Daniel Curran

"the cry of an disobedient man" (a psalm of lament)

2012-01-28T21:48:00.000-08:00

"the cry of an disobedient man"

-bydaniel curran

So, if to obey the law of love,

Is better than to make a sacrifice,

Then why did I offer myself on ministry's alter,

Rather than heeding love’s law in my own home?

Renew an obedient heart in me,

One my wife, my daughters, my son will see.

Lord have mercy; prior self-efforts have been foiled,

Restore the all years fighting and arguing have spoiled.

Heal my wounded heart.

Arrest my wounding tongue.

Restore a right spirit so deep within me,

I will live love in a way that all my kids will see.

Grant me words that thrill their mother’sheart;

Agapao overflowing from a Holy fresh start.

Fill us with your Spirit and we will all be free,

Radiations of the Son, giving You greater glory.

· "Create in Me a Clean Heart" by Keith Green | vintage live recording | "Clean Heart" worship video

We Find Ourselves Called to an Extraordinary Task

2011-12-17T08:33:00.000-08:00

“We find ourselves called to an extraordinary task, at an extraordinary university, by an extraordinary God"

David - Hannah - Hope - Margee & Daniel - Ebey & John

Jesus has called us deep into the University of California to “make

disciples” of UC Berkeley students. The spiritual significance of Cal cannot go

underestimated by the Body of Christ: over 100 years ago it was a West Coast base for

the YMCA Movement and a major sending-campus of the Student Volunteer Movement.
It was a greenhouse for the post-WWII evangelical movements of: InterVarsity, Navigators,

Campus Crusade for Christ, ISI, and AACF. UC Berkeley was the collegiate flash-point of The Jesus Movement in the 1970’s and was a launching-pad for literally hundreds of today’s spiritual leaders.

UC Berkeley served as an epicenter for the 1990’s for the Unity in Christ Movement and fostered many of the multi-ethnic campus ministry movements we see around the US today. Today, UC Berkeley serves this amazing incubator for a wide-variety of new church-planting enterprises and a the next generation of 10/40 Window missionaries. Berkeley is America's #1 public university; but, it also serves as a vital spiritual training ground for tomorrow's Kingdom activists, professors, Olympians, and marketplace ministers. Berkeley is our mission field.
UC Berkeley is where we’ve been called to serve Jesus.

Here is a way you may join our support team...

(click to link above to view our CCC Donation Portal)

–Your Servants Daniel & Margee, …serving at UC Berkeley

Top 10 Things Daniel Curran is Thankful For

2010-11-25T02:07:00.000-08:00

I'm Thankful for:

My family, especially my wonderful wife Margee & her enduring love for Jesus, college students, and me
The privilege of preaching to 500 students at the “Jesus in Berkeley?” event in August Jesus in Berkeley? and a new message the Lord gave me on "The Treasure & The Pearl" My Sermon on "The Treasure & The Pearl"
The 12+ committed students in GradCru Networks at UC Berkeley GradCruNetworks at UC Berkeley's Fan Page
The men in Athletes in Action at Cal whom I have the privilege of mentoring Athletes in Action at Cal
Two transforming Training Days we offered our Bay Area New Staff & Interns at Berkeley this Fall
9 students in Cal’s undergrad ministry who came to Christ Cru at Cal
The encouraging growth in the Pacific Southwest’s New Staff & Intern Development Programs I've advised off and on over the past 2 years: Pacific Southwest CRU
25% of our Fall monthly support goal reached Daniel & Margee Curran's Donation Portal
A spiritual retreat/backpacking trip to Cathedral Lake and God's supernatural strength to face and trust Him with my father’s decline
An experience of personal revival that came through reading the Gospel of Matthew, and the biography & writings of Oswald Chambers My Utmost for His Highest's Website

Fly-by Video Tour of the San Francisco Half Marathon, Sunday, Nov 7

2010-11-05T20:26:00.000-07:00

It's been a hard fall --- something that's carried Daniel through is taking up running again. He's running his first race in almost 20 years: The San Francisco Half Marathon Sunday, November 7 * Below is a Google Earth tour of the course *** Margee & Hope will be there as support crew *** Ebey & John (main sponsors) will be cheering from UC San Diego, Hannah from UC Davis, David from Cal Poly San Luis Obispo. Then we're off to Davis to watch Hannah's first Aggie Water Polo Scrimmage. *** Greetings to all our friends everywhere, God's richest blessings upon you and your families. Yours Truly, The Curran Family

The Berkeley Blitz Video Clip

2010-09-29T21:32:00.000-07:00

...plus a clip of the "It is Finished Movement" that broke out in 2003 is included at the end. -dc

500+ Came out to Wheeler Auditorium Wednesday, August 25th to Celebrate Life in Berkeley!

2010-08-27T09:55:00.000-07:00

View Event Pictures/Program Flow on Ficker (click here)

Groups of Three

2010-08-19T23:07:00.000-07:00

What's a Group of Three (G3)? They're a core practice for GradCru Networks at UC Berkeley

G3's are a simple way for students to connect around their faith in Jesus Christ by:
§ Reaching out with the Gospel to their friends
§ Sharing what God is teaching them
§ Praying for each other and their campus
Click here to view/download Group of Three (G3) cards & resources

By simply meeting to pray and support each other in small groups a few students can become a contagious group. Students are moving from just trying to survive with their faith to being the salt and light messengers of life that Christ called us to be. Connecting in community for a quick power-up and finding God’s power through prayer is the beginning of taking seriously the call Christ gave to reach those around us with His Good News.

Groups of Three are usually just three or four students meeting weekly for about an hour. Just three students are often the first seed of a spiritual network that reaches into every social corner of the campus, planting many new communities. Our hope is to see spiritual movements everywhere, so that everyone knows someone who’s authentically following Christ. As visitors drop in and then start their own groups the spiritual community expands. Intentionally planting groups on a campus or in an unreached corner of a campus is often the best way to give every student a chance to hear the Gospel.

Real fellowship and community is more than a few students. Occasionally, student leaders pull everyone together for worship, community service, and outreaches. The whole movement from the big gatherings and retreats down to each group's meeting is about GIVING, GROWING, GOING & PRAYING the Gospel, ...and this DNA is passed along from one group to the next. We like to think of it as a kind of holy virus that has the potential to spread and transform a whole campus.

