Homeless

Homeless...is that what we really are as those just wandering through? Well, this morning more than a few students got to experience what it's like to be homeless. 600+ people slept outside at the salvation army in columbia to represent the homeless in the area. Apparently as of the 2005 census there were 1753 homeless in columbia, SC. Sleeping outside would have been no big deal a couple of weeks ago, but last night it was 31 degrees. Yes, that is one degree below freezing. And...many needed to bundle up better than they were, but they definitely experienced a hard night. Then on top of that, they worked as a part of shareFest Columbia which is a giant work project to serve our city. Is there any doubt why young people change the world? With so much passion and energy, they just ooze...something. If you know what that "something" is please let me know!! I want some of it.

Pirates, Pool, Prayer and Paul

You might wonder what these 4 topics have to do with one another, but if you visit our small group Bible study on Thursday nights at the Buck's house you won't have to wonder so hard.

We've been studying out of Acts for the past few weeks and have seen Paul interact with the Athenians as they ponder their "unknown god" and Paul explains to them the true and living God. Last week we also took a romp through Acts to understand and practice prayer a little better. We saw men and women receive healing and Peter share the Gospel with men and women that never heard before. All of this was accomplished through God working according to prayers of men and women.

Something fun that you'll get to experience at our group is a full-sized Pirates of the Caribbean pinball game and a pool table. As always, we desire to be intentional in our outreach and always welcome others. So, for directions to our group meeting from 7:30-9 each thursday night in Irmo, SC email steve at ashopper81404@yahoo.com.

Falls Lake drought

This is one of my favorite places in Raleigh, but they are in a major drought and the lake is down 7.5' from normal. Last year where I am sitting in the pictures was under water. Today, you can see the effects of the drought. It's a bit sad. Hopefully, the Lord will provide rain soon. Otherwise one of my favorite places will be all dried up. It's much like our hearts without the "rain" of the Holy Spirit or the Lord in our life. Without his word, our hearts dry up and what used to be beautiful now is ugly and cracked. Keep watering your heart with the Bible there is no better fresh spring to draw from. Just ask Jesus about living water and see what he has to say.

20somethings Eat Steak, Too!

College Students & 20somethings: we want you! Join us Sunday, Septmeber 9th at 7:30pm for a gathering complete with Steaks and Frisbee. We'll meet at 333 Gleneagle Circle, Irmo 29063 after Oasis. For directions from Eastlake Community Church, check out the google map below or email steve.hopperjr@gmail.com.




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Graduation

This weekend is Graduation for me for the 3rd time formally.

1. Sanderson High School Class of '96

2. North Carolina State University Class of 2000 B.S. Statistics

3. Columbia International University Class of 2007 M.A. in Leadership for Evangelism and Mobilization

As I've been talking with people the last two days, I've had bittersweet emotions about not being a student anymore. On the one hand, I don't have all the work of a graduate student and trying to balance family life and internships and all the other stuff going on. On the other hand, the reality of trying to find the position that the Lord has for me after graduation becomes a major focus now.

In preaching class yesterday, one of my classmates got up and said, "I have to confess, I've been anxious this school year." I was hooked from the first sentence because I understand that feeling. The Bible verse that has been my best friend for years is First Peter 5:7. It says, "Cast all your cares (or anxiety) on Him (God) because He cares for you."

I resonate with the anxious feelings, but I long for the peace that Philippians 4:7 talks about, "the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, and will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus." I need it right now. School ends, life goes on and graduation ushers in a new chapter in our lives. God gives peace. Amen!

Cookout this Friday Night

We're having a cookout this friday, May 4th 6 pm, at Steve and Adrienne's place. for directions email me.

We have wrapped up our first round of Bible study as the EastLake 20s, so we wanted to invite everyone who has expressed an interest in 20somethings to come out to a cookout at 6:00 pm this Friday night at our place. Whether or not you've been to the group before, feel free to come out this weekend. If you think you might attend, shoot an email back. If you don't reply, still come.

We will provide sweet tea, chips, potato salad and burgers/dogs… folks can bring other things if you’d like. There were a couple of you that wanted to grill steak and we'd be more than happy to put it on the "barbee" if you provide the meat.

This is just going to be a time to get to know one another with no other agenda. Weather permitting we'll sit on the porch, throw frisbee or kick around a ball. Get to know a few others in our age group from the church.

