persecution.

"Blessed are those who are persecuted, because they live for God. And the kingdom of heaven is theirs."
Matthew 5:10

What does this really look like? I mean persecution. What does it mean for you and me to be persecuted? Maybe being mocked by friends, Maybe feeling uncomfortable when we are worshiping in a big community and the people around us don't express their praise to God like we do. Persuction in the states. Where is it? I have really be struggling lately with understanding this concept. I know their is persecution here but not to the extent of other places around the world.

So how did all of this come up? Why I am about to write a really long blog-entry about something that might seem a big boring...because here at Sterling the Lord is doing things I would have never imagined here. And the other day when all my freshmen teammates got here I was trying really hard to not come across "too-spiritual", I mean I didn't want to offend them in anyway. WAIT! HOLD ON! What was I saying? Mt 5:10 has been in my head for days now and thinking of the persecuted people around the world. Being persecuted means you LIVE FOR GOD. So am I living for God wholly if I am not being persecuted? I don't think this means we need to be the bullhorn man (if anyone seen Rob Bell's nooma on that you will understand) but I do know for a fact that my faith is no longer a faith to be apologetic about. It's time for me to be bold and so what if I get persecuted. So what if my team mates think all I care about is God...oh wait, that is what care about.

So that is part one. Now, ever since I have been here many people in leadership here have felt like the Lord has told them that revival is coming this year at Sterling. I think revival is great. But I have to say I am a doubter by nature and I am not the first to jump on board and proclaim that is will happen. These last few weeks I have really been struggling with what revival is, what it looks like, and how God is going to really do that here at Sterling.

This past weekend the Lord has revealed more to me than ever before I think. Sunday night we had a worship service on the lawn of Cooper (one of our buildings) and then afterwards a bunch of us went up to our 24 hour Chapel room and had more worship. That turned into 3 hours of worship. There is something sacred about worshiping with your best friends and letting the spirit move when you could be in bed and doing a million other things. That night the Lord laid upon all of us that it is time for us to step up and be bold. He especially did to the men of this campus. The football guys that are looked at as being weak because of their faith. Well we prayed over them and now they are strong in the Lord. The guys that I haven't seen show their love to the Lord ever are now holding prayer times late into the night. We decided that night that we might as well all go for the Lord together. We have each other's backs and if we fall, well then we fall together. What can we really lose?

Then Monday night the guys got together and prayed into the night. Then Tuesday night we have about 2 and 1/2 hours of prayer and worship at a prayer we always have once a week on campus. But this year we moved it to be in Kilbourn basement, which is the hall known for the most sin and immorality on campus. Our voices rang through the halls and we were not apologetic.

Here is where it all came together. Wednesday morning at chapel. The most dreaded time on campus for everyone. That hour that we have to sit through and most people are asleep and the Lord to the least is not really being glorified. But this year they decided to change things up. So we have some worship songs right? Well technically difficulties as always.

It was rough.

It was awkard.

I wanted it all just to work.

Then it started a little better. Words came up on the screen and some people started to sing along.

Have you ever head about a million thoughts come into your head in less than 30 seconds and wonder why on earth you are never able to actually speak that fast? And how do you have 5 different conversations at once and debate with yourself all at the same time?

That was me. I wanted to stand and worship the way I know how to. I looked to the left. I looked to the right. My freshmen teammates surronded me. The softball girls were behind me. These are the girls on campus that are known to get called out by the chaplain for talking. I was trying to decide at the moment if I wanted to live for God. But then at the same time if I stand are the girls going to think I am some sort of spiritual heirarchy? The perfect person they already think I am? I don't want them to see me that way. I want to see me as once a broken person that has now been saved by God's good grace.

And then I look to my left. There was my dear friend Andy. He decided to stand in the middle of our huge auditorium that looks like a watermelon. Then John gets up on the far left side. Then Grace gets up in the front. At that moment, Sunday night came back to me. All or nothing right? In basketball we would say go big or go home. At that moment I looked and saw realtionships with friends I had built for the last 2 years that now are above and beyond anything I could ever imagine. We are united. And we are spread. We aren't in a click or stuck together. We are spread throughout our student body praising our Lord the way we wanted. At that moment I lived for God. I didn't care what people said around me. Which if you know me, takes a lot because I am the biggest people pleaser you will know.

My friends are my sisters and brothers. We have each other's back. We promised each other. The men on this campus are leading like I have never seen men lead before. Their boldness amazes me and I smile just being in their presence. I have laughed while worshiping lately just because I have been so filled with joy from the Lord.

It has been so cool to see our realtionships form to where they are today. I truly believe that the Lord had something planned for the Junior Class at Sterling College for 2007-2008. I don't know what that looks like. Is it revival? Maybe. Or maybe it is just the Lord bringing us up into the leaders he wants us to be? Whatever it is. It is good. And the Spirit is on the move. He sweeps through the classrooms, the cafteria, the dorms and there is an joy that is within the hearts of the believers on the campus. Why? Because our God is so big, he is mighty to save. He wrote salvation. He moves the mountains. And there is no person to big of a problem for his love.

