The DWC Experience
Dallas Winter Conference.
I'm going to try and be brief with my words--because there is so much that went on that I could write days on about it. And I want people to actually read this. (if you just want to know my experience scroll down to "My Experience".)
About the Place:
So, Dallas Winter Conference is a 5-day convention put on by CRU (Campus Crusade for Christ) in downtown Dallas. We stayed at this huge/gorgeous hotel called the Wydham Anatole which is simply amazing. To give you some kind of picture- one lobby is about the size of the Alkek Library with about 8 stories on one wing then about 15 on the other. Follow that up with another 28 story tower that none of us really stayed at, and this other huge seperate building that we didn't even get to see. Then you have these huge gigantic ballrooms, and courtyards, and conference rooms. The whole place is laced with ancient artifacts, expensive paintings, decorative designs, and anything else you can imagine. They had this row of almost life-size creations of elephants next to the main ballroom.
Details:
We had two main meetings everyday. One in the morning at 9 then then other at night starting at 7. During the day we had different things for us to do from workshops, to free time, to information about summer projects, etc. There were about 1000 students from the red river region which includes Texas, Oklahoma, and Arkansas. There were about 60 with our group from Texas State (eat ' em up cats!).
Speakers:
The MC's (introducers) were Paul Wheatley (or "the wheat") and this girl they call AE. Paul reinacted the Napolean Dynamite dance (which I have to say was quite amazing since I am trying to learn the dance myself).
The first speaker was Matt Chandler who I thought was quite amazing. Very charasmatic, VERY relevant, very funny, and just brought a lot of new and pertinent issues to the front. I'm still trying to do a recap on all of it. Besides knocking on all the recent trend of the new books by Piper, and leadership training etc, one of the cool things he talked about was that the effort we used to use on sinning, with Christ we can no expend on doing righteous things. Personally that means that I don't have to keep on being stuck in the same habits, but am now free to use that energy for good.
The second speaker was Rick James (yes, i said, Rick James biatch). He was also very good. Had much dry humor, and brought some very relevant issues to the table. He explained what worship is. He said that worship is expelling/squeezing out all the bile/sin/despair/thoughts/everything poured out to God, and allow God in-turn to pour into you. It is in this attitude that we are being honest and open to God, that we can let God enter into us. As long as are hearts are closed off we can never really experience God, and God's grace cannot come into us.
My Experience:
Where the heart of this is what happened with me--My experience at DWC. I think God definently used this experience to teach me many things. First through the speakers, second through my roommates and all of the guys I got to meet, and then even through the girls. I realized how much I need my guy friends. I learn more through these guys than probably from anyone else. I NEED that core group of friends to have as a base. I need to seek that out. I loved getting to know these guys, and I love the motivation and energy I get from being around them. I love that Im able to be myself, and to learn, and to grow, and I am learning just how amazing it can be with these guys at my side. God, if you want to know my prayer, this is it.
Guys: Coal, Derek, Ethan, Jordan, Colin, Luna, Joe, Aric, Joey, etc.
I got to meet some really cool girls, and I got to see how wonderful the girls from CRU around me really are. Let me just list some exeptional girls I got to meet/hang out with: Grace, Sandy, Mary, Marissa, Corrie, Lindsay, Marcy, Jessie, and more. Most of these girls I already knew but didn't really see there awesomeness just do to my own blindness. These girls are awesome, and are a great encouragement to myself.
Honestly there is so much more I want to write. It is hard to get a grasp on the spiritual experience because we are not talking about tangible things. We are talking about feelings, and thoughts, and this other realm that you can't describe other than G-O-D.
I spent much time playing Dodge Hack which is most likely the greatest game ever invented. I had a blast, and I would LOVE to talk to anyone and everyone about it.
Sean
I'm going to try and be brief with my words--because there is so much that went on that I could write days on about it. And I want people to actually read this. (if you just want to know my experience scroll down to "My Experience".)
