Well isn't that just peachy!

It's a new day in the summer of Student Life... we have just started up our 6th camp in Roach, Missouri at Windermere Conference Center and it's absolutely wonderful! It's wearing us all down as the time goes on, but God is gradually building us back up and giving us ample amounts of strength to take on challenges we thought we could not complete. After we finish up here, we are taking a 4 day break where we will go to King's Island and ride the biggest roller coaster, going to see a Red's game, and also trying to go see a movie.. hopefully Wall-E or Get Smart. I hear that both movies are great! So that's our first chance to really chill for extended time as a team and just load up on some fun before another camp.

The afternoon between the last camp and now was one of the most exhilirating days that I have had in a while. It was really a trip. We finished camp 5 around 11 o'clock and sent the kids and staffers on their way then head out to go to lunch with the team. Our group went to Chili's where Brad, Ian, and Gary had a coaster flipping contest. They got up to 23 coasters, it was ridiculous, you had to be there. We then made a quick slide by wal-mart to get a few necessities then head back to Windermere to party on the lake. We got ready and went to the inflatables on the lake and TORE THEM UP. I'm not exaggerating in the least bit here. We are all still sore from running across the slippery moonwalk and busting or faces over and over and over and over again. This kept us laughing hysterically at all the flips and busts of our clearly vulnerable running and screaming across the inflatable bridge. It was a fantastic 2 hours on the water and I have the sore thighs to prove it. Afterwards we all ate dinner as a team, and Adam prepared the meal. Adam went to a stinking culinary school and just owned some pots and pans.. and our mouths for that matter. Dinner consisted of chicken cordin bleu stuffed with ham and cheese, chicken linguine alfredo with spinach leaves, roasted red potatoes, koos koos, grilled squash and zucchini, carmelized carrots, and for dessert a cup full of cinnamon cookies, pudding, mango, and angel food cake. Amazing? yeah... you should be incredibly jealous.

After our crazy day of freedom we settled down and had some team time together and just talked about our thoughts of the summer and what we enjoyed, and thought we could improve on. Then we kind of seperated out and washed each others feet, fed each other bread with honey, joined in communion together, and just encouraged one another throughout the evening. It was much needed, and I loved that time we all spent together.

We are almost to our halfway mark. It's really not close to being done and somehow I cannot imagine that. But as always, your prayers are needed as the summer goes on and we continue to witness and live our lives for God in front of thousands of students. I love you all and hope to see you soon! Mom and Dad, and the girls. Emily I miss and love you with my whole heart!

Throw it under-handed!
Marcus C.

Don't be a Texas Tammy

I am listening to War of Ages on my old iPod... yes i said old. I purchased a new one along with a sweet neoprene case because my old one is circling the drain. I finally have my computer back after a couple days of repair. A new hard drive, optical drive, and OS update later I have my mac back and in working order... of course I had to completely start over cause my hard drive was wiped. But after that long disappointment I recovered my music and a few other items.... now I just need the rest of my apps. Computer talk aside, we are now in San Angelo, TX and if you don't know where that is... I don't blame you. We are about 3 hours west of the Houston/Austin line. Camp here is going great so far. It's hot as heck here and freezing cold inside of the worship center area where we spend most of our days, so there is no happy medium. And now it's almost time for student showcase where the students are showing off their odd talents... some of which are... well I mean it's still entertaining to listen/watch. I don't know what everyone wants to know about what's going on... so I leave you with a picture!

Flippity flappity fling flong,
Marcus C.

Christ is not a fashion, fleeting away.

A) I want ^that^ tattooed on me somewhere

B) Emily is gone again :( 

C) I'm listening to Muse

4) I need headache/heartburn medicine

G) I need escape

So it's the 3rd week of camp and it has been getting rougher/smoother in different and same locations. We are about to head out from Covenant and on to Angelo State in Texas and start a brand new camp. I'm learning certain new things about ins and outs of the technical world. I've been doing my basic video editing and shooting on random days. It's time for a little variety. Even though I am not the most excited about having to load-out/load-in all over again, it's going to be a great adventure. It would be really awesome if we could have camp in like... Jamaica.

I've been really craving to head back to Auburn for some reason. I wanna do shows, and be with my friends while we smoke a good cigar and eat a great burger at Niffer's. I wanna have my apartment back. At the moment I'm not really sure why. I love the people that I am working with. This may be my first real moment of being homesick. It's my first summer in Limbo. By that I mean now that I'm in college I don't have a permanent home any longer. So I am sick for a home that has no existence, and it's awesome.

We have about a half hour until worship and the band is practicing. I hope that everyone who reads this is doing well. I encourage you to invite more people to read as you see fit. Also If I can muster up the courage maybe there will be a poem or two in the future, or maybe a little gibberish. 

Saddle up your horses,

Marcus C.