Imagine this- what if campuses were full of G3s doing these four simple things? What if every American university student had at least a 'friend of a friend' who was passionately loving people and following Christ daily – so that everyone knew someone who was authentically following Jesus?

Watch the amazing "G3 Spiritual Movements for Life" video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ghy2PhD36zw

It’s not a big commitment, only 60 minutes; but it's a significant commitment, because it will influence how you live the other 167 hours of your week. You’ll make great friends, grow deeper in your faith, and rediscover the adventure of being a light on your campus. If you’re the first to catch the idea, good news, they're easy to lead and you can start one up yourself. Starting up with prayer is a sure bet. -by Keoke King circa 2005, edited by Daniel Curran 2010

An Open Letter to Jesus Movements at UCLA, UC Berkeley, ...and Beyond

2010-03-16T22:38:00.000-07:00

“More Straw for Your Bricks,

…More Fuel for Your Fire”

Royce Hall ablaze --- "light the night with build buildings of light!"

Below is a v2.0 re-post from my: "Out of Berkeley" TypePad blog -dc

Dear Campus Leaders @ UCLA & Cal Happy New Year and “heads up” brothers and sisters! For a variety of reasons, I think UCLA, UC Berkeley and every major university in North America will probably be see the most spiritually motivated stream of college students trickling back on your campuses in recent history. During the month of January more than 50,000 fired-up college & university students begin to return to their respective schools after coming off over a dozen life-transforming “Great Co-Missional” conferences held throughout the US & Canada. Keep your ears attuned, your eyes peeled, and your hearts open. Be ready to reeive them and support the variety of beautiful visions Jesus has probably given them.

I heard from a little bird [the first week of January] that UCLA Cru was holding a Vision Night Wednesday night --- So, I felt led to pray for UCLA a bit today. As I did I this extraordinary little book “Fireseeds of Spiritual Awakening” by Dan Hayes came to mind --- http://crupress.campuscrusadeforchrist.com/discipleship/fireseeds-of-spiritual-awakening --- I've seen this book spark and fan more long-lasting fires amongst college students over the past 20 years --- than any other piece of contemporary revival literature in circulation (now in it’s 3rd edition).

I pray that every campus leader at UCLA & Cal will have their eyes opened to the possibility that 2010 will probably not be "business as usual" on American college campuses --- I want to encourage everyone to at least check out the mind-blowing first chapter manifesto of “Fireseeds of Spiritual Awakening” by Dan Hayes - now available free online: http://crupress.campuscrusadeforchrist.com/files/products/fireseeds.pdf Be amazed at the history you are standing in. Consistently over the past 2 1/2 years as I've seen God use this unusual little book inspire an ever widening circle of student leaders to humble themselves and pray --- it offers real hope and solid direction for preparing for revival on your campus --- it shares vital reasons why leaders need to not just pray by themselves, but to invite others to pray with them --- plus good solid Biblical examples of revival and cameo's of young people throughout church history who prayed for the manifest presence of God to fall down on their campus and community, ...and It did!

Lord Jesus, fan into flame the gift of God within all the Jesus movements at UCLA & Cal. Rally small praying bands of disciples to come together this new year to work and pray with You "in one accord". I pray that the UCLA & UC Berkeley campuses will see more Jesus movements break out in 2010 than ever before in their schools history (note: both campuses have a rich spiritual history of revivals that have broken out on campus amongst students, ...and impacted the entire world). Fan into full flame the gift of God within today's Bruins & Bears. Bless and empower the Body of Christ at UCLA & Cal; especially anoint their current and emerging campus leaders to be "fireseeds of spiritual awakening" (and may their adult and young adult staff workers and campus pastors support them in their endeavors).

Lord, send more straw for their bricks and pour more fuel on their fire! Save this generation from being petty and shallow and short-lived. May today's UCLA & Cal students radiate the radical love and power, and wisdom of their Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, ...2 Timothy 1:7 to this generation: "power, love, and wisdom", in the name of Jesus of Nazareth, Amen!

May the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with UCLA & Cal,

-Daniel Curran, LeadCatalyst, GradCru at Cal
...CCC's graduate student ministry at UC Berkeley

Epilogue: My favorite all time book on discipleship is the revolutionary work "Master Plan of Evangleism" by Robert Coleman, ...someone turned me on to it during my time at Biola --- Margee studied it with a band of other Cal students during her time at Berkeley and God used it to capture her heart for spiritual multiplication.. This little 8 chapter book is steeped in the Gospels and has inspired and mobilized thousands of campus leaders since the outbreaks of the Jesus Movements in the 1970's up until today: http://crupress.campuscrusadeforchrist.com/files/products/masterplan.pdf

The Campinile aglow at night, ...what if it said, "Go Prayers!"

The Curran Events, ...from Margee's Heart

2009-11-10T16:15:00.000-08:00

The Curran Events, ...from Margee’s Heart

“My soul waits in silence for God only, for my hope is from Him. He only is my Rock and my salvation, my stronghold; I shall not be shaken.” Psalm 62: 5-6

Greetings!!

Last month you had an opportunity to hear from Daniel as he recapped his summer and his new ministry with GradCRU at UC Berkeley. We wanted Margee to take a turn writing this month’s newsletter to update you about what God has been doing IN and thru her life, ...on campus and off. The first part is about her dad whom she is very close to...

A Daughter’s Heart

In mid July, my dad, George was diagnosed with small cell lung cancer. THIS HAS ROCKED MY WORLD. The first few weeks after his diagnosis were incredibly emotional as we learned about his type of cancer, the prognosis, got MRI and PET scan results and he began treatment. As I look back on those weeks, the thing that most stands out to me, is GOD graciously and miraculously moving out ahead of us. He has been a step ahead OF US THE WHOLE TIME. Although this is not a journey of our own choosing, God is WITH us; sustaining us, providing for us, and surprising us with HIS exceeding abundance.

I started a caringbridge site: http://www.caringbridge.org/visit/georgemacfarland for my dad and asked a few people to join us in praying for a few very specific requests: mainly that my dad would be able to get into see a lung cancer specialist at UCSF, Dr. Jahan, BEFORE he was scheduled to start chemo. We posted that request on Sunday. God heard the prayers of his saints and my dad got a call on Monday for a Friday appointment. That was the first of a string of blessings God continues to bestow on us! I was “excused” from CCC’s staff conference in Colorado in mid-July and was able to spend 10 days at my parents; went to doctors appointments, chemo, cooked, climbed into their big bed with them at night to watch movies, took walks and bike rides with my dad, ate frozen yogurts with my mom, talked, cried, and just spent uninterrupted time with my parents. It was my favorite part of summer. God was so kind; He was and continues to be my rock and stronghold.

