Hello Avid Readers

Hi All!

I have a myspace, but this seemed interesting. I'll start with the definition of a lighthouse (see you're already bored just at the mention, but there is a purpose if you'll be patient). A lighthouse is: a strategically placed coastal building, often a tall round tower, with a powerful flashing light, designed to guide sailors or warn them of dangers such as rocks (I got that off of Word Processing in the Encarta Dictionary btw). I am starting this because Idon't see much use for it on myspace. I live near Pueblo, CO and although I'm not currently going to CSU-Pueblo, I have started to go to their Campus Crusade for Christ meetings. I have found that the Lord (the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, the Christian God for those of you who may not know), has opened my eyes to the spiritual oppression of the city, and revealed a desire to see it restored. It's something that is impressed on me more and more everyday. AND the more I visit Campus Crusade the more I see that it is a strategic place for God to start moving on the city. It's on a hill for one thing, you can see it from anywhere in Pueblo even at night. It's filled with young people, the next really strong generation of believers whose time is NOW for impacting the world with the gospel of Christ. The more people I meet there, the more I am amazed at what God is doing. So, I would like to tell you about it. Yeah, this is more or less and evangelistic blog, but not in a traditional sense. I may use it in a more traditional sense from time to time, but right now I would just like to convey God's love for this tiny little city, because if he loves this little speck on the map enough to save it he must certainly love you too.

I'll start with the city. Please allow me to make this clear so that you may understand how the King has effected my response to Pueblo. I really, really, really, REALLY do not like this city. No, it's not really that bad, but it's boring and lifeless. The people here rarely do what they say they will do, and they are completely against any kind of change whether or not it will benefit the city and the people as a whole. However, over the past several weeks the Lord has revealed to me the desperate state of this little town. It's an oppression a person can physically feel because it is so strong, and oppression that sucks the life out of everyone that comes here. There is a lot of gang activity, more than you would expect in a city this small, and even some of the churches don't really seem quite with it. There are also a lot of drugs, which kind of relates to the gang activity. Despite all this, God has whispered to me of his love for this place, and his deep desire to rescue it from the clutches of death, and that he wants me to be a part of that restoration. So, although I hate this city, I can't help but love it because of the overwhelming love the Creator has for it. Then again, I've run from that. After all I am still human, and my desires often override everything else much to my shame. So I ran away from the CSU-Pueblo Lighthouse. I did go there for a semester and then opted for Pueblo Community College... what a mistake that's been! So I'm going to go back next semester and hopefully I'll be able to afford it. Anyway, now I'm going to do with He asked me to do, to saccrifice my dreams to follow after the heart of God. It will be worth it in the end, but getting there is sure to be difficult.

Now for the campus. CSU-Pueblo (hereafter refferred to just as CSU, but not to be confused with the Fort Collins University) is a wonderful place. The classes are fairly small and for the most part the teachers are easy to deal with. The students and pretty friendly, and there is a great view of the city and the mountains from the compus as well. At Campus Crusade people are amazing. You would not believe the kind of leaders and spiritual warriors that are there. We meet on Thursday evenings at an event called JiB (Jesus in Bound) and worship, listen to a teaching, and hang out together. I have met so many believers that have so much faith and strength and passion for the campus, for the people around them that don't follow Christ. They really love these people that don't follow Christ and want to show that love of God to them. There is a really strong movement hitting the University. The leaders at JiB really have a passion that God has given them to see CSU saved and redeemed and then to see that spread to Pueblo. It's a God given thing, that they are acting on. I know it's God given because I've see the exact, word for word kind of exact, messages preached at the church that I have started to go to in the town where i am living.

This week the JiB ministry is prayer-walking over the entire campus in sections, one section every night. Last night we focused on the appartments, dorms and the child care center. I could feel the oppression around us, and we had split into groups, and as we walked around the gym by the dorms I felt a sudden lift. I thought to myself I bet someone has already been around here. And sure enough there were a couple other girls actually inside the gym praying! God had already begun to answer our prayers for that portion of the campus! It was really amazing, because everywhere we were walking I could feel a weight in my spirit, no one else had been there yet and then we pass that little section and it lifted off me like it had never been.

Now, if you don't know the nature of spiritual warfare, do ask! I'd love to talk about it! It's one of the best, and most difficult things, I think, a Christian encounters. It is both wonderful and terrible. I don't think I've been particularly clear on all this anyway, but I'll try again later. There is so much to tell and it seems like there is hardly enough time to tell it. If you have questions, please ask, I don't mind in the least =D