Big Girl Panties, Dog Whoop Tired, Draggin' Butt

So we are now starting our second week of camp and it has been going great. It's a great big God driven hassle and blessing all in one huge package. I really can't wait to get moving even to the different locations while it's going to be a big effort... I'm still very excited. They got me runnin family group meetings and such as long as Pro Presenter on the computer in back with the video guy Phil. I've been filming kids arriving and registration and recreation among other things. It has been a really long week getting everything for services prepared so we no longer have to organize cause it's all there. The set up is great back here and hopefully some of you (for the very few who read this) will be seeing it.

God is doing a new molding of my heart. He's moving in a great deal of change. I've been taking things rough cause I guess I'm worn out easily or something, but either way I'm trying as hard as I can to run through it and take down the challenges like a trooper. I miss everyone really bad TRUST ME. But I have an amazing new group of friends to keep me sane until the day comes when I can see you again.

I'm really excited about the times to come and even ready for school to start back up. So keep me in your prayers as I travel and continue working to further the kingdom of God.

Viva la Vida,
Marcus C.

1950's Bible Drill (Would be a cool name for a band)

I'm finally done with training week at Student Life Camp. We are in less than 2 hours planning to head out to Covenant College near Lookout Mountain in GA. We'll be there for a total of 3 sessions roughly 2 and 1/2 weeks. It's been a tedious process to get to this point. Lots of meetings, getting to know YOU sessions, learning/teaching times, and sleep have been a pertinent part of our preparation. I'm ready to go and start camp with the Blue Team, and discover what God has planned for me to learn and experience. I'm so ready to see what impact I will have and what He uses me for along the way. I'm going to learn so much, and there is nothing stopping me from being joyful.

One thing that I've noticed during our session is how people in this field are generally so passionate about what they do. The amount of work and effort that is devoted into every little thing is quite astounding as day by day we work to further the kingdom of God. I hope that in every way that my joy is increased 10-fold. I pray and thank God for the passions of everyone on the team and the universal desire of us all to bring Him glory through everything we do. It's exciting. You know you wish you could experience it.

I'm sad to say that even though I have managed to snap a few pictures, that I have not brought my camera usb cord with me so no pictures with my entries until my parents bring me that at Covenant. But no worries there will be lovely ones once I can get into that photo mode. Get excited, you can even pee yourself a little if you like. I love you all!

Brad is satisfactorily satisfied,
Marcus C.

I Love Mary, Blind Mary marry me.

It's been such a long time since a felt I should update this array of disorganized thoughts. I find myself awake at about 2:30 in the morning contemplating my summer and all it will entail. What am I going to do with myself when I have to meet brand new people and spend roughly 2 months with them and stressful but amazing circumstances? My general freedom is coming to an end. The stress free days of GTA IV and World of Warcraft are coming to a close as I prepare to go on a journey. God is grasping my heart and trying to wrench out the cynicism and blindness that has been dragging me deeper and deeper. I hate that I feel so unmotivated to be. I know that He will without a doubt be filling every corner of my soul if I will just let Him reside there and be conscious of the fact. I'm abandoning my old learned habits for His. I need a mass of prayer. It's all so difficult when I feel in a state of limbo. I have no permanent home. College consumes a different part of my life that comes with a lot of hard work. I can't decide what I'm going to do with all of my random technical skills and passions. I am adrift in a sea of great imagination and wonder and confusion. He will guide me. My trust is in Him. I love you Lord, and I want what you want.

On a less insane path of thoughts, Student Life approaches. I'm ready to head off to different states and work with students all over the place. It's scary, but more like the fright you build up as the roller coaster makes it's way to the top of the hill. The final click is about to release me into a whirl of twists, turns, and barrel rolls of God knows what. And He does.... REALLY know. I want to write poetry again, music, song. What do you think?

I was very pleased to get to spend a week with my sweetheart Emily in H-Ville. We ate great food, spent time with caring family. All over it was a good way to spend part of my free summer getting to know more about those I love. I am overflowing with great joy and happiness because of it. Even amidst all of this great concern for my life, It is well with my soul. I love you all.

I got Tier 4 shoulders!
Marcus C.

They Say the Meek Shall Inherit

So I apologize for not updating this thing in a little while. I don't know who would be too concerned but I am now finding time to update this while I'm currently in a class not really getting any work done. It has been a stressful couple of weeks and Little Shop of Horrors have been going fantastic. As soon as we got back from spring break we began working on the set and got that sucker alive and moving. I suffered a couple of minor injuries such as a slip from a power drill onto my thumb, a nick from a table saw on the same thumb, and a giant piece of brick face falling and cutting me across my cheek. But I'm healing and the show opened last week and so far it has been an exciting run. We only have four more performances to go out of ten and it's going to be a great stress relief when it's over. The semester is nearly over and HOPEFULLY I will not get a D in Theatre History II so I can actually audition for shows next semester and feel like I'm doing something. Also, student life starts up on the 25th of May for me and I will be gone all summer ministering to thousands and thousands of students.... just keep me in your prayers if at all possible. It's a very hardcore last couple of weeks.

If you face plant, can a laugh a little out loud before I get up to help you?
Marcus C.

p.s. I pre-ordered the new Showbread CD heehee