We got disappointing news two weeks ago that the first line of chemo has stopped shrinking the cancer cells. He will start a new chemo drug on Nov. 9. The VERY good news we got yesterday is that his brain MRI has not changed since late August. (The radiation oncologist told us he was 98% sure there was cancer in his brain based on some suspicious spots on an MRI in early October) The “spots” did not show up on his MRI this week!! My dad’s faith is strong and he is feeling pretty good. We are thankful for every day that God gives us.

A Campus Minister’s Heart

I continue to work with Athletes in Action at UC Berkeley. I LOVE what I do!!! Often driving home from appointments with students, I think, “I can’t get over the fact that I actually get to minister to female athletes at CAL.” 30 years ago this Fall, I was a freshman athlete at CAL. WILD!! There is a strong student leadership team (SALT) at CAL. They are doing a fabulous job running the Wednesday night meetings, securing speakers, planning social events and leading the charge. I come alongside of them and mentor and train some of the female student leaders. Last year I met Taylor, a freshman rower. She came to college already following Christ. Her roommate Brittany, also a rower, was interested in Jesus but did not know Him. In the Spring, Taylor and I had a chance to explain to Brittany what knowing Christ personally involved. A few weeks later Brittany placed her faith in Jesus. I, like Brittany, had a Christian roommate, Cheryl my freshman year and I too came to faith in the Spring of 1980!! VERY COOL!

A Swimmer’s Heart

I continue to swim several times a week. God has increased my heart for my teammates and my desire to be a fragrant aroma of Christ to them. I blow it a lot, ...I am too competitive sometimes. Our Walnut Creek Masters Swimming Bible study finished up our 2-year study of the book of Acts and now are moving on to studying the book of Ephesians. Jesus uses my prep time to OPEN my eyes to HIMSELF; I often find myself weeping as I sit and type up the lesson, overwhelmed by His Word!!

I am also attending a women’s Bible study at our church. We are currently working our way through a study by Cynthia Heald, Becoming a Woman of Simplicity. The key verse of study is, ‘”I am afraid that, as the serpent deceived Eve by his craftiness, your minds will be led astray from the simplicity and purity of devotion to Christ.” (2 Cor 11:3). Daily, God is using this study to remind me that He wants me to live a “GOD paced life that has time for solitude and respite from our noisy world.” The study is loaded with choice quotes and meaty scriptures that I so need to read.

A Mother’s Heart

For the past 12 years I have prayed weekly during the school year for my children with a Moms In Touch group. It may well be my most “important “ hour of the week!! I am so weak and undisciplined in prayer that I need these other moms to pray with. Our group could write pages about how God has taken our feeble prayers and changed our children for HIS glory. I am so thankful!

I LOVE being a mom. I think it’s the best, hardest, most rewarding and humbling job on the planet. I miss my college age kids but am thrilled to see where GOD has them. He is so wonderfully growing them up in Himself. Hope is a sophomore and Hannah is a senior in high school. We continue to host our monthly Dinner With Jesus gatherings in our home for their high school peers. Talk about a WILD night at the Curran house!!

We are in constant amazement that God has led and sustained us as His missionaries here in the Bay Area for the past 12 years. This is all by God’s grace working through your faithful prayers, friendship and support. We are SO grateful and blessed!

Prayer requests from my heart, ...please pray for me:

1. That I would continue to learn how to become a woman of simplicity in my devotion to Christ.

2. That I would live one day at a time (Matthew 6:34), not worrying about tomorrow, especially in regards to my dad’s cancer.

3. For God to WOO and draw many Cal athletes to faith in Jesus and for BOLDNESS to be faithful in bringing His Good News to the Cal athletic department.

Jesus' Shalom! -Margee Curran

Christian Responses to the UC System-wide Walkout

2009-09-23T23:03:00.000-07:00

On Thursday, September 24th there is a planned walkout throughout the 8 campus UC system --- it's an invitation for students to "walkout" of class as a sign of protest against significant proposed 20% faculty reductions, 42% tuition hikes, and other UC Regent governance issues. What's a Christian student to do? Get caught up in the hype of an organized protest or mob scene? Stay home and catch up on homework? Stick their head in the sand? Band together and show up on campus and look for ways to be "salt and light"? Go to class as usual?

Let's do some quick theological reflection: Moses protested to Pharaoh, "let my people go!" - Queen Esther stood up to the king for her people. David protested against Goliath. There are "protest" Psalms. The prophets protested to God for the people of God in exile. John the Baptist protested against the unrepentant "religious right" & immoral political leaders (via scathing public sermons & calling out specific politicians). Jesus protested against the unjust "religious left" (overturned tables in their temple courts --- self-fashioned whip in hand). Jesus instructed the disciples to shake the dust of an unwelcoming villiage off their feet in protest. The Hellenistic Jews protested to early church leaders about the unfair treatment of their widows. Paul protested that he was on trial for his belief in the resurrection. I bet there is protest in the book of Revelation, but I'm too lazy to tease it out.

Whatever the case, there is a rich case for a wide variety of vocal and even physical protest in the Scriptures. It seems that the typical pattern for protest is usually done by a few prophetic individuals that were called to protest in big ways (versus the usual American "power-mob" method). However, that massive "walkout" from Egypt was pretty impressive. The Church throughout history has had a colorful history/tradition of protest (ie. Protestants and Abolitionists) --- a rich history of silent suffering (ie. Pietists and Quakers) --- and a passion for Education (ie. Catholics and Methodists). But what should, could, might, would a Jesus follower on a UC campus on Thursday, September 24th 2009 do? Here's midnight-hour Top-Ten list I've whipped out to give voice to some viable Christian responses. Remember, whatever you do (or don't do) do all for the glory of God:

Top-Ten List of Potential Catholic/Protestant/Orthodox Responses to the UC Walkout"

1) Go to class as usual (just check in via prayer first to see if you are called to go by Jesus of Nazareth)

2) Walkout and speak out impartially about "unrepentant" self-righteous administrators AND unrighteous protest organizers --- cut both ways if need be --- most people don't stand up to aggressors (just prayerfully check in and listen if you are called to walkout or speakout by Jesus of Nazareth).

