Where have I been?

Yeah so I looked at the last post and said WOW its been a while. It's been an amazing month. Some things God has really been dealing with me about is excellence and discipline. My time has become so crucial and every minute counts. I've been finding myself sleeping in when I should be getting in His presence. I have not been intentional in doing the things I need to get done, which is where the excellence comes in. God was really dealing with me about being excellent in every area of my life. A lot of times I find myself just kind of floating through life with no purpose or focus. I pray for intense focus so I can make use of every minute I have. I also pray that God will not become an after thought in my busy life but He will be the One I pursue most. Sorry I've been gone so long. Please continue to pray for the elevate crew. We need it. Peace!!!

See you at the pole and servolution

That's right two in one day. I've been backed up with stuff to write about but because of certain flaws on my part (see previous blog) I haven't done it. This past week has been slammin. First we had servolution. I was overwhelmed by all the people that showed up to be a part of it. We went out to the city and had a block party, handed out gum at the LSU game, washed cars all over the city, and painted a few houses in the inner city. I believe we are reflecting the heart of Jesus when we serve. The Bible says when we do these things for the least of these we are doing it to Jesus (Matt. 25:31-46). That's some powerful stuff if you think about it. Well a few days after servolution students from around the world met at their flag pole before school to pray. They call it see you at the pole. The picture you see here is St. Amant. Way to represent. It was a great turn out at all the campuses across Baton Rouge, except for Woodlawn. Where you at Woodlawn? Including the four people (Tweezy, Steve Ware, Jarred Ray, and Chris) that showed up the grand total was; 4. Maybe next year. Anyway please continue to pray for our schools. I believe these students can stand up, stand out, and change there schools. Lets believe along side of them for a supernatural move of God across the schools in the Baton Rouge Area. Well hope I don't take this long to blog again. I'm out.

PROCRASTINATION

My dear friends this is what I like to call procrastination. You see I've needed new tires for three months now but haven't done anything about it. The first couple of months I had an excuse, no money. The last month I've had $400 sitting in my drawer which was set aside for new tires. Tweezy and I went to leave the annex the other day when I realized my tire didn't look right. You see that hunk of rubber missing? Yeah, that's not normal. Needless to say I've got new tires now but this could have been bad. On a side note. The reason I haven't blogged in so long; you guessed it PROCRASTINATION!!! Later.

T!

I've been meaning to blog about this for the last few days but I'm a slacker. This past weekend was a hard weekend for me and a lot of other guys. My boy T-Barry (Tyler Barry) found out Saturday he was moving to Illinois and Sunday morning he was on his way. Crazy!!!! Wow is he gonna be missed. He was all about leading the charge at Dutchtown High School and trying to win it (the students) to Christ. Even though it's hard I know that God has called him to Illinois for such a time at this. His purpose is no longer here but there. It's gonna be great to hear the stories of what he does at his new school. Be prayin that he will impact his school for Christ.

Movin On Up

That's right my friends I'm movin on up to the east side, literally. Today I'm moving out to East Ascension. Headin out to G-town. I would just like to say one thing, I hate moving. I didn't realize how much junk I had until we started moving it. I had stuff that I've never opened, nice stuff. Now I have to find a place to store all this. If you didn't know Candace and I are moving in with my parents for a couple of months. That is going to be very interesting. It will be good I guess, cause my mom can cook for us and I don't have to pay rent, but it's going to be very difficult also. When you reach 30, you don't want your mama telling you how to live your life, but she will anyway. So I'm learning to just keep my mouth shut and let her speak her peace. It's also going to be hard on Candace because she is going to feel ackward at my parents house. So pray for her. She's also sad because this is our first home together and we're having to leave it. Look at her face how sad she is. But anyway, I guess I need to go back to work. I had to take a break cause those boxes are heavy. Peace!!

Golden Arches

That's right, after a 10 year absence from the Big Mac, Filet O Fish, Quarter Pounder, French Fry (you know the rest of it) I'm back. I worked at McDonald's over 10 years ago and haven't missed a day of it, but starting tomorrow I'll be employed by them once again, except this time they've got me doing maintenance instead of flipping burgers. I'm quite excited about this because I will be working in air conditioning, something I haven't done in 10 years, and I'll have an unlimited supply of chicken nuggets. Amen!!

