Impact USF Fall Kickoff

On Monday, August 27th, students return to classes kicking off the Fall semester for USF and the campus ministry.  The campus will be alive again and swarming with students.  Impact will be right there in the middle of it all, doing what we can to serve, engage, interact and pray with them.  Here are some of the highlights of Impact events.

• Impact students and I will be helping with move-ins from August 22nd - 25th.
• On August 26th, Impact will be partnering with other campus ministries for a 'Welcome Back' social with food and games.
• The Bull Market takes place on Wednesday, August 29th, and Impact will have a table set up to meet students and tell them about Impact.
• Impact will again have an information table set up at USF's "Round Up" on Thursday evening, August 30th.  "Round Up" is essentially a big welcome back party for USF students with music, entertainment, games and an introduction of the Football and Basketball teams.
• On September 2nd, Impact will be hosting a Fall kick-off dinner for its students.
• Finally, all of Impact's small groups will beging meeting the week of September 3rd.

If you have any questions about what Impact has in store at these events or throughout the Fall semester, please feel free to contact me at john.usf@impacttheu.com.  

Back in Blog

Considering my last post on my first blog was back in December, 2006, it's been a little while since I've been in the blogging world.  Going to give it another shot, this time with a different purpose.  I'll primarily use this to provide updates about Impact USF, our parent organization Impact Campus Ministries (ICM), and other things happening at the University of South Florida.

Enjoyed the break, but looking forward being back on campus again next week.  Praying for the students as they start classes again on Monday.  Many thanks to all of you who support and pray for the ministry!

The greatest of all time??

The guy is unbelievable to watch, which I did Sunday night when he played against the Chiefs. That game did it for me. He's the best ever. That 85-yard run against the Chiefs was sick! How fast did he look when he turned the corner?! He can outrun guys. He can make defenders miss. He can run with power (How's that stiff-arm taste, Champ?). He can catch the ball out of the backfield, catch it lined up as a receiver and even throw a few TD's here and there. Simply put, he can do it all. Thank you, L.T. for being so amazing to watch. And thank you for carrying my fantasy football teams to the top of two leagues.

Want to smell like a sweaty Dale Earnhardt, Jr.??

Found this great article and Christmas gift idea on MSNBC's website. Apparently NASCAR is going to start marketing and selling ... COLOGNE!!

"This week, the International Speedway Corp., the owner of the world-famous Daytona racing oval, along with perfume and beauty products maker Elizabeth Arden, announced they were giving the green flag to the Daytona 500 scent, the 'first sporting-event branded fragrance'. The Daytona 500 fragrance leverages the prestige and popularity of this premier sporting event to reach consumers and motorsports enthusiasts across the country," said Elizabeth Arden Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Scott Beattie. "We look forward to introducing this outstanding fragrance at the 48th annual Daytona 500."

Brian Tracey, who wrote the article, also said "the companies didn't give any detail as to what Daytona 500 actually smells like. Exhaust fumes with a note of burnt rubber? Budweiser and brake fluid?" The jokes here are endless. How about sun-warmed Keystone Light mixed with drops of sweat extracted from a soaking wet "Dixie Pride" tank top. Any more ideas as to what the scent could be?

Taryn, if you read this, all I have to say is "PLEASE!!!"

Free speech on college campuses

This story from Michigan State is becoming all too familiar. A Republican congressman from Colorado, who was a guest speaker at the school for a forum on immigration, was shouted down and his speech completely disrupted by protesters. The protesters also twice pulled fire alarms in the building and allegedly kicked and spit on organizers of the speech. Video of the event, which I saw on the news, will probably show up on YouTube if you want to check it out. Here's another article (click on the link for "Mob Rule on College Campuses") that recounts similar incidents. I know Ann Coulter faced similar disruptions during her speech here at USF. The sad thing is that the number of conservative speakers on college campuses already pales in comparison to the number of liberal speakers. I'd be surprised if anyone could find one secular college or university that even comes close to an equal ideological represention among guest lecturers. But even the large disparity in representation doesn't seem to be enough to satisfy some progressive liberals. It's just sad to see that the same groups and people who set themselves up as champions of free speech are also first in line to take it away from those with different views.