Apologies on the lack of posts. Turns out I am still stealing internet from the neighbors. They have no idea. its great.
Anwyay, yesterday we had our official launch for the 2007-2008 season of Student Impact. It went well. Many many high schoolers showed up, probably near 1000, no lie, and then following the service we all went to our seperate area for our house/small group time.
I will be co-leading the Lake Park/Conant house group this year, and I'm hoping, and sure, it is going to be pretty awesome. I really dont know what else to write about the house group, other than the fact that I will be co-leading it. So if you have any questions to promt me on what to write on the next post, let me know.
In related news, this past Saturday night, I decided to call it an early night (10pm...way early for a saturday) so that I could wake up super early on Sunday (430am...super early), to get a little quiet time in with God to prepare myself for our Impact Launch. The Plan: drive to downtown Chicago and catch sunrise on one of the beaches in the city. It was AMAZING. no lie.
I don't even know what else to say. I have done a lot of stuff since the last post, and I don't really want to give you the play by play of every day. But I will tell you, if you are ever in the city, eat at the Pasta Bowl, off of Clark and Fullerton, in Lincoln Park. Get the tortelini, and tell them I sent you. Not that they know who I am, but, they will eventually. Also, Chicago beaches. Go to one. They are cool, number one, because thaey are beaches, and number two, because they are right side=by-side to many a skyscraper.
Additionallty, here is an opportunity for any of you who are reading this, or if you have stumbled upon my blog, to help me out with something, if you so chose. I am planning on flying home to San Antonio in early October for a wedding for two of my good friends, Esther Class and Evans George. However, plane tickets aren't too cheap, so I am hoping I can find atleast a decent priced one to make it down to attend the wedding, as well as spend time with family and friends. If you, or someone you know, would like to help me make it home, post a comment, or email me at chughes@willowcreek.org.
Until next time, good days. And, I promise, I will try my best to stay on top of things from here on out.
27 August 2007
08 August 2007
Playtime is over, Work Begins (Leadership Summit 07)
Tomorrow, August 9, I officially have my first day to report somewhere for my internship. The Willow Creek Association Leadership Summit will be from Thursday through Saturday, and is one of the many amazing conferences that I will get to attend for free as an intern. Speaking this year are Bill Hybels (WCCC founder), Colin Powell, Michael E. Porter, John Ortberg, Floyd H. Flake, Carly Fiorina, Marcus Buckingham, Richard Curtis, Jimmy Carter, and music by Kirk Franklin.
Quite a lineup huh? Or, maybe you are more like me and have only heard of about 4 of the people speaking. Either way, I believe this conference will be a great way to officially begin my work up here. And, if you would like any of the notes I take so that you may have a few insights to the leadership of any of these folks, let me know, and I'll maybe post them on here.
In unrelated news, Sunday a few of my friends from summer staff at windy gap last year came out to church on sunday and then showed me a round a bit of the north side of Chicago, We wandered around the Lincoln Park area, and checked out a free zoo that was about a block away from lake michican. Now I know what you're thinking..."another free zoo, eh?" But I'm telling you, this one is much better than the free zoo that is a few blocks away from where I am living. They have lions, tigers, and bears (yeah, I had to do it, but its true), giraffes, hippos, rhinos, basically everything a standard zoo has, only on a smaller scale, and, free.
Last night I had another friend from windy gap stay the night at my place, and we went downtown to explore a bit. It was fun. I only wish to give you the highlights at the moment.
1. Right around the wrigley field area there was a southern looking man with a nasty mullet riding a hot pink womans bike. So of course we had to document through photos, and slowed down with the windows down, snapped a shot, and right as he saw us we sped off.
2. Walking onto some of the docks full of sailboats, looking at the city across the water, and daydreaming about being a pirate, or just owning a real nice boat.
3. A woman with an australian accent pushing a baby in a stroller. "How is this a highlight?" You may be thinking. Well, if you heard how awesome her voice was, you'd understand.
4. A drunk guy on a bike rolling past us, stopping to talk to the Australian accented beauty, then riding off only to run into, and knock over a newspaper stand
Still no solid internet connection, so I haven't been too too able to post still. But I will update following the Leadership Summit. Until then, good days.