Lastly, I help lead a worship time on Wednesday nights in my hall. We weren't going to have it last night because there was another event, but since it rained that event got cancelled so at dinner we spread the world that Evans Worship was going to happen. To my surprise the lobby of hall was packed out and the praises of our songs filled my hall. Unapologetically we sang. It was beautiful. It was worship. We sang into the Lord's presence and praised Him for his faithfulness.

I don't know what is going to happen at Sterling this year. But I do know that something will. And if I am persecuted in the process. Well then so be it.

I know this is long, but it is from my heart and I just needed to write it down and share it with people that have supported me so much in the years. There is a ton more to this that I didn't write but that is ok. Pray for Sterling when you think about it. Pray for us to be faithful to the Lord. Pray that we are so humble that everything we do is for the Lord and not a bit of it is for ourselves. Pray that lives are changed for the glory of the Lord.

Remember, blessed are the persecuted, because they live for God.

Don't be scared. Be joyful.

Guess who's back...back again...guess who's back...tell a friend...

We have a frog infestation in Sterling. My friend Shannon actually stepped on one and blood came out and we heard the bones crunch. They are everywhere. But they are kind of cool I guess.

Just to add an extra fact from the town of Sterling.

Besides the frogs, everything else is relativly similar. They were rapidly trying to finish up projects throughout buildings. Considering you could see the sky when walking into the gym, that could be a problem. It is still humid and hot and just when you get the right breeze it might smell as though 1000 cattle live outside your window. But besides all those, I am gotten to spend some amazing time with some of the closest friends I have. So that = bliss.

RA Training has been good. They want us to feel like a family this year and they are doing a phemonal job of that. Random wake up calls at 5 am to run and do abs and wall sits and carry each other and who knows what else. To bowling. To swimming. To laughing so hard we are crying. It has been great.

But that is over now. I guess our real job must start. Fall athletes moved in today. Freshmen come on Friday. That is will be fun. Seeing all the mom's trying to do every possible "mom" thing they can do before having to really let go, while the dad's wonder why their daughters need all the stuff they are carrying in. That is always hilarious.

So that is life now. Staying up late. Having great talks. Catching up on summers. I had friends half way across the world and hearing their stories is wonderful. My one friend was in Guinea Bassau all summer, the whole country doesn't have electricity or running water. One of the poorest countries in the world. Hearing her stories has been incredible. Another friend was in Turkey and Israel. She ran on the street where Jesus drug His cross. Another was serving her heart out at a camp with high school girls. It's amazing how many different experiences we had but yet we still come back like no time has passed.

Random thoughts for the day...hope you enjoyed them.

Today smile like you never ever before.

Love.

Back to Sterling...

Ok, maybe you all will stumble across this in about 3 months from now because the probably of my actually writing on post on here is just about as likely as Kellie getting a tan. Sorry Kellie, no bad feelings intended by that...

So let's see what has happened since my last post in April. I went to Kenya. Which most of you have already heard all about and I am sure wish I would just stop talking about it at some point. Kenya has a huge place in my heart and I love it so much there, there is something beautiful about another culture and another country that is suppose to see life as hopeless but yet they turn around with pearly white smiles against their beautiful ebony skin, that i so wished sometimes i had, and see an array of hope that the rest of the world looks at with pity. Yeah i know, that was a horrendous run on but oh well. So in the short of it, I feel more in love with the country of Kenya and has made me realize how much I just want to see the world and more importantly, that people of it. So if you ever want to go, let me know, I will be right next to you on those fun plane flights.

Carol, Stephen, and Me,

A Local Masaai Woman, isn't she beautiful?

This is one of my favorite pictures, it is my friend Peter and I walking back from walking some street boys to school in the morning. I had one of best conversation of the trip with him that morning and the trees there always amazed me.

This is Rose. She is an AIDS Orphan I worked with the last two summers. She is what really describes the word amazing. Her life is so unique and the Lord has spoken through her to me so evidently it is incredible. I wish you all could meet her.

Swimming in a local river, in a skirt, with the boys!

Some friends at the conference.

What else? I worked at my church and learn a WHOLE lot. But that is boring, I won't spend time talking about all that. Had a campout for my basketball team at sterling, a huge 4 people came, but it was a blast! I also got the chance to go to Colorado and visit friends from school, go to a conference and go to a Rockies game! It was probably one of the best trips I have ever been on.

Bball girls on our camping trip!

These are some of the girls I worked with this summer at camp in Shilom Springs.

Worshiping at desperation. So Sweet.

Friends at the Rockies Game, we made those t-shirts, pretty sweet huh?

These are our lucky headbands, the reason we won the game! This is my good friend Shannon, she is great!


So now I am off to start my Junior year of school at Sterling College. To be an RA, play basketball and take 18 hours in hopes of actually finishing the two majors I started with but still wonder at times if I even want to stay in them. I do understand why the average college student does change majors 7 times, how do you pick? I can't. Anyway, here is to finishing another year and closer to graduating and then to actually finding some sort of job. Oh yikes, let's not think of that, the real world. I don't want to go there yet. Nope, now is the time to just party. That sounds much better.

Anywho...hopefully I will update this more so you all can stay in tune with my life, since I know if it sooo incredibly exciting. Yeah, I know you wake up every morning waiting to check the family blogs and see what all is going on. Just kidding, but for the few that do check this, I will do my best.

Ok. Go. Live for Jesus. And Be Brillant.

Peace Out.

E