Thinking on heaven

I keep thinking about a couple of things: how can we be missional? Am I really going to do it or just talk about it? and what can I do when tragedy strikes? The VT thing has continued to be on my mind, and then we had tragedy on a smaller scale hit our neighborhood this weekend when a baby passed away from a seizure. What do you do when that happens? I look at all the hurting people around and think "wow!" this place (life) is no fun sometimes. Then I have to think of heaven and rejoice although my heart hurts with those missing family members and friends. Hope...sometimes it seems elusive, but the Lord offers it so freely and without reserve.

Follow up to VT post

Here is a blog posting from a Campus Crusade for Christ staff member at VT.
This is a person that's trying to help the students through the tragedy.
Check out http://www.campuscrusadeforchrist.com/virginiatech/ for an updated official blog of the ministry there.
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Tragedy at Virginia TechStudents and staff members respond in prayer
Updated: 18.Apr.2007

The world continues to watch with horror regarding Monday's shootings at Virginia Tech.On campus, there is a large Campus Crusade for Christ group, nicknamed Cru. Ten staff members serve a group of more than 500 involved students.At least 3 of the shooter's fatal victims were students involved with Cru at Virginia Tech.

Responding in Prayer
"We had a prayer meeting Monday night for our students and the students of some other organizations," says Dave Broadwell, who has worked with Cru at Virginia Tech since 1991. "Most students are shocked and numb at this point, not sure what to think and feel. I feel the same way."The day after the shootings, the staff members agreed to spend the day in the Cru office to pray with students and talk with them.At noon on Wednesday, the team planned to pray with other Christian groups on the drillfield--a very central place on campus, says Broadwell.How You Can PrayThe staff team invites the watching world to join with them in prayer, depending on God."Please pray that amidst it all that the Lord would be glorified, families would be comforted and students would grieve appropriately," says Broadwell. "I have a feeling no one is going to know how to move on from here."

Helpful Information>>
Where is God in the Midst of Tragedy? and other questions that might help you explore issues about college, life, and what it might be like to know God

Visit the official site of the Campus Ministry for an updated blog written by a Campus Crusade staff member at Virginia Tech.

Thought-provoking and faith-inspiring articles about evil, forgiveness and suicide, sponsored by Christian Leadership Ministries, the faculty outreach and training arm of Campus Crusade for Christ

Virginia Tech Massacre Thoughts

Everywhere you look on the media, there's another story about the VT massacre. To tell you the truth, most of it I don't know how to deal with. I know that we must have a problem when one person at a top-notch university goes through a classroom building with a weapon firing shots at innocent people. If we really call it what it is, it's sin. There are tales that this was another lonely student acting out from his depression, but it can't be that simple. What drives a person to this type of carnage? There is part of me that wants to hide and say, "NO, not again!" And there is this other part that wants to drive up to Blacksburg to comfort students and let them grieve and know that there is a God that loves them and has a solution to this sin problem they witnessed Monday morning, if they will only accept the death that Jesus died for them on the cross. The amazing part of this message of the cross is that when you say, "Jesus thanks for taking my place in death," he does it. This crisis of death is one that we're all going to deal with. Now or later. Sin demands a payment and that payment is death. What Jesus came for is to pay the sin payment, in order that we might live now and into eternity. So, while you think about the carnage at VT, consider the gift of life that Jesus offers you now.

Reaching out on the journey

I'm looking forward to see what happens with the blog here. I have a question for you...yes you reading this post? If you were going to get involved in some type of service project in your community, what do you think would be the most beneficial? Or, what are you already involved in? Post a quick comment.

Crimean Half Way House

There is a missionary couple that East Lake Community Church supports in the Ukraine and they've made a video of their experiences at an orphanage in Crimea that they work with. Check out the google video here.

Sunsets and daVinci

This is the first ever blog posting for the Eastlake 20somethings and I'm looking forward to expressing the heart of a missional wanderer on the blog here from time to time.

This pic is from the middle of St. Louis during december. It's been doctored a little bit, but man, it's pretty, eh? Those are the type of sunsets I'd go wandering to see everyday if I had my choice. God is a great painter isn't he? And then to give us the creativity to enhance the beauty that he provides? I don't get it. But nonetheless, the Creator provides the scene and I can only play with the colors. It's like a kid with a "paint by numbers" of the Mona Lisa. He might add a few new "creative" colors to the work, but the beauty captured by daVinci was there long before he ever came along.