3) Speak out creatively and righteously saying, "Let my people go to school!" But, don't waste your breath preaching to any "non-Pharaohs"

4) Take some time alone to protest (pray) and cry out to the Living God and for California to be delivered from the financial "Babylon" she's being carried off into.

5) Speak up, respectfully, and boldly, with wise counsel to the "Kings and Queens" who control the University --- advocate specifically for our professors and students and staff in the UC system --- especially the "widows and orphans" in the system (aka "poor students"). Let your speech be seasoned with salt. Let it be powerful, loving, and wise (2 Tim 1:7). What if all 2-3k believers at Cal Tweeted our governor sound words today, ...that would surely get his attention!

6) If you feel led to attend someone's protest rally or office or "academic town hall" meeting and they won't receive you or listen to what you have to say in Jesus name --- "shake the dust off your feet" (leave physically) in protest; but, not like a self-righteous jerk (don't let your ego or power-politics drive you --- transcend these by asking the Lord where you should go and what you should say --- Jesus is your protest manager --- not "man").

7) NOTE: Most mass rallies and "mobs" are skillfully organized and orchestrated by trained, paid, very-experienced protest organizers --- don't get caught up in their agendas --- most are well meaning but short-sighted --- a few are hateful and want to destroy institutions for their own purposes --- listen on the fringe of crowds ---pray for wisdom/pray for the crowds --- talk and reason with fellow-students around you as the Lord gives you favor with them --- if you are a student leader of your college group, try to get up close and listen to what the little bands of protest organizers are whispering to one another --- if led by the Holy Spirit, ask respectfully if you can wait your turn and speak over their loudspeaker or bull-horn or to those gathered at other meetings they may host --- Jesus followers truly have something to say and have the wits to say it well --- this isn't about co-opting or taking over someone elses meeting --- it's about winsomely speaking the Gospel verbally into open free speech forums --- and creatively and powerfully offering the hope that only the Gospel brings into dire situations --- wait patiently and look organizers in the eye if they selfishly want to control and censure yours and others free speech --- befriend them --- treat them like zealots who need to be won over (like Jesus won over Peter & Paul) --- Jesus taught more about money and economics than any other topic --- Jesus and his followers have something to say --- Christ-followers can offer timely hope and wisdom. Whatever you do, go out two-by-two for a variety of reasons, especially if you want to speak with protest leaders.

***some of the beautiful examples of Christian student responses to protests at UC Berkeley are captured in the following 8 minute video --- Recently, Peter Umino (see short clip at the 7:30min mark) waited 2+ hours in line in the sun after being refused again and again by the organizers to speak to the crowds --- the students controlling the mike finally ran out of excuses to ban his hope-filled message from Sproul steps --- the words that came out of his mouth were extraordinary; God inspired him and he spoke with power and eloquence. To watch go to: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d9cvk7WUPB0

9) Be "Salt & Light" and simply "show up" wherever the crowds go --- Jesus modeled this to us --- be safe by always being aware of your surroundings --- let the Lord lead you --- light shines brightest in darkness --- these are dark days for the UC system --- Jesus went where the people were --- ask Him where the people are he wants you to be with during the Walkout --- don't hide yourself under a bushel --- at the very least call up a brother or a sister and pray in 2's or 3's on campus near where the action is ("be in it but not of it"). Or, organize a coffee or dinner group of your friends and classmates and talk about what the issues beneath the issues are (ie. the deeper issues that are behind the walkout like fear, anxiety, angst, personal peace & happiness, materialism, greed, etc.).

10) If you are a senior leader, call together your faith community to pray for an hour altogether (probably best in a private or semi-private location) --- intercede for your university --- cry out to God for your campus, for the peoples of your school, for your own lives as well, ...like the Children of Israel prayed when they were threatened, ...pray like a farmer prays for rain during a drought. Ask God for wisdom and mercy. Everyone will be affected by the impending budget cuts, believers alike (This is personal to me, I'll have two daughters and a son-in-law attending UC's next fall, Lord willing).

BONUS ITEM: Lastly, throughout the day and the weeks ahead (in person or online) look for opportunities to speak the Gospel into conversations while walking around, over dinner, during late night study sessions, etc. Because, the bottom line is: no one has the answers except the Lord. The deeper problems that have caused all the financial problems, that have caused all the proposed faculty cuts and tuition hikes, are spiritual problems, ...they are deep real spiritual problems that only have spiritual solutions. The UC system needs a Savior --- and his name isn't Manna or Arnold. Pray for God to raise up righteous men and women to lead us through these difficult times. Pray for God to raise you up for such a time as this.

The most essential question to ask is, "What is Jesus' beautiful vision for UC Berkeley and the rest of California's UC system?" He has a dream for it and it's better than ours; let's work and pray together to catch His vision, ...and then "walkout" in it. -dc

The Curran Events: SEPTEMBER 2009 ~ Focus on Daniel’s Ministries

2009-09-19T22:18:00.000-07:00

SUMMER RECAP

Bible Study Methods Coach: Daniel was in Colorado for 3 weeks this June teaching a section of CCC’s Bible Study Methods Course to a group of 15 new Campus Crusade missionaries from UCSB, UCLA, UC Davis and other schools. He loved the opportunity to use his master’s degree! The students learned how to write their own curriculum by studying Ephesians 2 in depth. He enjoyed daily appointments with 2-3 of his students over lunch where they discussed what it means to fully follow Christ (class photo - center above)

Colorado State New Staff Commissioning: Daniel LOVED getting the opportunity to preach and facilitate a commissioning service for over 200+ new CCC missionaries --- using Mathew 28:18- 20 as his text (praying with his class of students above). God spoke through him with power that morning, ...what a privilege (see pic above)

“ ...teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” - Jesus to The Twelve + The Women (Matthew 28:16-20)

Trusting God for a CCC Staff Team at San Jose State: God called Daniel for the past 2 years to a difficult assignment, …to serve as an intercessor, coach, and advocate for the 100% student-led movement at San Jose State University. It’s been growing by leaps and bounds. He had a call from God to work and pray for the right CCC staff to come to SJSU for “such a time as this”. The movement had grown so large it could easily get unwieldy for future student leaders. It’s been over 15 years since CCC staff have been at SJSU. God so faithfully answered. This Fall there is a team of 5 staff at SJSU!! (see picture at top left above)

