Thankful Thursday - One Candle

The semester is almost over...already. Spring break is next week, and then there is a week of classes after that, then finals. It has been a great year for us at UL Chi Alpha. We are being able to see the students grow and mature in their faith right before our eyes. We are very grateful for this privilege. It's exciting to see them share this growth with those around them. It makes me think of this:

"A candle loses nothing by lighting another candle." - Erin Majors

That is exactly what our Chi Alpha students do...they light another person's life with the Light of Jesus. They don't lose anything for doing this - actually they gain so much more. This is the process of discipleship, of helping someone else become more like Christ. This is what we do. Lee and I get to be in these students lives to help them if their candles start to get dimmer...if something is trying to get in the way of them letting their lights shine, which prevents them from lighting someone else's life. We are there to encourage them in this season of their lives.
We are truly thankful that we can be a light in these students lives. All it takes is one candle to light another.

Life Group Olympics

The first Life Group Olympics were held on Saturday. Life Group* members were able to participate in events like: Book Balancing Race, Saltine Cracker Eating Contest, Three-Legged Race, Jeopardy Questioning, Blindfold Maze Race, Water Balloon Toss, and other events.



Each Life Group was assigned a color to wear and had to come up with a team name. The Chi Alpha staff had a team called "Staff Infection," and the Blakney family was there in full-force. Lee directed Lance in the Blindfold Maze, and then won the silver medal in the Saltine Cracker Eating Race. (He had to leave early because he was playing on the Crossroads church worship team that day, so Bella received his medal.)
* I must thank Sherronda, Shelly, and Joy (along with several other students) for watching our kiddos while Lee & I participated in the events - so much fun!

I was with Miranda for the 3-legged race. We started practicing, and thought that our tie was a little loose. It was tightened for us, and it was a little too tight. So tight that I couldn't even finish the race. Everyone else was running around us, and I could barely walk. My ankle took a little beating, but the battle wounds are worth it! Bella & I also did the "Who can hold the Plank Position the Longest." I definitely didn't win, but I wasn't the first to drop to the ground! :)

Our team started strong with Kelsey and Hope winning the gold in the Book Balancing Race, and Ken and Lance placed in the Water Balloon Toss. We even won the team with the most spirit!!
Go Team Staff Infection!


It was a beautiful day to be outside. There were probably 60 or so students out there to participate and watch. Lee & I and the kids had a great time. We love what we do.

The students did a phenomenal job of organizing and making this event happen. It was such a fun day!

We are going to start practicing for Life Group Olympics 2012!

*Life Groups are small group Bible studies that meet on campus in the dorms. They are led by student leaders, who are amazing at what they do!

Thanks Student Leaders!!

I almost forgot that it was "Thankful Thursday" today!

We have so much to be thankful for here at UL.

We are thankful for the student leaders that we are working with to share the Gospel of Jesus Christ on campus. They are amazing. These students are full-time, which means they take over 12 hours of classes. A lot of them have jobs, some working more than 20 hours a week. And then they put in about 20 hours a week as a student leader: attending resource meetings, preparing for Life Groups, holding Life Groups, meeting with other students to disciple them, and meeting with their pastor for discipleship meetings. It's a lot. They make this ministry happen. They are raising up the next generation of student leaders.

We love them so much!! We have some great guys and girls who are transforming this university!!

Another Thankful Thursday

It was a great week at District Council. Great, but very bittersweet. Lee's parents have been a part of making District Council happen for the past 23 years. This year they have accepted a new job working with college students in Texas, so they are no longer living in Louisiana. That's where the bittersweet part comes in.

On Monday night there was a reception to celebrate their 23 years of service. It was beautifully decorated, and they were able to see a lot of the friends they have made over the years. Lee and I were both able to share a little bit of how much they meant to us...both as parents and as spiritual leaders. They both have been the primary mentors for us as ministers.

This was the end of an era. It was hard having the change. Even for Bella...she didn't quite understand why her Nana and PopPop were not at the campground at the same time she was.

Lee and I have learned so much about being ministers and doing ministry as a family from both of our parents. We are blessed to have the parents who love us and support us. I am very thankful for that today.

Heading Out

We're getting ready to go to the Louisiana District Council. It's going to be a great time. There will be meetings and services for the Louisiana Assemblies of God pastors from around the state. But, there will also be a Chi Alpha luncheon...where we'll get to present what is happening in Chi Alpha around the state as well. It's encouraging to hear how our other Chi Alpha groups are growing as they minister on their campuses.

We are really blessed in Louisiana. We have great Chi Alpha leaders and groups that are making a difference on their campuses. It's not just here at UL...it's everywhere!!

The luncheon will be a lot of fun...it's a great presentation that I know everyone will love!! We are looking forward to it!! Hopefully I'll get some good pictures to put on here soon...as well as some good stories about how Chi Alpha is changing Louisiana and the world!!

Thankful Thursday

For our support team members, you may not have a clue what is going on at the University of Louisiana Lafayette. You don't know what your financial sacrifices and prayers are doing.

So, here's a thank you to Lee that wouldn't have happened without you.

It's from Ben. He's a sophomore from Baton Rouge, Louisiana. He's studying Computer Science...he's really good at math!
He's a part of the Men's Leadership at UL Chi Alpha, which means that he leads a small group Bible study in his dorm. This is what he had to say:

Lee, I appreciate you for being a clear example of Christ for me when He may not be so clear for me sometimes. Just by living your life you challenge me to dig even deeper into my faith and express it to others who may not know him. Thank you SO much for being a genuine friend in my life when I needed it the most, in my transition to college, Soli Deo Gloria!
-Ben N.

As you can see, your prayers and finances are helping us make a difference in the lives of the students of UL. Ben is changing the world. You are helping us help him do that. Thank you!

If you are interested in becoming a member of our support team, just let me know!!

Introductions Please

I finally figured it out. It's a two fold thing. Every time we go somewhere, Bella introduces herself by saying, "This is Bella (as she points to herself), and this is Brennan (as she points to him)..." Sometimes she goes straight to pointing out Brennan. That is a diversion tactic. If she doesn't want the attention on herself, she'll point out Brennan. She used to do this with her shoes by saying "Look, I have shoes." This was before Brennan entered the world.

The second reason she does this is because she is used to her daddy introducing us when we go to Cafe Chi Alpha, or Chi Alpha International, or to a church. If Lee is already at the cafe, he can be talking to someone when we get there, and she'll run up to him. He'll pick her up and then introduce us by saying, "This is my wife Bri, and this is Bella, and this is Brennan." She's heard that a lot because we're always meeting new people!!

I'm happy that she is such a friendly girl, especially towards kids. She's shy around adults still, but she loves to play with kids whenever she can. And, when around adults (yes, we do consider college students to be adults), she is ok with introducing herself and her brother.

It's very interesting watching them grow up as a part of Chi Alpha. This is how she is when she's 2...There's no telling how she'll be a year from now...Brennan too. I don't think he's going to be as shy as her. It's a fun time for us...and for the students too!