Tomorrow, August 9, I officially have my first day to report somewhere for my internship. The Willow Creek Association Leadership Summit will be from Thursday through Saturday, and is one of the many amazing conferences that I will get to attend for free as an intern. Speaking this year are Bill Hybels (WCCC founder), Colin Powell, Michael E. Porter, John Ortberg, Floyd H. Flake, Carly Fiorina, Marcus Buckingham, Richard Curtis, Jimmy Carter, and music by Kirk Franklin.
Quite a lineup huh? Or, maybe you are more like me and have only heard of about 4 of the people speaking. Either way, I believe this conference will be a great way to officially begin my work up here. And, if you would like any of the notes I take so that you may have a few insights to the leadership of any of these folks, let me know, and I'll maybe post them on here.
In unrelated news, Sunday a few of my friends from summer staff at windy gap last year came out to church on sunday and then showed me a round a bit of the north side of Chicago, We wandered around the Lincoln Park area, and checked out a free zoo that was about a block away from lake michican. Now I know what you're thinking..."another free zoo, eh?" But I'm telling you, this one is much better than the free zoo that is a few blocks away from where I am living. They have lions, tigers, and bears (yeah, I had to do it, but its true), giraffes, hippos, rhinos, basically everything a standard zoo has, only on a smaller scale, and, free.
Last night I had another friend from windy gap stay the night at my place, and we went downtown to explore a bit. It was fun. I only wish to give you the highlights at the moment.
1. Right around the wrigley field area there was a southern looking man with a nasty mullet riding a hot pink womans bike. So of course we had to document through photos, and slowed down with the windows down, snapped a shot, and right as he saw us we sped off.
2. Walking onto some of the docks full of sailboats, looking at the city across the water, and daydreaming about being a pirate, or just owning a real nice boat.
3. A woman with an australian accent pushing a baby in a stroller. "How is this a highlight?" You may be thinking. Well, if you heard how awesome her voice was, you'd understand.
4. A drunk guy on a bike rolling past us, stopping to talk to the Australian accented beauty, then riding off only to run into, and knock over a newspaper stand
Still no solid internet connection, so I haven't been too too able to post still. But I will update following the Leadership Summit. Until then, good days.
06 August 2007
03 August 2007
Finally. A Post.
I have had limited access to the internet the last few days, maybe even the last week. However, I did find that I am able to, I don't want to say steal, but, maybe borrow wireless internet from a neighbor. I dont know who is it, and they don't know who I am, so its a secret between you and me. Anyway, there hasn't been too too much going on, but there has been a few noteworthy moments. I would like to say I don't want to bore you with all of the boring details, but honestly, I am going to try my best to do just that. Here we go:
Monday night my dad and I were able to check out the Chicago Cubs game at Wrigley Field. I have been waiting so long to be able to go to a game there. Now, some people may say that I am only a Cubs fan because I live in the Chicago area now, however, I have been fan since I was a young'n. My dad used to wake me up to watch Harry Carray sing "Take me out to the ball game", and we would always look for the players with the black bats, because, as we all know, people with black bats are all round better hitters. Anyway, it was awesome finally making it out to the stadium. We even made a stop (or two) accross the street to go to the Cubby Bear, which is a place to purchase your pre-game refreshments... It was a great time to spend with my dad and we both had fun there.
Tuesday was move-in day at the Towner House. Dick and Sibyl towner are the two I am living with, and it a huge blessing to be able to stay with them. Over the span of their marriage Dick said they have had about 80-90 different people stay with them for various amounts of time. I feel incredibly lucky to be one of those people, and I truly hope that I am not the last (I don't think it would be a good sign if they said "after you, we're done"). The area we are living in is a suburb that has a feel similiar to a Boerne, or a New Braunfels. Its nice. There is a park down the street called Lord's Park, and it even has a little zoo in it.
"A zoo?"
Yes, a zoo, but I have only seen and smelled the small buffalo they have so far.
Wednesday I dropped my dad off at the airport, but not without a stop for lunch at Jimmy John's (our second stop in two days acually). I dropped him off at noon, and then decided, since I was already halfway to downtown, I may as well cruise my bike through the city. I say cruise, but it was more of a game that resembled Frogger.
"You rode your bike downtown by yourself?!"
Yes mom. Sorry, but you know how I am. I had to see the city and that was the only reasonable way to do it.
