We want to see all of you out at Trinity today for our Collide Fall Launch!!! It's looking like a beautiful day that compliments our nasty day yesterday- the mud is nice and soft and ready for Steal the Bacon, Dodge Ball, Freeze Tag, Tug of War Wars, etc. 


Middle School see you there at 3 p.m. 


High School see you there at 5 p.m.


(P.S. We will stop doing AMP events like MudFest the very day you stop inviting your friends to these events. It's why we created them!! These events are not solely for you...who are you bringing?!)

"Solitude is a process of inner transformation, a conversation initiated by God and leading, if we consent, to divine union. One’s way of seeing reality changes in the process. A restructuring of consciousness takes place which empowers one to perceive, relate and respond with increasing sensitivity to the divine presence in, through, and beyond everything that exists."

I ask God to clear the noise in my head and heart, and in my life.  It actually takes me about 20-30 minutes for this noise to clear… so be patient (this fruit of prayer does not yield itself to the lazy).  I ask the Lord to meet with me… to give me a “vision” (not hyper-charismatic, but a picture or image of what He wants me to experience today… one time it was an open meadow in the mountains that represented His freedom… one time it was a picture of my father who truly represented faithfully the love of the Heavenly Father).  I also ask the Father to let me know where He wants to take me today… Scripture… prayer… reading, etc.)

I listen to Jesus or sometimes pick a Scripture to reflectively study and meditate upon.  Typically the Lord has led me to something and I spend the next 2-3 hours studying it, reflectively meditating upon it, journaling through it, praying through it.  The point is to find an expression of this time with the Lord.  Perhaps for you, write a chapter of a book, draw a landscape, write a song, write a poem, write a movie scene… whatever you need to do to integrate this is in with your passions and calling in life.

I spend some more time on my knees with the Lord asking Him to “cement” this into my heart and life.

The big day is fast approaching! Our big kick-off day with mud games (including tug-of-war, mud football, mud dodge ball, muddy steal the soap, yard games and snacks) is Sunday, Sept. 12 for both middle and high school students. Middle school will be at Trinity from 3-5 p.m. and High school from 6-8 p.m. Bring every friend you can grab!


Note: Please wear messy clothes. Please bring a change of clothes & a towel.

Middle School: Wednesday, August 25
High School: Saturday, August 28


You will board the bus at 9 a.m. (so be here at 8:30!) without any clue to where you will spend the next 12 hours.

Sign up by August 22. Cost is $20 and includes all meals and activities. Eat breakfast before you come!

I might cause a little stir with this post...so just a friendly reminder that these views are solely mine and can not be applied to those of Trinity Church. 


O and one more disclaimer...I am not trying to convince you of anything. That is not my role, but the Spirit's. I am merely outlining the turmoil that has existed in my heart for the last two weeks. 


I have never had quite the experience as I have had the last 12 days. 


We took 12 students & leaders to Bethlehem (actually a town right outside Bethlehem called Bet Sahour) which are both cities that are officially a part of Palestine, an occupied territory of the state of Israel. I have to admit...for how much history, geography & politics I like to pride myself of knowing, I was completely ignorant to what is going on in Israel right now. 


I was unaware of the wall that has been constructed by Israel (labeled the "Separation Wall" by Palestinians and the "Security Fence" by Israelis), not on the border between Israel and Palestine, but as much as 20 km into the Palestinian border. The wall stands as tall as 25 feet in certain areas. In addition to the concrete wall and fencing materials used in the construction of the structure, sections of Israel's Separation Barrier additionally include electrified fencing, two-meter-deep trenches, roads for patrol vehicles, electronic ground/fence sensors, thermal imaging and video cameras, unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), sniper towers, and razor wire. If Israel carries out it's current plans for the continued construction of the wall, this separation wall will be four times as long as the Berlin Wall and twice as high in some parts. (Click here for a picture)


We visited one home that was completely boxed in by the wall- their house literally stood 15 feet from walls on three sides. You could see bullet holes that dotted their rooftop...they will be shot at if they ever set foot on their roof. Why? Because they will be standing at the same level as the top of the wall. I think the residents just wished they were told this instead of having to find out on their own...


I obviously do not believe any sort of reconciliation can happen when a wall of this magnitude is created. Taking away even that factor, I cannot support the blatant disregard of UN resolutions and the Oslo Peace Accords by creating a wall, not on an agreed-upon border but smack in the middle of Palestinian lands. I was also dismayed to see Israel blatantly disregarding those two agreements by continuing in their practice of settlements in the West Bank (Palestine). Settlements are when Israelis forcibly remove Palestinians from their home to build a mini-community/city of just Israelis. These settlements were outlawed based on UN Security Council Resolution 446 in 1979: 


"Determines that the policy and practices of Israel in establishing settlements in the Palestinian and other Arab territories occupied since 1967 have no legal validity and constitute a serious obstruction to achieving a comprehensive, just and lasting peace in the Middle East."


