the name more. I think it will draw people in to the organization, causing people to ask "What are you about?" We are passionate about connecting others to Jesus. Since the leadership of our organization has done such a great job at explaining the name change, I will let them speak instead of me repeating what they have already said so well. Below are two videos that explain more behind the heart of the name change.

It is by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth,

whom you crucified but whom God raised from the dead, 

that this man stands before you healed. 

Jesus is ‘the stone you builders rejected,

   which has become the cornerstone.’

Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name

under heaven given to mankind by which we must be saved.”

Acts 4:10-12

Steve Douglas, President of CCC

Together