#impact360

Apologetic Resource: Impact 360 [NEW Video]

Impact 360 has been releasing some fantastically produced videos. Here is one of their newest ones:

  Impact 360 has been running some great videos as well as their camps, residency programs, and training.

Speakers who frequent Impact 360 include: Jonathan Morrow, Sean McDowell, J. Warner Wallace, Brett Kunkle, Alisha Childers, Jay…

Ten Ways “Grown-up” Christians Can Set a Better Example for Gen Z on Social Media

This was such a great post, I had to share. It is from Jonathan Morrow, Director of Cultural Engagement (which is a very cool title) at Impact 360.

Dear Christians on Social Media, Gen Z is watching. Be careful what and how you post.

The unending scroll of images, ideas, and interactions are transforming the hearts and minds of Gen Z.Share Gen Z–today’s teenagers and the generation after…

The last couple weeks have been completely uplifting and powerful in my life. Words cannot describe what I have been learning here at IMPACT 360 and I am so thankful for God everyday for being here. A lot has been going on and I have a feeling that this post will be kinda lengthy. (And, I really need someone to hold me accountable to writing in this at least every week. It's so hard to remember to get it done. This is something for my family, supporters, future students, and also me. Just gotta remember to do it.)

Alright, well first I really want to emphasize the community that I have come to know and love very dearly. Recently, one of my peer's mother passed away from two strokes within a 24 hour period. Even though none of us knew her mother personally, as a community, we were all affected by the loss. We were all praying for Anna, her mother and her family. We all came together to love on Anna and her family and actually went to her mother's life celebration service. One thing that struck a cord with me is how well our class came closer together because of this. I am thankful, so thankful, everyday for these people I get to call my family, my community. 

Last weekend, we had our first break from IMPACT. This was a time to simply get away from school and be with our loved ones and all that. Unfortunately, I was not able to go home. I had to find a place to stay the weekend. But, thankfully, Tripp's family welcomed both me and William into their home for us to stay. The entire break was very relaxing and restful, though we had a book to read and a (modified) précis due the we got back from break. Tripp's mother, Mrs. Amy, even decided for us to go on a little trip to North Georgia, where we got to do some pumpkin picking, have a hay ride, and go on a trial to a beautiful waterfall. I had a ton of fun and really appreciate Tripp and his family for accommodating us. (Oh, and did I mention that the new Pokemon game came out during that weekend? POW POW)

Coming back from break, we talked about worldview a little bit more. We started to address other worldviews and how they are, essentially, flawed. But, starting the beginning of class, the professor, Dr. Gentry, basically broke everything we knew about our confidence in our faith. He called us moral relativist and basically made us feel like we didn't know anything. But, because of that, he was able to strengthen our Christian worldview completely and give us much insight into all that we are and what we believe in. I really enjoyed the class. 

Finally, I really want to talk about the best part of last week: Preview Day. My preview day was one of the most memorable experiences today, and it also changed how I lived life. And now, we get to provide preview days for future students. And, I had a ton of fun! Our C-Group had the job of creating the student activity everything had to be a part of. We decided to go with a pumpkin carving contest and I completely enjoyed every part of it. And, I think the preview students also enjoyed it. What's also cool was we got to meet some of the alumni from last year and previous years and it was great simply talking to them and being able to hear from them. 

I had a lot of fun these past two weeks and hope can give some more of my inner thoughts next time. Until then, God Bless.

Another two weeks and I finally get around to posting again on this blog. It's very inconsistent but I feel that it's the best I can do in these circumstances. Ha. These past two weeks have been a blast! I probably should do this every Saturday, just to be consistent with those weeks events and the happenings of that week. 