About the Place:
So, Dallas Winter Conference is a 5-day convention put on by CRU (Campus Crusade for Christ) in downtown Dallas. We stayed at this huge/gorgeous hotel called the Wydham Anatole which is simply amazing. To give you some kind of picture- one lobby is about the size of the Alkek Library with about 8 stories on one wing then about 15 on the other. Follow that up with another 28 story tower that none of us really stayed at, and this other huge seperate building that we didn't even get to see. Then you have these huge gigantic ballrooms, and courtyards, and conference rooms. The whole place is laced with ancient artifacts, expensive paintings, decorative designs, and anything else you can imagine. They had this row of almost life-size creations of elephants next to the main ballroom.
Details:
We had two main meetings everyday. One in the morning at 9 then then other at night starting at 7. During the day we had different things for us to do from workshops, to free time, to information about summer projects, etc. There were about 1000 students from the red river region which includes Texas, Oklahoma, and Arkansas. There were about 60 with our group from Texas State (eat ' em up cats!).
Speakers:
The MC's (introducers) were Paul Wheatley (or "the wheat") and this girl they call AE. Paul reinacted the Napolean Dynamite dance (which I have to say was quite amazing since I am trying to learn the dance myself).
The first speaker was Matt Chandler who I thought was quite amazing. Very charasmatic, VERY relevant, very funny, and just brought a lot of new and pertinent issues to the front. I'm still trying to do a recap on all of it. Besides knocking on all the recent trend of the new books by Piper, and leadership training etc, one of the cool things he talked about was that the effort we used to use on sinning, with Christ we can no expend on doing righteous things. Personally that means that I don't have to keep on being stuck in the same habits, but am now free to use that energy for good.
The second speaker was Rick James (yes, i said, Rick James biatch). He was also very good. Had much dry humor, and brought some very relevant issues to the table. He explained what worship is. He said that worship is expelling/squeezing out all the bile/sin/despair/thoughts/everything poured out to God, and allow God in-turn to pour into you. It is in this attitude that we are being honest and open to God, that we can let God enter into us. As long as are hearts are closed off we can never really experience God, and God's grace cannot come into us.
My Experience:
Where the heart of this is what happened with me--My experience at DWC. I think God definently used this experience to teach me many things. First through the speakers, second through my roommates and all of the guys I got to meet, and then even through the girls. I realized how much I need my guy friends. I learn more through these guys than probably from anyone else. I NEED that core group of friends to have as a base. I need to seek that out. I loved getting to know these guys, and I love the motivation and energy I get from being around them. I love that Im able to be myself, and to learn, and to grow, and I am learning just how amazing it can be with these guys at my side. God, if you want to know my prayer, this is it.
Guys: Coal, Derek, Ethan, Jordan, Colin, Luna, Joe, Aric, Joey, etc.
I got to meet some really cool girls, and I got to see how wonderful the girls from CRU around me really are. Let me just list some exeptional girls I got to meet/hang out with: Grace, Sandy, Mary, Marissa, Corrie, Lindsay, Marcy, Jessie, and more. Most of these girls I already knew but didn't really see there awesomeness just do to my own blindness. These girls are awesome, and are a great encouragement to myself.
Honestly there is so much more I want to write. It is hard to get a grasp on the spiritual experience because we are not talking about tangible things. We are talking about feelings, and thoughts, and this other realm that you can't describe other than G-O-D.
I spent much time playing Dodge Hack which is most likely the greatest game ever invented. I had a blast, and I would LOVE to talk to anyone and everyone about it.
Sean
Sean, I love you. hope to talk to you soon. Oh Ps. Whats up with girls being freaking great serving us dinner and making us cookies that you drop on my hat? peace
Posted by
Anonymous |
10:20 PM
I know from experence that friends are extremely importiant, not just friends in general, but a close and consistent group of great friends that you can grow with. Definitely pursue that. Thanks for being a great friend man.
Posted by
Jordan_Ryan_Stewart |
3:05 PM
hey just wanted you to be able to see my blog- peace
Posted by
Anonymous |
12:29 PM