A New Position for Daniel this Fall, …GradCru at UC Berkeley: Daniel has the opportunity to pioneer a new mission at UC Berkeley. He’s trusting God to see spiritual movements happen amidst the 10,000 grad students at Cal. They range from 2-year MBA students to 5 or 6-year astrophysics PhD students. He’s met a handful of grad students already who have a fire in their hearts. He is asking God to help him find and introduce as many Christian grad students to one another as possible. He’s starting by planting Groups of Three (G3’s). The first week, 1 G3 was started with a Nuclear Engineer, a Real Estate PhD and Transportation Engineer. The second week another G3 was started with a Sociology PhD, an Ethnic Studies PhD and an Anthropology of Religion masters student. Two more G3’s look to begin, too. He’s so encouraged by God’s faithfulness and graciousness to him as he starts this new work. It will be hard and take a lot of work.

“Not striving to have faith, or to increase my faith but a looking at the Faithful One seems all we need. A resting in the Loved One entirely, for time, for eternity.” -John McCarthy in a letter to Hudson Taylor, 1869.

Bay Area New Staff Field-Training: Daniel continues to serve as the Bay Area Field-Training Coordinator. He’ll be hosting a monthly Training Day for all our new CCC staff (UC Davis, CAL, SJSU and SFSU). Our first training day was last week at Cal and we’re off to a good start…

Looking ahead: Daniel will be heading down to Southern California for his 30th high school reunion on Oct 10th. He hopes to re-friend and minister to many of his classmates & connect with many of you who reside down there. He’s also been asked to be the fall retreat speaker for the University of Washington and will be in the Seattle Area Oct. 27-Nov 2nd. He plans to see as many Seattle friends as possible, too (feel free to contact him)

Next Month: Focus on Margee’s Ministries!

Prayer Requests:

1. Please pray for vision & perseverance for Daniel as he starts up GradCru from scratch. CCC does not currently have a national strategy for reaching & discipling graduate students.

2. Pray for God’s grace for Daniel meet 1 new grad student a day; FTF, online, facebook, etc., and for Groups of Three (G3’s) to grow exponentially!!!

Jesus’ Peace to you, Daniel (& Margee)

Daniel & Margee Curran <> 106 Appalachian Drive, Martinez, CA 94553

The June/July 2009 Curran Events

2009-07-13T20:06:00.000-07:00

The June/July 2009 Curran Events
...an amazing and challenging year so far!

I thank my God in all my remembrance of you,
always offering prayer with joy in my every prayer for you all,
in view of your participation in the gospel from the first day until now.
For I am confident of this very thing, that He who began a good work in you will perfect it until the day of Christ Jesus. Philippians 1:3-6

Please pray for us this summer:

1. Safe travels for everyone in our family
2. To keep our eyes on Jesus
3. To be a fragrant aroma of Jesus everywhere the Lord takes us

Athletes in Action Spring Leadership Retreat - Martinez/CA On April 4-5 we hosted a 24-hour retreat for the busy Berkeley AIA leadership team. It was a great time of hearing from Scott Mottice of AIA about AIA’s vision and purpose. We ate great food, laughed, played some mean games of mafia, hosted a men’s sleepover at our house (the girls were at another home) and just enjoyed each others company!!

Korean Campus Crusade Spring Conference - Santa Cruz/CA Daniel headed to Mission Springs in the Santa Cruz mountains to speak on “How to be Filled with the Holy Spirit”. He had a great time ministering to the KCCC students and staff at their first NorCal conference. God is doing an amazing work amongst Korean college students in NorCal!

World Wide Day of Prayer, Martinez - CA Twice a year Campus Crusade hosts a Day of prayer where we as staff gather to seek the Lord and pray for HIM to move in the world. In October we offered to host it in our home for staff in the Bay Area (Stanford, Berkeley, SFSU) and Davis. It was so much fun that we offered to host it again in April. It is really encouraging to be with other Campus Crusade staff for prayer and fellowship- so needed.

St Mary’s College, Moraga - CA- Daniel met Christine, a St. Mary’s freshmen in the Fall. She had a heart for starting a women’s AIA Bible study. Dan went to St Mary’s a few times to train her, pray with her and encourage her. In late April he made a guest appearance at the Bible study and was so encouraged to see that God has grown it into 6-7 women who met weekly to study the word, pray and enjoy each other’s fellowship.

Bridges International - Sacramento & Los Altos/CA is Campus Crusade’s Ministry to international students. Daniel had the privilege of giving a devotional to a national training of their staff on April 2 in Sacramento. He then traveled down to Foothill College to speak to a team of Bridges international students on a spring break mission on the Spirit filled life.

Diablo Valley College - Pleasant Hill/CA- God has grown a faithful little band of students at Diablo Valley College across the street from Hannah & Hope’s High School. They are praying on campus each Tuesday night @9pm this summer. Dan thinks the ministry is the healthiest it has ever been- it is all student run!!

Cal Poly - San Luis Obispo/CA- Dan had a WILD trip to Cal Poly in late April!! He had been invited to speak at the AIA meeting. He happened to head down there the day a tour bus overturned and HWY 101 was closed for several hours. After a stressful 6-hour drive, He arrived 1 minute before he was to speak! Phew. While in San Luis Obispo, he received 2 more invitations to speak on the following 2 evenings: once at the Cuesta Community College CRU meeting and once at EPIC (CCC’s ministry to Asian Americans) Dan LOVES showing up and making himself available for Jesus to use!! He just went back to Cal Poly 2 weeks ago to visit David and had soooo much fun leading a Dead Missionary Society meeting with David and 2 of his friends. (kind of like Dead Poets Society except they read excerpts from missionary biographies)

New Staff on the Field Trainings - SF Bay Area Daniel hosted 3 “Training Days” for new staff and interns this Spring in the Bay Area, at UC Berkeley, SF State, and the last one was at UC Davis. They had a rich time discussing the Spirit-filled life, the Great Commision, and prayer. Then praying and going out at lunchtime prayerwalking and talking to students about Christ.