Last week, we talked about Intercultural Studies with a wonderful professor. She gave a lot of perspective on the life in Brazil specifically and things that we should look out for to not offend the culture altogether  since we are going in January. I am pretty excited for that! Definitely should keep up with the Portuguese lessons to prepare. Also, we had a formal dinner lesson on how to eat in formal settings. That was very informative and helpful. Then, we got to partake in a Formal Dinner, where we all got to dress up and eat properly. What made it great was the people that were at my table! We even came up with a family tree story just for fun. I really, really enjoyed that. 

This past week was probably one of my favorite weeks so far. We got to go backpacking in the woods of Alabama and learn about spiritual disciplines. The professor was absolutely amazing, teaching us about the five generic places that God meets us: Creation, Word of God, Jesus, the Body of Christ and the Holy Spirit. I found that he was fantastic in relating to us and being personal in each of our lives. During the week, we had to hike, and live in the wilderness. I have been camping before but this was a totally new experience. I loved every moment of it. We even got to go night hiking in a cavern and rappelling down a 125 foot cliff. I really want to relive the entire experience again. 

During that time, we had to do a five hour solitude in the woods. First, I was intimidated by it and had no idea what I would do for five whole hours. But, afterwards, I'm glad that I got to have those five hours of solitude. I learned about God's peace like never before! I got to simply rest in the Lord most of the time, without knowing what time it was (we were not allowed to have watches). I really hope to do that again sometime soon. At another point during the module, I learned that I am very broken and only God can fix me. During a time of confession, I wanted God to reveal some sin within me, but instead He simply revealed to me that I am just broken. That's always humbling to hear that from God. 

Overall, I really enjoyed my week and could not ask for anything better! As a class, we all grew together more and learned about each other even better. Impact is doing some amazing things in my life. I can already feel it. Ha. Well, it's time for some sleep now. 

First day at Impact. I have to say that this experience was something that I would never expect in my life. Right now, I don't feel any different than I did than the day before. Maybe that is a bad thing, but I guess, that doesn't really matter. Hah. I'm here now and I am finally ready to start this journey. 

Coming from a hotel in Columbus, I had to be there at eleven to unpack and set up my room with my roomates. So, I get to the room, last one there, and have to take whatever I get left. My bed is the bottom bunk in the room in there is about five feet of space for my body to sleep. I was not expecting that. Not too worried about that, My parents start to unpack and set up the space. That went pretty smoothly with the other two guys, names Caleb Pineda and Matthew Guzman. I'm sure that you will hear more about them over the year. After a good 45 minutes of setting up the room, I'm standing there and I just ask if we can rearrange the room a bit. Caleb's mom is in agreement with me and we start to make this bed situation work for both of us. After a few attempts, and help of Daniel, we move the furniture around to for the both of us. I really like my room and the layout. It will definitely work for us. 

Soon after that we have a little orientation and getting know each other, which was really fun, we had dinner and had to say goodbye to our families. That was sorta rough for me. Of course, I'm not shedding a tear and my mother is balling her eyes out with my dad trying to hold back tears. They are so great and supportive, in that moment, I knew that this was much harder for me than it is for me. Right now, I'm fine and ready for the next day. And, they are not trying to let go. And, I love them for that. I could not ask for better parents. Oh! And, I cannot forget my sister who posted the most wonderful thing on Facebook and I was nearly in tears about that! My family is simply wonderful.

What's also great about today is that I get to be around people that I have been waiting to see for the longest time now. We have been talking on Facebook, well more like half of us, and it's so great to just be able to meet everyone in person and put names to faces. And, that is only like half the class! I have yet to really get to know the other part of the class and get to know everyone. Everything is about community and family here and I already love it. We can just be with each other and not worry about relationships or tension, tough I'm sure that we will still have some. I'm sure. Hah. But, like I'm finally here (and this is probably the longest post I've written in a while). 

Well, I think I have everything I had on my mind down now. Night ya'll!