Just to fill you in I finished my first week of elevate. It was fun I guess. A little overwhelming with all the reading we have to do but I got a head start on that. My favorite memory of the week was at the elevate retreat in the middle of nowhere. We had an altar call Saturday night that everyone went down for to get prayed for. As I was sitting on the floor Timmy was praying for this woman and thank goodness Tiffany walked in front of me cause she dropped. She was cool for a second then she dropped again except this time Tiffany couldn't hold her so I jumped out the way just in the nick of time for her to fall right where I was sitting. Nothing like a little Holy Ghost moment to get you off your feet. Thanks for the save Tiffany.

Of all the things this week though the greatest thing had to be our Refuge life group. We talked about decisions and God began to show us that the clearer our vision the easier our decision. I have a clear vision that I am going to do full time ministry one day, so when the opportunity came to do elevate, it was a no brainer. Yeah it was a tuff decision because of what Candace and I would have to give up (apartment, time, finances, etc.) but ultimately the decision was easy because of the vision God has placed in our heart. That night we asked the students what was the vision God had placed in their heart for the '07-'08 school year because the clearer the vision the easier the decision. All 15 guys stood in a circle holding hands and shared what God had placed on their heart and it was a priceless moment. Guys where crying, God was moving. I have never experienced the presence of God in a bible study like that. It was priceless.

I'm done talking cause its getting long. Please continue to pray for Candace and I as we pursue the dreams God has placed in our hearts.

A New Chapter

Today I begin a new chapter in my life, I start full time elevate. I'm so pumped about this and at the same time scared to death. It's been an awesome last few months. God has already shown His faithfulness far beyond what I could imagine. He has provided a place to live when we had none, He has provided not just the deposit for elevate but the full $4000, and I got a job working 20 hours a week making almost what I make now at AT&T. Now that's a part time job I love. P.S. My new boss goes to Healing Place, score another one for Jesus. I thank all of you guys for your prayer and support. It has meant so much to us. Please continue to pray for Candace and I as this will probably be the hardest 9 months of our life, yet I know it will also be the greatest 9 months. Two weeks ago Tweezy asked this question at Refuge, "are you living your life worth telling stories about?" If you would have asked me that question over the last couple years I don't know if I could have answered yes, but I know now without a shadow of a doubt Candace and I can answer yes, yes, yes and we are loving every minute of it. I pray we all can live our lives worth telling stories about. I know over the next 9 months I will have plenty so stay in touch, I will post them all.

Getting My Feet Wet

Well it's been a long wait and taken a lot of patience but it has paid off. For years now I've wondered when this opportunity would come. In my heart I knew God has called me to be a

mouthpiece for Him but I never thought I would see the day. I dreamed about it; probably

preached a hundred sermons in my head but what I experienced was nothing what I expected.

To be honest, when I spoke for the first time in a church setting Sunday night it was down right hard and when it was all said and done I didn't have goose

bumps or float on a cloud to my car, I was slap exhausted. I appreciate our pastors and other
pastors now more than ever. They speak several times a week and honestly I don't see how

they do it. I'm glad I don't have to do it every week. Well, that night I talked about fear and I had one point which was DO IT AFRAID! WOW, was I living that out on stage. If the students didn't take anything home that night I wanted them to remember to do it afraid. I kept saying it over and over again. When I left Sunday night I didn't know if I had made an impact, a difference, was anyone going to change. Well the next day I went to an outreach with the church and this girl came up to me and said, "hey, I put it as my myspace headliner, do it afraid." That one person telling me that made it all worth it. I knew if I only impacted that one girl it was worth it. Well thanks for your prayers to all you who have been praying for me. God answered them more than you know.

First time for everything

Well tonight is a first in my life. For the last several years God has given me bits and pieces of what He wants me to do with my life. One of those things is to preach the gospel. For a long time I've wrestled with the call that God has put on my life to be a communicator and the fact that I've never communicated in a church setting. I always said I would never ask for an opportunity but that I would be patient and when I was ready He would open up that door. Well that door has been opened today and I am pumped. I'm also about to throw up but that comes with the territiory. So if you read this today please pray for me cause I'm gonna need it. I can't wait to post and let you guys know how it went. Again pray, pray, pray. I'm overwhelmed that God would trust me with this opportunity.