Cal State East Bay - Hayward/CA: Dan got a call from a Cal State East Bay student who wanted to see Campus Crusade come back to his campus. Two weeks ago Dan headed over there with Lemuel White who he’s been mentoring and met Alexander Troung. While they were talking, they ran into Jerry Wong (who was in China with Margee in the summer of 1985) who had gone to Dan’s seminar at the Bay Area Sunday School conference on ministry planting. Jerry just happened to be on campus practicing what he had learned!! Jerry and Alexander met with Daniel, prayed and a new Campus ministry at Cal State East Bay was born! Isn’t God GOOD?!?

Therefore, my beloved brethren, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your toil is not in vain in the Lord. 1 Cor. 15:58

CURRAN SUMMER PLANS

Institute of Biblical Studies - Colorado State University Daniel arrived in Colorado on June 17. He trained 15 new staff from our region in Bible Study Methods for 2 weeks. They all attend a lecture, then spend an hour every morning with Daniel in a Coaching Group in Ephesians 2:1-10. And he meets with 3-4 of them over lunch for mentoring (then spends 5 hours every night grading papers!

Summer AIA - Berkeley/CA- We go into Berkeley each Wednesday in June and July for the Summer AIA meetings. We are alternating one week Dinner and games (that’s the week I make the dinner) and one week Dinner and Bible Study. Last week was our first meeting and we played some mean games of mafia. The fellowship and camaraderie are so needed.

Ocean City Summer Project - Ocean City/NJ: David is in Ocean City this summer on the Campus Crusade summer project. Jesus provided a job for him as a surf instructor at the Fellowship of Christian Athletes surf camp. He will be working with his friend, Danny Sylvester who he met on the OC project when they were 20 months old!! They became fast friends there in the summer of 2001 when they were 11. Isn’t that so gracious of the Lord?

National Staff Conference - Ft. Collins Colorado Dan, Hope, Hannah and I will all head to Ft. Collins, Colorado from July 21-30 for CCC’s bi-annual staff conference.

Junior Olympics Women’s Water Polo – San Jose/CA Hannah’s Water Polo Team has been selected to compete in the Junior Olympics this summer --- Hannah was also selected to be a part of the Olympic Development program earlier this year --- pray for Hannah and what this might mean for her future and her choice of college, already some top 10 school coaches have been in touch with her: San Jose State, UC Davis and Stanford

Curran Family Reunion & Vacation – Black Butte/OR a family friend has graciously loaned their vacation home so we can all be together as a family with Ebey’s new (and wonderful) husband John and family from Margee’s MacFarland Clan – Pray for our ever-changing family dynamics and the challenges of getting us all together!

Far Western’s Women’s Swimming – San Jose/CA? Hope may be heir to her mother’s swimming career as she is earning fast times for her age, …she is swimming in Junior Nationals this weekend and may elect to compete in the big end of the summer meet in mid-august called “Far Westerns”

Please pray for us this summer:
1. Safe travels for everyone in our family
2. To keep our eyes on Jesus
3. To be a fragrant aroma of Jesus everywhere the Lord takes us

Daniel & Margee Curran

Martinez, CA 94553

(510) 290-8134

…serving with Campus Crusade for Christ, Intl.

Our CCC mission donation portal: https://give.ccci.org/give/View/0259597

“Shoot for the Moon Locally & Hit a Mars Hill, … reflections on CCC@UW and the beginnings of Mars Hill Seattle”

2009-07-05T21:00:00.000-07:00

Dedicated to: D.J. Jenkins, and other CCC MTL’s whom the Spirit seems to have put “a wild hare up their arses” to see an increase of missional churches happen for their college and university disciples. I've respectfully drafted this essay in response to a wise observation DJ has made about college and university town church partnerships on: http://brianbarela.typepad.com/the_necessary_things/2009/06/insight-from-a-church-planter.html#comments

Dear D.J. --- I want to encourage you to go with the "impression" you are getting from CCC’s National leadership. Go for it man, ...figure out church-partnerships locally. It sounds like you have a kairos opportunity in your backyard --- again I say, "go for it". And, at the same time I want to encourage you to simultaneously “shoot for the moon” in another arena --- in terms of fostering as many local pastoral friendships as you can --- for the sake of your students and The Gospel. God will show you what to do in the situation he has uniquely called you into; and, you will be forever grateful for offering your “two loaves and three fishes”.

Some back-story: Mark Driscoll originally proposed forming an exclusive partnership with CCC@UW to plant an on-campus church that would meet in U of W's amazing Husky Union Building, …affectionately called “The HUB”. Gratefully, the day we met to discuss his ideas, I heard a little voice inside me strongly saying, "Tell Mark not to partner with CCC --- a partnership will slow him down --- God's hand is on this young man --- he needs the freedom to do his own thing --- don't tie him down with verbal promises he'll one day need to break --- you need to back him up 100% in what he's doing and chart a course for students to be involved both in Mars Hill & CCC at the same time --- CCC needs the freedom to partner with an unlimited number of Christ-centered churches and not just Mars Hill --- nip any future folly in the bud that could put student leaders in a position of where they will have to “choose” between their local churches and their campus ministries --- covenant with Mark to find ways CCC students can be involved simultaneously in CCC, and a Local Church, and a local Church college group for their entire college career".

D.J., it’s my opinion that local church partnerships (ie. if they are styled after CCC's WSN partnerships overseas) are untenable for most CCC staff to forge, develop, and maintain; even with their own local church, esp with multiple churches! Partnerships are by their very nature viewed by both parties as contractual; they quickly become political –especially when money, calendaring, and student leadership distribution are made prime issues; and, they require hours and hours of relational energy and extra meetings you really don’t have time for.

A much more viable and attractive (more Biblical?) alternative to "building Church Partnerships" is something I call "fostering Pastoral Networks". I believe CCC has been called by God to be more than just an M28 Discipleship Movement. God has also called CCC to be an interdenominational missional renewal movement that “makes every effort to preserve the unity of the Spirit” on the local level (Ephesians 4:1-6). One of your(our) missionary callings is help your(our) local peers and colleagues to become authentic “fellow workers” (Biblical Greek = “synergos”). Therefore, the onus is on every CCC staff missionary to take the lead in fostering high-trust relational "synergistic" networks amongst all their colleagues in their respective college towns and campus mission fields (ie. senior pastors, college pastors, church planters, IVCF/Nav staff, etc).

