At the age of 63 when his critics told him to go home, that he had done enough, C.T. Studd replied, "God has called me to go to Africa, and I will go. I will blaze the trail though my grave may only become a stepping stone that younger men may follow."

C.T. Studd--a missionary to: China, India, & Africa.

"Our recruits come out from home vastly raw and are largely parrots. They have been crammed with religion as though for an examination, and seem to come out to carry on their education rather than finish it. So many are just taught doctrines without ever having thought them out or searched the Scriptures for themselves. They come out like infants with pop guns. They need to be trained into soldiers with real devil-defying weapons. Some arrive thinking they are the last thing in high-class Christianity and have to find out they know little. That is why I keep the newcomers here at base for a time till I can make them really think out things and settle questions, not from hearsay but from Bible-say."

What do stoners need? Well they need a couple of things: Water, Candy, & Jesus! Each April thousands of UCSC students gather to celebrate 4:20 as a national Marijuana holiday. You see, each day at 4:20pm stoners around the world have adopted England's celebrated time for tea: 4:20pm. So needless to say April 20th is an all day event. As followers of Christ we know there is so much more to life than what the world can offer; including any high drugs can offer. So following the example of our Biblical heroes we took the good news to the streets & headed up on campus to celebrate 4:20. Armed with water, candy, & the gospel, we dialogued with hundreds of students about Jesus.

On campus we stood out with our sign & with our shouts to those who passed by, "4:20 support tent! Get your munchies!" When students approached us they weren't sure what to make of us. Most students asked, "What is this all about?" Our answer: "We're followers of Jesus & He's blessed us beyond compare & we want to share that blessing with you." Most students were taken back; one student named Angel was so struck that she just stood in our tent for a few minutes in awe. I asked her, "What are you thinking?" She replied, "I've never seen anyone do something like this. I mean, what's Jesus got to do with 4:20?" Our answer: "Jesus has everything to do with 4:20. He loves the students at UCSC" Another student approached us & asked for water. When we told her why we were doing this she said, "That's f-----n awesome! I'm a Jew is it still ok?" I said, "heck ya, Jesus is a Jew," which she replied, "was a Jew." Correcting her I mentioned, "Jesus is what it means to be a Jew." Her friend came over moments later for a bottle of water too. Favorite quotes from yesterday: "Smoke that joint bro & you'll just have to roll another one 'cuz the high doesn't last. Get close to Jesus & you'll be high for the rest of your life!" "When you smoke, talk with Jesus, see what He has to say to you. You'll be surprised by what He will say to you."

We also had the opportunity to pray for at least 15-20 students. Many students asked for prayer in regards to their school work, but several others wanted personal prayer. One student when asked, "can we pray for your ankle right now?" allowed us to lay hands on her & pray. Too, as you can see in one of the pictures (Smiling face at the field) a man named Joel joined us. He is the brother of one of the guys who helped all day. What's cool is Joel doesn't believe in Jesus, but helped us all day share the love of Christ with a group he normally hangs around with! Sorry Joel, but the handwriting is on the wall my friend!

Thanks for all of your prayer & financial support. The students at UCSC are eternally grateful.

A question & statement I've been thinking about as of late: Was Jesus a Christian?

My statement: Jesus wasn't a Christian.

To all my 6, & soon to be 7 followers: What do you think?

"It's hard to remember that Jesus did not come to make us safe, but rather to make us disciples, citizens of God's new age, a kingdom of surprise.”
Stanley Hauerwas, Duke University

Yeah, sometimes it's really hard to remember...

"Love is patient and kind. Love is not jealous or boastful or proud or rude. It does not demand its own way. It is not irritable, and it keeps no record of being wronged. It does not rejoice about injustice but rejoices whenever the truth wins out. Love never gives up, never loses faith, is always hopeful, and endures through every circumstance."

I've been reading through 1 Corinthians lately & it's been good. I appreciate this letter because it's so raw in many ways, which I think reflects real life as opposed to what most people try to do with their lives: Sanitation. One verse keeps popping out to me.

"1Now about food sacrificed to idols: We know that we all possess knowledge. Knowledge puffs up, but love builds up. 2The man who thinks he knows something does not yet know as he ought to know. 3But the man who loves God is known by God."

"Knowledge puffs up, but love builds up."

As I look at the hero's in my life, I am starting to see one thing in common: They loved others. As I look for Christ in people I'm starting to realize I see him most in those who give themselves to something other than themselves. They give what they have, which might not be much, to be used by Christ in whatever way he can use them. "Knowledge puffs up, but love builds up." One is about me, the other is about others. One NEVER satisfies; the other always satisfies.

Last night we watched a movie about St. Francis of Assisi & he said something that struck me: "If you want to feel loved, go & love. If you want to feel significant, go & serve," & he lived this out! "Knowledge puffs up, but love builds up."