I know what some of you might be thinking: Aren't the Jews God's chosen people? And weren't they promised this land?


I think there are doubts in my mind regarding the legitimacy of the Jews still being labeled "God's Chosen People" since Jesus' presence and sacrifice here on Earth. I am wrestling with this issue based on several key themes in the New Testament, including:



 For if there had been nothing wrong with that first covenant, no place would have been sought for another. 
But God found fault with the people and said:
   "The time is coming, declares the Lord,
      when I will make a new covenant
   with the house of Israel
      and with the house of Judah.
 It will not be like the covenant
      I made with their forefathers
   when I took them by the hand
      to lead them out of Egypt,
   because they did not remain faithful to my covenant,
      and I turned away from them, declares the Lord.
 This is the covenant I will make with the house of Israel
      after that time, declares the Lord.
   I will put my laws in their minds
      and write them on their hearts.
   I will be their God,
      and they will be my people.
 No longer will a man teach his neighbor,
      or a man his brother, saying, 'Know the Lord,'
   because they will all know me,
      from the least of them to the greatest.
 For I will forgive their wickedness
      and will remember their sins no more."
 By calling this covenant "new," he has made the first one obsolete; and what is obsolete and aging will soon disappear. (Hebrews 8)


The former regulation is set aside because it was weak and useless (for the law made nothing perfect), and a better hope is introduced, by which we draw near to God. (Hebrews 7:18-19)


There is neither Jew nor Greek, slave nor free, male nor female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus. If you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham's seed, and heirs according to the promise. (Galatians 3:28-29)


For you, brothers, became imitators of God's churches in Judea, which are in Christ Jesus: You suffered from your own countrymen the same things those churches suffered from the Jews, who killed the Lord Jesus and the prophets and also drove us out. They displease God and are hostile to all men in their effort to keep us from speaking to the Gentiles so that they may be saved. In this way they always heap up their sins to the limit. The wrath of God has come upon them at last. (1 Thessalonians 2:14-16) 
* I do not believe this is referring to all Jews, but it is further evidence that Jews don't just have a "free" card to exert themselves in God's name. 


The reality is, I haven't come to a conclusion on this issue (and probably won't). I do know that Scripture clearly outlines that God's chosen people are those who belong to Christ, whether they were once Muslims, or once Jews or agnostic or whatever. 


But I also know that God deeply moans for justice. His Scriptures are dotted with His heart toward it. He demands it. And so why are the people that He created to be the "light of all nations" (if that's the title they desire to maintain)...why are they trampling on the God-given rights of others? What happened to loving our neighbor? I just can't believe God cares more about the dust and pavement of land more than the flesh and blood of his creation that he "made in his own image". Israel has become obsessed with the land (yes, that was promised to them), but at the mercy of people who God desires to bring back to himself. I am seeing a whole people group trampled on by the "people of God" and it turns me inside out, because I can't help but think that it is hurting the chance to reach them with Jesus. 


I met Palestinian after Palestinian who weren't plotting the demise of Israel...just loving people who wanted to be able to go to the beach, who wanted to go the movies, who wanted to be treated as humans. People who immediately treated me as family. I pray that they see that God is running after them so hard and desires for them to be re-united with Him through the blood of Christ. 


Here's the biggest stinger for me: Modern Israel is not a theocracy!!! Anytime God made mention of the reality of the state of Israel, it was always in the context of a theocracy. Modern Israel is nothing short of a humanistic, capitalist nation. There is not a Scripture that I have seen that denotes that this was God's desire. 


A couple of websites that I am might push you to: http://www.cpt.org/work/palestine and http://www.shovrimshtika.org/index_e.asp. 


You might mention the fact that my post is heavily one-sided. I would actually agree. Because I think most of us have heard decades of the other side...I just wanted to add a little more to the story.


Despite all of these hard realities that were pushed into the forefront of my mind and heart, it was glorious to see the Western Wall, Jericho, the birthplace of Jesus, the Dead Sea, and so on. I know countless Christians who will never have this honor...I don't take it for granted.


Wow...I could probably write for 2 more hours. But if you are still reading to this point, I am shocked and amazed at that! Thanks for reading the achings of my heart. I hope you venture into this issue with me as well. 

Don't forget...Pool Parties tomorrow night at the Bytwerk's house (just east of Willoughby and Hagadorn). MS from 6-7:30 p.m. and HS from 7:39-9 p.m. 