One of my greatest joys during my season at the University of Washington was to host “The Greater Seattle College Pastors Network" a series of 6-7 gatherings over the course of a few years --- that eventually spawned into two consecutive Labor Day Weekend College Conferences at the end of the summers of 1994 & 1995 which Mark attended, brought his student leaders to, and where he got to meet and befriend other pastors who shared his heart for the University of Washington. To watch Mark and others form "iron sharpens iron" friendships, to see their attitudes towards one another soften, and to get to advocate for Mark on number of occasions was a real privilege.

I didn't have (and don't have) a close relationship with Mark --- but some of my students, …especially Chris Kuntzen did --- I didn't really understand what kind of "hare [Mark] had up his arse" about starting a campus church -or for that matter what a campus church was in the first place! --- By the grace of God, I clearly understand my kairos role was to believe in and befriend Mark (who was not well liked by some key people) --- I affirmed his call to pastor and teach and create a church to reach a new generation --- I held a conviction I was supposed to work and pray and advocate not only for his "success", ...but for the success of all other Kingdom-minded college ministers --- and the rest is history. It's very important to note that Mars Hill: http://www.marshillchurch.org/ wasn't the only church-plant or college ministry CCC students assisted in planting during the 90’s in Seattle --- there were many, many others.

I've come to appreciate the small roles God has called me to play over the years with a variety of church and ministry planters -many of whom I'm still in touch with today. I see myself primarily as a Jesus Person with a call to serve as a campus missionary. And, part of that calling is be a true friend to the local college pastors God has sovereignly put in my path, young and old, quasi-conservative and quasi-liberal, funky and professional. My only qualification (which is a deal breaker for me) is that they are at their core, ...a radical Jesus person. Collegiate spiritual leadership development is my primary “industry” by the will of God, ...but, befriending, encouraging and sending my students into church-plants and college ministry-plants is one of my favorite hobbies! As I've indulged myself in my hobby it seems to bear extraordinary Kingdom fruit:

1) 7-8 different Seattle Area College Groups & Church Plants

2) New Church Berkeley (PCA Church-Plant)

3) Mosaic Berkeley (Southern Baptist Church-plant)

4) Veritas Fellowship (Graduate Student Ministry-Plant)

5) Grace-Period (Campus Ministry Re-Plant)

6) College Life (PCA College Ministry Plant)

7) Regeneration Church (Calvary Chapel Church-Plant)

8) Christ Church Berkeley & RUF (Church/Ministry-Plant)

9) DVCUnited (Interdenominational Campus Ministry Plant)

10) The Commons (Covenant Church Young Adult/College Group Plant)

11) Several new church plants in the San Jose/South Bay Area

My favorite experience was my first church-plant venture; where I had the extraordinary privilege of serving as an alpha visionary and advocate for planting University Bible Church, an IFBC Church Plant in Pocatello Idaho: http://www.universitybible.org/ where basically God impressed on me the idea to see my 200 member semi-suburban church re-plant itself in the middle of the Idaho State University campus via moving into the recently vacated A-frame Ecumenical Center (picture at top of blog). 900 worshippers later, hundreds of pastors and missionaries sent-out later, using the largest university auditorium on campus for it’s Sunday services later, University Bible Church is I guess what Mark Driscoll would call a "Campus Church".

Here's the wisdom underneath all the hype: UBC was NOT a partnership (neither was Mars Hill), ...it was about good, healthy, solid local pastoral relationships; high-trust friendships between CCC campus missionaries (me, Chris Knutzen Mike Gunn, John Rodgers, Kirt Henman, Kevin Pettit and others) and two local pastors: Mike Powell & Mark Driscoll. Oh, and in case you wonder, "yes" I'm intentionally trying to be cool like Mark "the cussing pastor" and cowboy pastor Mike who used to say "crap" in his sermons every now and then. I've carefully used the Irish idiom “wild hare up their arse” to vividly illustrate what apostolic unction looks like in His servants when the Holy Spirit calls them to start something new for the sake of Gospel.

As I look back over my 25 year missionary career, I'm filled with great joy that on a few occasions I was sober-minded enough to hear the whispers of the Holy Spirit in my ear about Jesus' beautiful vision for His Church. It's been an honor to encourage each of these men and others, to shoot for the moon. It was a matter of pure, strategic, prophetic missionary obedience --- brother to brother --- between one colleague and another --- in the spirit and style of Barnabus. God gets all the glory for blessing Idaho State University & the University of Washington each with their own "Mars Hill". Jesus gets all the glory for enriching the Gospel environment for my college & university students with more missional churches. And, the Holy Spirit gets ever increasing glory as both UBC and MHC have both become church-planting churches -each sending out an ever growing number of satellite churches that are orbiting within their solar systems. Whatever the case, if you haven't figured it out by now, Mike and Mark weren't the only ones who had a "hare up their you know where". There was also was this certain tall, Irish, campus missionary who had one, too (and still does). -dc

"...the world has yet to see what God can do with an ever expanding relational network of college pastors and missionaries whose hearts are fully His."

*What do you think is better for discipling todays college & university students: formal church partnerships? ...or relational pastoral networks between local pastors and campus missionaries? --- Working on this issue is priority Kingdom work for our generation. Everyone welcome to make comments by clicking "comments" below.

Speak Up Prince

2009-06-26T19:05:00.000-07:00

"Speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves, for the rights of all who are destitute. Speak up and judge fairly; defend the rights of the poor and needy."
-Proverbs 31:8-9 (an Oracle of King Lemuel's Mother)

Hand Over Mouth

2009-06-25T21:55:00.000-07:00

"If you have played the fool and exalted yourself, or if you have planned evil, clap your hand over your mouth!"
-Proverbs 30: 32

Snare Safe

2009-06-08T12:04:00.000-07:00

"Fear of man

will prove to be a snare,

but whoever trusts

in the LORD

is kept safe."

-Proverbs 29:25

"Not Reaping Because We Didn't Sow, ...Reflections on CCC's (Under)Developed Missiology"

2009-06-03T10:50:00.000-07:00

Healthy soul-searching and self-criticism after a season of work is good for a campus missionaries heart, mind, and soul. This year I developed a new friendship with Brian Barela, a hip, young, social-networky campus minister at Chico State. I like how Brian's UCLA-trained brain thinks. I like the big questions Brian is asking. The following is in response to one he just posted on his blog:
http://brianbarela.typepad.com/the_necessary_things/2009/06/the-way-forward-as-a-win-strategy.html --- Welcome to Brian's (and my) world!