Where He Guides He Will Provide

The last blog I wrote I talked about living life with no regrets. I told you guys about putting in my application for elevate and putting in my resignation at AT&T thus solidifying my decision to pursue the heart and will of God even though I wasn't sure how I was going to get what I needed to do this. Well let me fill you in on how amazing our God is. He had already provided us with an apartment for free while we do this, which is so slammin cause this brother does not want to live with his parents again. Also, I've been sweating the $5000 we have to pay for our tuition. I don't have it and I didn't know where I was going to get it. It seems like an incredible amount of money and I didn't see how we were going to raise it. For you to tell me $5000 was like telling me a million. Now let me say first of all you better be hearing from God before you step out and do something crazy because if He didn't tell you to do it, you might find yourself broke like a joke. Well, since the day I turned in my application and resignation I've gotten four committments or checks in the mail totaling $2000. Four people, $2000!!!! WOW! If He can meet these needs, He can meet them all. I saw this on someones blog and like it so I'll leave you with this thought. God can do amazing things with two types of willing hearts: 1) Willing to obey 2) Willing to believe.

Friday the 13th

So today is supposed to be some creepy, scary day where guys in hockey mask jump from behind the bushes and cuts half your finger off and then you get some weird nickname like 4.5. OK that's just plain silly, but on a serious note today was a memorial day for me. On a day when people talk about bad luck and getting chased down by Jason (not you Mr. Guidry, the guy with the hockey mask) I took probably the biggest step of faith I've ever taken in my life. Today I turned in my elevate application and turned in my resignation at AT&T. Today I began the journey that I've always dreamed of. I'm following the heart of God, even when it doesn't make sense, even when people tell you don't leave your comfort and security, even when I don't know what the future holds, He does!!! Leaving the comfort of my job and chasing something that I can't see right now is probably the craziest thing I've done up to this point in my life (there will be crazier don't worry) yet I have never had this much peace, joy, fulfillment in all my life. I guess what I'm trying to say is, if God has put something in your heart to do, do it. Don't let anything stand in your way. Don't let doubt, uncertainty, worry, etc. stand in the way of the things God is trying to do in and through you. Some of the biggest regrets we will have in life are not the things we did (like beating the guy up in 7th grade) but it will be the things we didn't do because of fear, doubt, etc. It will be the job we didn't take because we were comfortable where we were, it will be the sport we didn't try out for because we were afraid we wouldn't make the team, it will be the college we didn't go to because we were afraid to be that far from home, it will be the mission trip we didn't go on becasue we were scared we couldn't raise the money or we thought we weren't going to be able to handle what we saw, it will be the person you didn't tell about Christ becasue you were afraid what they would think of you. Let us live our lives with NO REGRETS!!!! Let's leave it all on the table and if we mess up so what, we'll get it right eventually. Let us be submerged (see other post below). Let us live life: NO REGRETS!!!!

Fully Submerged

This past week I got to be are part of the greatest summer camp

ever. 17 churches over took the white sandy beaches of Destin, FL

and had a Holy Ghost party. It was packed with amazing worship,
inspiring teaching, and divine moments of God transforming us from ankle deep living, waddling around in a kiddy pool, to fully submerged followers of Christ, DESTINed to fulfill the purpose that God has for our lives. This is me and my guys representing New Orleans. Well, I'm not from N.O. but whatever, I live close enough. I watched some of these guys come in broken and beat up and watched God totally transform them. I am so blown away by the passion that these young people have for Christ. One night it got so rowdy in there that we had the cops called on us. It was awesome. We had to kick the students out because they wanted to go all night long. We even had a little deal or no deal going on at camp and each night a student had a chance to win $1000, but that's beside the point. The last night I walked into service a little late because I had a Dr. Pepper attack (Jason, Phil, Jake, you know what I'm talkin about). When I walked into the building I saw the finest deal or no deal model EVER!!! She was bangin to say the least. I decided to holla at her. I got a date later that week with her, she decided to ride back to Louisiana with me. We even got married; or; were married. Yeah that's my wife. She's awesome!! Well back to Submerge, we concluded everything with a little baptism in the Gulf of Mexico where students could GO PUBLIC with there decision to follow Christ. What a way to end a week. I pray that we continue to lived lives fully submerged to the Will of God. When we are submerged it doesn't matter how deep we go becasue we are in the current of Christ. He will take us to our DESTINation.

