nicknamy.net http://www.nicknamy.net life, ministry, happenings Tue, 15 Nov 2011 02:06:08 +0000 en hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.2.1 November 2011 Update http://www.nicknamy.net/2011/11/november-2011-update.html http://www.nicknamy.net/2011/11/november-2011-update.html#comments Tue, 08 Nov 2011 01:01:07 +0000 nick http://www.nicknamy.net/?p=374 Hello friends below you should find our update letter for November 2011.

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]]> http://www.nicknamy.net/2011/11/november-2011-update.html/feed 0 October 2011 Update http://www.nicknamy.net/2011/10/october-2011-update.html http://www.nicknamy.net/2011/10/october-2011-update.html#comments Thu, 06 Oct 2011 19:27:41 +0000 nick http://www.nicknamy.net/?p=369 Hello friends below you should find our update letter for October 2011.

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]]> http://www.nicknamy.net/2011/10/october-2011-update.html/feed 0 Campus, a challenge to faith http://www.nicknamy.net/2011/08/campus-a-challenge-to-faith.html http://www.nicknamy.net/2011/08/campus-a-challenge-to-faith.html#comments Wed, 10 Aug 2011 14:35:10 +0000 nick http://www.nicknamy.net/?p=362

Often when I talk with folks about the work we do as missionaries on a college campus, I get this question:

“I hear today’s college campuses are really hostile to the Gospel, are you seeing that?”

I can only speak from my experience in the past 10 years at the University of Illinois, but certainly there has been a shift. The new atheists (as some have called them) have a strong voice, at times they’ve been hard to pick out against the hellfire and brimstone quad preachers of the past – both polar opposites, yet equally as hostile and alienating.

While I could go on and review many years of campus climate, I’ll let the words of James Emery White speak in this article. I believe they’re spot on.

I loved his conclusion:

“So this August, as you pack up your minivan or SUV to take your son or daughter off to college, give them one last word of advice. Not about binge drinking or safe sex, money management or proper nutrition. All well and good, to be sure.
Give them a word about their souls, and the importance of a grounded faith.
And then pray for them.”
James Emery White “Church & Culture Blog”

 

]]> http://www.nicknamy.net/2011/08/campus-a-challenge-to-faith.html/feed 0 August 2011 Update http://www.nicknamy.net/2011/08/august-2011-update.html http://www.nicknamy.net/2011/08/august-2011-update.html#comments Mon, 08 Aug 2011 14:52:16 +0000 nick http://www.nicknamy.net/?p=357 Hello friends below you should find our update letter for August 2011.

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]]> http://www.nicknamy.net/2011/08/august-2011-update.html/feed 0 July 2011 Update http://www.nicknamy.net/2011/07/july-2011-update.html http://www.nicknamy.net/2011/07/july-2011-update.html#comments Fri, 01 Jul 2011 14:54:40 +0000 nick http://www.nicknamy.net/?p=352 Hello friends below you should find our update letter for July 2011.

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]]> http://www.nicknamy.net/2011/07/july-2011-update.html/feed 0 June 2011 Update http://www.nicknamy.net/2011/06/june-2011-update.html http://www.nicknamy.net/2011/06/june-2011-update.html#comments Wed, 08 Jun 2011 20:50:26 +0000 nick http://www.nicknamy.net/?p=347 Hello friends below you should find our update letter for June 2011.

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]]> http://www.nicknamy.net/2011/06/june-2011-update.html/feed 0 May 2011 Update http://www.nicknamy.net/2011/05/may-2011-update.html http://www.nicknamy.net/2011/05/may-2011-update.html#comments Mon, 09 May 2011 20:20:06 +0000 nick http://www.nicknamy.net/?p=342 Hello friends below you should find our update letter for May 2011.

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]]> http://www.nicknamy.net/2011/05/may-2011-update.html/feed 0 Easter Sunday with Illini Life http://www.nicknamy.net/2011/04/easter-sunday-with-illini-life.html http://www.nicknamy.net/2011/04/easter-sunday-with-illini-life.html#comments Wed, 27 Apr 2011 17:33:03 +0000 nick http://www.nicknamy.net/?p=335 Being in campus ministry has it’s differences from being a community church. One of the obvious places we see this is during the holidays. Student and University schedules are built around being able to return home for Christmas, Thanksgiving and so on. At the University of Illinois some years Spring break falls at a time that allows students to celebrate Easter at home. Most often, though, it does not – leaving many on campus rather than travel quite a distance to visit family.

In this place we, Illini Life, get to step in and be a community that celebrates and remembers Christ’s death and resurrection together. It’s one of my favorite times of the year – we’re reminded that our God conquered the grave, the tomb was empty and in the same way we have been risen to new life in Him. A time worthy of celebrating such as this shouldn’t be contained behind the walls of a building nor in the solitude of loneliness.

Each year we gather those that are still on campus and celebrate the empty tomb together in an open air service right on the heart of campus – the Krannert Amphitheater. Afterwards we gather at a home in the community for a feast.

This past Sunday Amy and I enjoyed celebrating with our church home and our students. Early that morning I had gotten up to get on my bike and ride into the country. Enjoying the solitude and early morning sun I began singing the words of Charlie Hall’s “Marvelous light”

Sin has lost it’s power,
death has lost it’s sting.
From the grave you’ve risen
VICTORIOUSLY!

What a great God we serve!

]]> http://www.nicknamy.net/2011/04/easter-sunday-with-illini-life.html/feed 0 The Hobbit: Start of Production http://www.nicknamy.net/2011/04/the-hobbit-start-of-production.html http://www.nicknamy.net/2011/04/the-hobbit-start-of-production.html#comments Fri, 15 Apr 2011 01:26:03 +0000 nick http://www.nicknamy.net/?p=332 Some of you know I’m a huge nerd at heart. Tolkien’s epic stories of hobbits, magic and wizards were books I read early in my teenage youth and returned to several times. That was when it was still in the fantasy/nerdy genre. Along came Peter Jackson who brought to life the stories on the screen – introducing a whole new generation to them, distilling the stories for mainstream consumption.

These stories are deeply shaping and inspiring. Tolkien, at times, very thinly veils his faith in the stories. There are tales of sin enslaving creatures (Gollum), the shared burden carrying of community (the fellowship), the guiding priestly figure of Gandalf, etc.

My heart warmed and excitement jumped as I saw this video post today. Video production of The Hobbit has begun. Hooray!

]]> http://www.nicknamy.net/2011/04/the-hobbit-start-of-production.html/feed 0 April 2011 Update http://www.nicknamy.net/2011/04/april-2011-update.html http://www.nicknamy.net/2011/04/april-2011-update.html#comments Fri, 08 Apr 2011 15:45:25 +0000 nick http://www.nicknamy.net/?p=327 Hello friends below you should find our update letter for April 2011.

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