I rode around for a little while, and though to myself, "where's all the cool stuff? All I'm finding is traffic." But then while riding through Grant Park, I found, down by the waterside, where all of the museums are. That was a nice area to ride through, and had very little traffic, was I was able to get my cruise on. I hope to be able to check out all of these museums sometime soon, so if you would like to visit and go with me, I say let's.
I decided at about 230 that I should probably head back to miss the rush houe driving home on I-90, and after about a 30 minute search for my truck in the parking garage I was in, I finally hit the road at 300, to experience none other than my first Chicago rush hour. Lame. It took me two hours to get home. But it was a life lesson definately learned.
That night I went to church at Willow. Wednesdays are called "New Community," which would give the impression that maybe it was a small service, but there were still hundreds of people there. It was a great night. 35 people were baptized, which was incredible, and I was able to meet many people from the Axis community, which is the 20somethings group at Willow. I hung out with them afterwards at Applebees, and made some new friends. So, maybe now I will have something to do in the week before I start work.
Computer is about to die. There are more stories, including my hour long search for Chicago food, but they will have to wait until later, or tomorrow, or Sunday, or whenever I post again. Until then, good days.
Love You Family.
I have had limited access to the internet the last few days, maybe even the last week. However, I did find that I am able to, I don't want to say steal, but, maybe borrow wireless internet from a neighbor. I dont know who is it, and they don't know who I am, so its a secret between you and me. Anyway, there hasn't been too too much going on, but there has been a few noteworthy moments. I would like to say I don't want to bore you with all of the boring details, but honestly, I am going to try my best to do just that. Here we go:
Monday night my dad and I were able to check out the Chicago Cubs game at Wrigley Field. I have been waiting so long to be able to go to a game there. Now, some people may say that I am only a Cubs fan because I live in the Chicago area now, however, I have been fan since I was a young'n. My dad used to wake me up to watch Harry Carray sing "Take me out to the ball game", and we would always look for the players with the black bats, because, as we all know, people with black bats are all round better hitters. Anyway, it was awesome finally making it out to the stadium. We even made a stop (or two) accross the street to go to the Cubby Bear, which is a place to purchase your pre-game refreshments... It was a great time to spend with my dad and we both had fun there.
Tuesday was move-in day at the Towner House. Dick and Sibyl towner are the two I am living with, and it a huge blessing to be able to stay with them. Over the span of their marriage Dick said they have had about 80-90 different people stay with them for various amounts of time. I feel incredibly lucky to be one of those people, and I truly hope that I am not the last (I don't think it would be a good sign if they said "after you, we're done"). The area we are living in is a suburb that has a feel similiar to a Boerne, or a New Braunfels. Its nice. There is a park down the street called Lord's Park, and it even has a little zoo in it.
"A zoo?"
Yes, a zoo, but I have only seen and smelled the small buffalo they have so far.
Wednesday I dropped my dad off at the airport, but not without a stop for lunch at Jimmy John's (our second stop in two days acually). I dropped him off at noon, and then decided, since I was already halfway to downtown, I may as well cruise my bike through the city. I say cruise, but it was more of a game that resembled Frogger.
"You rode your bike downtown by yourself?!"
Yes mom. Sorry, but you know how I am. I had to see the city and that was the only reasonable way to do it.
I rode around for a little while, and though to myself, "where's all the cool stuff? All I'm finding is traffic." But then while riding through Grant Park, I found, down by the waterside, where all of the museums are. That was a nice area to ride through, and had very little traffic, was I was able to get my cruise on. I hope to be able to check out all of these museums sometime soon, so if you would like to visit and go with me, I say let's.
I decided at about 230 that I should probably head back to miss the rush houe driving home on I-90, and after about a 30 minute search for my truck in the parking garage I was in, I finally hit the road at 300, to experience none other than my first Chicago rush hour. Lame. It took me two hours to get home. But it was a life lesson definately learned.
That night I went to church at Willow. Wednesdays are called "New Community," which would give the impression that maybe it was a small service, but there were still hundreds of people there. It was a great night. 35 people were baptized, which was incredible, and I was able to meet many people from the Axis community, which is the 20somethings group at Willow. I hung out with them afterwards at Applebees, and made some new friends. So, maybe now I will have something to do in the week before I start work.
Computer is about to die. There are more stories, including my hour long search for Chicago food, but they will have to wait until later, or tomorrow, or Sunday, or whenever I post again. Until then, good days.
Love You Family.
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