I'm Back

After over six months of concentrating on my studies, months that allowed me to say that I feel a little like a linguist and that I'm content to sail through my last semester, I am back to blogging. I have journaled this whole time, but for me journaling is just getting what I feel on paper. I'd like to really reason through what I think in this blog, even if I'm the only one who reads it.
I had planned on blogging this semester for several months because I've thought through a lot of things lately, but my recent return from Urbana 09 has given me the added motivation I needed. At this student missions conference, I heard a lot of things that will take me a long time to process. My plan is to weave these thoughts between my other posts over the course of the semester.
Before I begin all that, let me give a few general impressions of Urbana.
1. God made real to me His love for all peoples. Woah.
2. For the first time, I understood and experienced how and why missionaries on the field don't get along. God has given us different passions and gifts, and sometimes these conflict.
3. I feel called to fight injustice with my actions more than my words.
4. I have a huge respect for those who have gone into God's harvest before me.
Throughout 5 days of the Holy Spirit's presence in challenging addresses, "neighborhood" worship, and a focus on the incarnation, 16,000 college students felt called to be a reflection of Jesus-in-the-flesh where we live now and wherever God calls us. He dwelt among us; we must dwell among those God loves.
Revelation 5:9
"... You were slain, and with your blood you purchased men for God from every tribe and language and people and nation."