I have to say that this summer has been pretty great. I didn't do the stuff we normally do in a summer - camp, camping, vbs - but, I still had an awesome summer doing a ton of other things. I graduated this year, saw my family a bunch, had a rocking eighteenth birthday, got to go to Disneyland with my best buddy, got to stay in a cabin with my family and will be driving to Georgia in a couple days. Everything seems to be working out according to God's plan and I can't help but be glad that he worked everything out. This is definitely a summer to always remember and keep in my heart for all eternity. 

But, with the close of summer, means the beginning of Fall. And, for me, that means IMPACT 360. Halfway through the summer, I received some books to read, to be exact, four books. The titles are Spritual Leadership, Kingdom Triangle, Life Together and God At Work. They were to prepare me for the first week of class, I guess. I didn't think much of them and just read them at my leisure. Until I got an assignment for one of the books. I had to write a précis on the Kingdom Triangle. And, I kinda haven't started doing the actual assignment. But, it will have to be done before I enter class on Tuesday. Right now I am reading Life Together and will have to get to God at Work as soon as possible. Even when school has not begun, I have been procrastinating. ...oh well. 

I really can't wait to finally meet my classmates on Tuesday! We have been talking on Facebook and chatting about who knows what! And, I just can't wait to be with everything finally and have a community with them like no other. I just can't wait to see how our personalities will mix and just having a good time. I'm sure there will be some highs and some lows but that doesn't mean we are already family. I know that God put me here for a reason and I can't wait to figure out why. 

Another aspect that I have to address is my suitemates and getting to Impact because they kinda go together. Basically, my family wants to see the campus and I have things I have to bring for the room and living and all of that. So, we decided we were going to drive there. Which I think will be a great time for all of us. (Oh yeah, I just got my license! Aw yeah!) And, I have been talking to my suitemates on what we are bringing for our rooms and kitchen. Yes, six guys will be sharing a kitchen. I have no idea what we are going to do with it but we are bringing things for it. It's interesting because we made a chat message thing but we barely use it to commmunicate. For me, I am always on social media checking up on my friends and family. Maybe because I live in a city-type culture. I don't know. But, I just don't want to miscommunicate something and have double of something or we are missing something. In the end, whatever happens, happens I guess. Heh. 

Halfway through the summer and I don't know when it was the last time I updated this. Hah. I guess that is what summer is for. Leisure days and relaxing nights. Surprisingly enough, this summer has been really easy and manageable, compared to multiple summer I can recall. Summer has always been a nice break from routine, if I would like to think about it that way. At least for me, its an easy escape from schedules and routine. But, the routine is something I kinda thrive on, at least in the right circumstances.

So, from what I remember, nothing much as gone down since I last wrote a post. Just recently, I received an email from Daniel Horton, a person called an SLC, Student Learning and Living Coordinator. With his female counterpart, and from what I have read and heard, they will be living with us the entire year and will become our dean/counselor/RA while at IMPACT. Which, I mean is kinda cool, three positions tied into one. He seems pretty nice, along with Karen Jordan. I'm sure I will get to know them quite well over the course of the year.

Upon meeting them, they added me to a Facebook group dedicated to connecting the new Class of 2014. I thought this was a great idea and I sorta have benefited from the group so far. For a couple days, no one really talked to each other, simply adding each other as friends and things of that sort. Pretty traditional/basic Facebook actions. But then, someone posted something, and a few of us just started to have a conversation on the comments right there. I'm sure we made about a thousand comments just talking and getting to know each other. Finally, we moved the conversation over to a chat and are talking there frequently. It's great to just talk to others before we even meet in the Fall. The benefits of technology is being shown right there.

Going back to the email I was talking about, they mentioned that I would receive a packet with some information I would have to fill out for them. Some medical forms and transportation things. But, there were also little personality questionnaire type things for us to fill out and send back. It asked basic questions about who I am, what I like to do, what are my sleeping/study habits, etc. And with those questions, they will match me with my roommate(s) for the Fall. That idea is really cool. Compared to my friends who randomly have to live with someone, they are trying to room me with someone I would be more compatible with.