This is a change from the original summer schedule. 

Family Outdoor Movie Night (both middle and high school) is TOMORROW night from 9-11 p.m.

The movie is a surprise, but I promise it will be cool for all your family (and they are ALL invited!) It will be outside right next to the volleyball courts.

July 7- Game Night with your Fam

Sign-up with Shelly McGee (shelly.mcgee@trinitywired.com, 272.3841) by noon on Wednesday, July 7 to be a part of Collide's Game Night. This is a little different, but you as a family will play games together from 6-8:30 p.m. It can be whatever games you want...cards, board games, Wii, etc. If you signed up with Shelly, and we draw your family's name and we travel to your house and you are playing...the $50 gift certificate if yours to go out to dinner as a fam. I promise it's not as complicated as it sounds.

• Messy Games from 6-7:30 p.m. at Trinity for all Middle School students. Please wear a swimsuit and bring a towel and a change of clothes!

• Softball Tourney/Home-run Derby from 6-7:30 p.m. at Lansing Christian School for all High School students. Please bring whatever baseball/softball stuff you have: gloves, bats, balls, etc.

Mark Nickel, a Trinity attendee, is looking for 2 or 3 strong, reliable young men to help him move on the morning of July 9^th. He said there is heavy lifting of furniture, etc. It will be for 3 or 4 hours starting at 9 am and it pays $10.00 per hour. If you are interested, please give Mark a call at (517) 694-4154.

Wow, camp was unreallll. I would undeniably say that this year's middle and high school camps have been the apex of my four years here. Why? What stands out in my mind is the last night of each of the camps when we invited our students to share stories of how God had ripped them open the past week and ways he had healed them. 


And how the floodgates opened. 


Just a few testimonies we heard that night:


"I used to react in pure revenge when others would make fun of my skin color. Not anymore. The chains are gone- my identity is from Jesus."


"I have been crippled with shame and fear. But Jesus has freed from that...now there is nothing left to do but praise." 


"The last thing I wanted to do was come to camp. Now the last thing I want to do is leave."


"I'm ready to identify with Christ through baptism" (which we heard 15 times!!!)


"I feel like this was my last hope for church and solidifying if I even have faith in God. Well, I want you to know that my faith is now firmly placed in Christ."


"I had no friends here at Impact and it almost made me never want to come back. But I now have 5 or 6 friends that I would die for if I had to!"


Transformation is the name of the game for Collide Student Ministries. We are desperate to create a culture of life-change. This week solidified that goal as the ultimate mission. Thanks for all who were involved- it will never be forgotten in my spirit. 


We also want to reflect (and celebrate!) all that happened at camp. If you were at middle school camp, we have a reflections night tomorrow (Wed. night) from 6-7 p.m. The high school camp reflections will be from 8-9 p.m. In between those two will be a missions commissioning for our 3 student mission trips from 7-8 p.m. 


Love to see you there!

...are tonight! 

Our first Fast Food Friday is this week from 12-1 p.m. at the Taco Bell at the corner of Okemos and Jolly. Join other students (middle and high school!), staff and leaders for a quick bite to eat. You need to bring your own money for food! See you then!

Starting this Wednesday, our gathering times will change for both Impact and Crosswalk!


Both Impact and Crosswalk will now both be on Wednesday nights. 


Impact is from 6-7:30 p.m. We ask that you leave right at 7:30 p.m. to allow Crosswalk to come right in. 


Crosswalk follows right after from 7:30-9 p.m. We ask that you don't arrive earlier than 7:30 since Impact doesn't end until then!


We are so excited for this change...it will be nice to have a break mid-week for both groups and Crosswalk peeps will be more likely to make it since it doesn't fall on the tail end of a weekend (when most people are still out of town during the summer). 


More details about the summer schedule can be found here. All summer long I will be updating the blog for Summer Collide nights that require a little more detail.


Love you guys!

We've had a lot of questions from incoming 6th grade families about the move-up to Impact. Hopefully you received the letter we sent in the mail a month or two ago, but if not here is the abbreviated version: 


Current 5th graders/Incoming 6th graders can begin attending Student Gatherings on Wednesday, June 2, when we begin our summer schedule. You can still attend Children's programming on Sunday morning until September if your family so chooses. Past that- you are officially a part of our Impact community. 

A copy of the letter I am giving out to families this week...

We will be watching The Blind Side tonight at Crosswalk. It is rated PG-13, but we think it is a great conversation-starter movie and is worthy of our time.

On Wednesday night, we will be watching UP.

"God is more interested in our character than he is our comfort." - Jon Weece