ELEVATE SUPPORT

Hey guys. Well, I'm excited about what is about to take place next year. I would go into detail but this letter I've pasted below should say everything. Please be prayin for Candace and I. Love ya.

Dear Friends and Family,
When I surrendered my life to Jesus Christ five years ago I knew that God was calling me to full time ministry, but I didn’t know what it would look like or when it would take place. Over the last few years God has given me glimpses of what He has for my life. Honestly, it scares me to death because it is far beyond my reach. He has never let me see the whole puzzle, just pieces here and there. With every new piece it is an opportunity for me to grow and fulfill the purpose that God has for my life. Recently God has placed another piece of the puzzle in front of me.
Beginning in August 2007 I will be participating in the Elevate School of Ministry at Healing Place Church. Elevate is a nine month ministry internship designed to equip people to carry out the will of God through the local church. I will learn what being a Jesus-style leader is all about while solidifying a strong Biblical basis. It will give me the opportunity to explore God’s calling on my life while acquiring practical ministry skills. During this internship I will serve alongside Healing Place Church staff in a particular ministry area, go on a short term mission trip, and attend weekly bible and ministry classes. The cost of this internship is $5000.00. This will include tuition, books, road expenses, and an international mission trip.
In order to fulfill the requirements of this program I am resigning from my current job at AT&T, and I must raise tuition money before the program begins in August. Please consider supporting me over the next nine months with your prayers and financial support. Your support is vital to seeing lives changed. God has asked me to step out in faith and trust Him in the next season of my life. I ask that you would take that step with me so that together we can be a healing place for a hurting world.

Sincerely,

Blake Urban

“Trust in the Lord with all your heart; do not depend on your own understanding. Seek his will in all you do, and he will direct your paths” Proverbs 3:5-6

I’ve included a few ways that you can support. If you decide to become a support member please indicate this by phone, email, or letter. If you have any questions feel free to call me (225-202-5118) or email me (burban4jc@yahoo.com) and I would be glad to answer your questions. If you would like to contact an Elevate staff member, you can reach them at 225-408-3380 ext. 320. Thank you so much for your consideration in supporting me in the Elevate internship.

___ I would like to support through prayer

___ I would like to give $___________ weekly

___ I would like to give $___________monthly

___ I would like to give a one time gift of $____________


Thanks again for deciding to step out in faith to trust God and partner with us.

Please make all checks payable to Blake Urban

Blake Urban
18766 Jefferson Hwy.
Apt. C
Baton Rouge, LA 70817

burban4jc@yahoo.com or at my blog
blakeurban.blogspot.com

225-202-5118

E.R.

Well this week has been a very strange week for me. For those of you who don't know Monday night was spent with severe pain in my stomach. I couldn't sleep all night, and everything I had eaten was coming back to visit. I tried to make it to the doctor's office Tuesday but realized it would be a lost cause so I went straight to the emergency room. By the time I got there I was in such pain I couldn't walk or do anything. They brought me in and wanted me to fill out some paper work. YEAH RIGHT!!! I told them forget the paper work I need some pain medicine NOW!!! Needless to say I've spent the last 3 days in the hospital. Turns out my chron's disease had flared up and that is what was causing the severe pain. Chron's disease is an intestinal disease. About 10 inches of my small intestine is infected and when it flares up it basically closes and nothing can pass through and believe me it hurts B-A-D. It hasn't flared up in almost 13 years and I don't know why it decided to flare up now. This was extremely hard for me because I like to go, go, go. I'm always going 90 to nothing so for me to have to sit in a bed for three days was horrible, but it was also great because I really got a chance to get things back into perspective. When you live life in the fast lane usually the first thing that you start compromising is your time with God. Yeah I still had it but I did it like every thing else, RUSHED!! It wasn't quality it was quantity. It was a thing to do on my list and I just had to make sure it had a check by it. I pray through this experience I will learn to value my time with God. Make it be intimate and not instant. Thanks to all of you who have been prayin for me. I'm doing well and looking forward to an awesome time at Submerge next week.

Supporting A Great Cause

If there is one very important thing I've learned at Healing Place Church it has to be the vision of the house. Pastor Dino's vision is my vision. His heart is my heart. I am honored to be serving under the greatest pastors in the world. I read his blog and saw that there was a great cause that him and Pastor Mike were supporting and I would love to support it also. So I posted Mikes's blog on mine hoping to get others involved to support this incredible orginization. Pass the word on.


