City Uprising Day 1 - Bronx Beautification

Day 1 of City Uprising was awesome!

What is City Uprising? http://www.cityuprising.com/
Hosted by the Gallery Church, it's the gathering of college students from across the nation to spend 3 days serving New York city in tangible ways showing God's love and compassion. Monday 300 college students headed to the Bronx to spend time making it beautiful. Then we worshiped together that evening with Charlie Hall and hearts were prepared for the next day of HIV Testing.

My dear friend John Forbes shared his story of life in New York, and how there was no church he felt he could turn to when he learned of his HIV status. Instead it was only the Gay Men's Health Crisis that offered support, understanding and counsel on treatment. Today that is no longer true. The Gallery Church in New York City, has publicly declared that their church is a safe place for those who are HIV positive to come and pursue God in a community that is excited to be a part of that journey with them.

After the service, David Miller, AIDS Activist, Aaron Coe, Senior Pastor of the Gallery Church, and Brad Cruse, the Medical Professional who arranged testing sites, trained and prepared the students for getting the word out about the 22 free testing sites around the city.We went home expectant and excited to see what the Lord had in store.

City Uprising Day 2 - HIV Testing

What an incredible day...I'm still trying to get my head around what the Lord did today, but know I'll never be able to fully grasp what it means. I'm humbled, excited and somber.

Armed with nothing more than a card, free metro pass, and the compassion & love of the Father coming through in a smile or friendly greeting, 300 college students disbursed around the city during morning rush hour to advertise the free HIV testing at 22 sites around Manhattan.

I traveled with Kay Warren and a team of pastors to several of the sites through out the day. We visited the South Bronx and Harlem first. Each place we visited had full waiting rooms and reports of running out of tests and it was only noon. Now some sites only had 40 tests on hand, so at first it didn't seem like much....but any results were exciting.

Listen to this announcement by Aaron Coe about the final results....

We rejoiced together that evening and sang this song which is still in my heart.
Our friend David Miller shared his story and thoughts on the day. After over 20 years of intense effort, including over 200 arrests, he had never seen results like this. Moved to tears, he proclaimed how the power of the church in this effort was prominently displayed and laid down the charge to every student there to continue the efforts in their communities, churches and college campuses.
Next Kay Warren spoke, sharing her journey, how God broke her heart for those infected with HIV and AIDS and how it changed her life forever. She called others to a Dangerous Surrender, stepping away from the crowd, saying yes to God no matter what the cost and becoming His disciple. It was a powerful and wonderful night.

In awe, we prayed together for NYC, prayed for those who found out their were HIV +, prayed for those who learned they weren't HIV positive, prayed for the churches in NYC that the would join this effort and that the Lord's love could not be dismissed in that city.

Happy Birthday Julia!!

Julia turns the big 11 today, March 14th!

It will be a week of celebration, which started on Sunday at Disneyland. Happy Birthday Julia! We love you.

Peter joins Dad for a snooze.

"Enjoy Your Blessed Day!"

I recieved this sweet little phrase at the end of an email from a business partner today.

As I read it, sadly my first reaction was the bratty thought "that's presumptious! How do you know I'm having a blessed day?!" Then the Holy Spirit kicked in and nudged me with the simple question...have you ever had anything but a blessed day?

Suddenly my perspective complete shifted and I realized of course I'm having a blessed day. I have one every day! And was quickly flooded with thoughts of all the blessings today brings. Even the perspective shift was a blessing and had to pass it on.

So...I invite you to "Enjoy your blessed day!"

Quack! Quack!

We quacked it up with the Rock Harbor Worship team at the Ducks game Monday night. They won 3-1, defeating the Senators on their first meeting wince the Stanley Cup Finals.

Best New Restaurant Find!

Don't Think! Just go. You won't be disappointed :) www.thebondi.com

A Sunday at Sea World

Shamu! Shamu! We enjoyed ourselves as we pushed Bryan around in a wheelchair and visited all the animals. Kelli enjoyed her first ever visit to the marine land and probably laughed the hardest at the otter in the Sea lion show.

Tim Hughes at RH

Our friends Chad and Carrie got to sing with him at the Sunday services. It was an awesome service. My sister joined us for her first ever RH experience.

Forbidden Rice

I love the surprises I come home too. Never know what Bryan will be making in the kitchen. This night it was something I'd never even heard of...black rice? Known as Forbidden Rice in China, it was the rice only Emperors got to enjoy. Bry made us some of the best fried rice I've ever had. It was deeelicious.