A friend of mine and a great woman in our church, Kacy Edwards, is a former teacher with a heart for the kids of our community. She quit teaching to start an organization called "Career Compass of Louisiana", which helps high school seniors with their post-secondary endeavors at no charge. Kacy and another former teacher, Julie Scott, go into high schools and sit one-on-one with the kids, offering college and career coaching to them for free! Not only do they inform the students about the more than 30 schools in the area, but they also help them fill out SAT/ACT applications, federal financial aid forms, post-secondary applications, scholarship applications, and anything else they may need to pursue their goals and dreams. They met with and assisted over 500 seniors in EBR parish last year and have plans to expand into Ascension, WBR, Livingston, Iberville and other surrounding areas. I say all that because Burger King is sponsoring a contest where they will give $50,000 to a winning cause. Out of more than four-thousand organizations, Career Compass has already made the top TEN - but in order to win, they need your help! (Sidenote: they are a two person non-profit up against much larger corporations) You can vote once a day between now and July 13 at http://www.campaignforyourcause.com/. You can also text message COMPASS to 287437(BURGER). If you're on the forgetful side, check out http://www.careercompassla.org/ and sign up for daily reminder. Voting will only take a second, but the money Career Compass might win could change the lives of thousands of teenagers in our state. They might even help change the life of someone you love.Kacy's relationship with HPC gave her the courage to start this whole thing. Her passion is education and she is leading the charge to change lives in Louisiana. Let's step up and put this state on the map for something amazing! I'm voting every day- are you?

Ethan Daniel Sanders

Last thursday Candace and I became uncle and aunt again. My sister-in-law gave birth to her first son, Ethan. He's a cute fellow, must take after his daddy. Candace stayed for a week and caught a serious illness called BABY FEVER!!! Lord help me. We walked in the hospital in Texas at midnight and as soon as she saw Ethan she looked at me with those puppy eyes and said, "I want a wittle baby." Basically, the pressure is on. The countdown has begun. I have no hope. Really though I'm excited, whenever it happens.

Watch out for Abe

I know I've got a big nose, so part of this is my fault, well my parents since I've got there genes, but what did I do to deserve this. I'm just an innocent bystander when Jordan Gautreau throws a penny at my face. It brought me to my knees. I went to my knees for two reasons: 1) So know one would see me crying 2) So I could pray that I wouldn't kill the person that did this. Thanks for the love bro!!!

September 24, 2007

Yes after a great weekend of rounds, picks, etc. the NFL Draft has stirred the football mania in me. Febuary to September has got to be the longest months I face every year. No football makes me depressed. I think the NFL puts the draft in April because just as I start to get over the fact that football is gone they have the draft and it gets me all stirred up again. But I've got something to celebrate because my friend called me yesterday and is taking me to the Saints home opener against the Titans. 145 days 23 hours. Are you ready?????

Got me

Check this out. God punked me just now. I was reading Tweezy's blog and looking at some other people's blogs and I said, "Why don't I have something to put on ther?" To which God responded, "When's the last time you did something crazy, out the box, out your comfort zone, impossible for me." I said, "good point." Well God didn't say it just like that but you get the point. So today I'm going to keep my eyes open and my heart ready to do something crazy for Jesus and hopefully I'll get to tell you guys about it.

Quote of the day: "Your accountability partner has gotta be someone who'll tell you your baby's ugly!!!!" Reggie Wheeler I love bible study cause we get right down to the plain jane.

It's all about prayer

What's up guys. It's been a while since I posted my one thing on here but here I am. God has really been dealing doing some amazing things and I've wanted to post so hopefully over the next few weeks I will take the time to share the amazing things He is doing. This weekend is amplified and I believe it is going to be amazing. God is really teaching me that you can go get the greatest speakers like Chad Daniels or bring in a great band but no matter how great they are unless God is the One in it and behind it all it doesn't matter because or best will never come close to God's worst, if there is such a thing. We must seek God through prayer and ask Him to take the reins at amplified this year. That's the only way lives will be changed. I'm sure most of you are like duh, no kidding, but for me I trust in my ability way more than I trust in His. Just being honest. I sure hope that changes, because that will be the only way I will be able to impact the next generation.

I'm here

Well I finally set up a blog. Jordan said it was one of the best things he's ever done. We'll see.