CCC’s U.S. Campus Ministries growth in terms of increasing and retaining premium missional leadership plateaued at our finest universities during the past 20 years (like a bird population that stopped growing because there weren’t enough tree holes to build new nests). On the surface there weren’t enough open leadership ”slots” for new missionaries to function “apostolically”; however, underneath this phenomenon was a profound “quenching” the Spirit.

For the past 20 years CCC has naively developed 2 categories for discipleship (“Win” & “Build”). We fed one and starved the other. Fundraising and campus efforts have focused on evangelizing the “whole” campus homogeneously via mono-movements (or catalytically creating more mono-movements on 2nd-tier schools and community colleges). In the process we’ve naively done violence to the ways God has sovereignly designed the university’s sociology. Consequently we’ve hit a wall. To their credit our national leadership has been reading missional church theology (ie. Darrell Guder), comparing notes with church-planting movement practitioners (ie. Southern Baptists), and listening to our best critics (ie. George Barna).

Over the past 20 years CCC "lost" an inordinate number of its most promising staff and student leadership to genX/emergent expressions of church, new church planting movements, and to overseas mission agencies (WSN, others). God has been in control and is growing his church. However, this leadership flight was NOT due to a strategic “sending” strategy by CCC; but rather by default (and the Spirit disciplining us). This left behind a dearth of staff leadership on the field and regional levels who were good faithful classic ministry managers vs. cutting-edge outside-the-box missionary entrepreneurs. Basically, we failed to see the university as God has designed it: comprised of hundreds of "people groups" versus "one campus”. Maybe we need to change our name from U.S. Campus Ministry (singular) - to U.S. Campus Ministries (plural) as a token act of repentance...

Many of our best missionaries, because of how God designed them, were compelled to flee U.S. movements because of our systemic issues. Sadly, on their way out the door to new fields, they literally stepped over thousands of unreached student groups at our finest universities. The consequences of 50+ years of not continuing to press in and discover ways to "make disciples" within the "10/40 Windows" at America’s finest schools is mind-boggling when you think about it. I’m glad we’re waking up.

[Brian is in Ocean City/NJ training 120 student leaders this summer] What if you [Brian] equipped and commissioned all the project students at Ocean City to pray for, identify, "disciple", and plant simple churches amongst all the unreached student groups at Ocean City this summer? (is. Russian students, college lifeguards, local HS kids, international students living in the same boarding house, Penn State students living all summer in The Gardens section of town) ...instead of primarily "reaching the beach" and "hitting the boardwalk". The OC project could be an terrific context to address CCC's immature missiology --- or just another venue that perpetuates it.

To read a primer about a compelling, holistic, missiological option for CCC and other campus ministries visit: http://www.friendofmissional.org/ Grace, mercy, and peace to us.

WorkLand

2009-06-01T17:16:00.000-07:00

"He who works his land

will have abundant food,

but the one who chases fantasies

will have his fill of poverty."

-Proverbs 28:19

Another Mouth

2009-05-30T06:16:00.000-07:00

"Let another praise you,

and not your own mouth;

someone else,

and not your own lips."

-Proverbs 27:2

Out of Berkeley: "Jed The Life-Giver"

2009-05-22T22:19:00.000-07:00

Out of Berkeley: Jed was a Berkeley grad student whose life had a viral-impact on countless people and communities for good. His compassionate heart and brilliant mind were stoked by his ever-transforming soul. Jed was more of a colleague than student in the campus community I worked with. However, there was this fun, brief season during the first year of Cal's VERITAS Fellowship when I had the privilege of mentoring Jed a bit; ...during that time he taught me much more than I taught him!

PhD students like Jed move quickly and grow exponentially. Since he left UC Berkeley in the early 2000's he's been frozen in time in my mind. Over the years I've heard wonderful secondhand reports of his contributions as a new professor here and there. But a few weeks ago I got an email update from him and this beautiful picture of his family ---that it unfroze everything for me!

Jed has not stopped growing (in any area!) A soul like Jed's can't be frozen in time nor stay static --- it's nature is dynamic; and it multiplies! Jed embodies what a Berkeley student is when they are fully alive in Jesus Christ. He is one of a growing number of "faith-full" academics in this generation who add value to the world because of their holistic approach to life and work

It was a honor to be his friend during my early years at Cal; and it brought me great joy to hear from him again. Jed's story is one of many tales of abundant life coming out of UC Berkeley. And, hopefully this marks the first in a series of reflections I'll be writing entitled: "Out of Berkeley".

Some of my fondest memories of Jed at Cal were:

1) letters from Monico Ortiz a student friend I mentored at UW/Seattle who came to grad school at Cal. He wrote about this crazy PhD student from MIT who had a beautiful passion for people of all cultures, ...and who was committed to excellence in both his faith and academics.

2) Jed's his forbearing spirit as an alpha member a new Westminster House community, his outgoing activism around campus, ...and his "Big White Van"

3) the encouraging, catalytic vision he brought to the Berkeley Postmodern Summer Project of 1999

4) this wacky after-dark People’s Park venture Jed offered himself to be in the middle of (all these undergrads out after dark - loving on the local homeless population)

5) his brilliant VERITAS Forum seminar on "Life" and his contagious spirit about molecular machines (esp viruses) that radically changed my concept of life's basic forms and design: http://www.veritas.org/media/talks/179

6) taking me up to his bio-chemistry laboratory and humbly referring to a poster up on the wall by the elevator; if I recall correctly, it was a published code he had helped discover or define, ...that could be used to find a cure for a particuliar strain of HIV

7) and his beautiful wedding and how amazed Margee and I were at this gathering of so many brilliant brains -all in one place!

Most of all, I recall with fondness the gift of his life-giving spirit; it simply overflowed from inside him. One day over espresso at Cafe Strada I happened to discover the "code" of Jed's life. It stunned me with it's simplicity and I've never gotten over it. He leaned over and drew a circle on a piece of paper -then he wrote something inside the circle.

He had written down 4 words with quotes around them that read, “to live is Christ”. I looked down at it for a minute and asked, "is that all man?". It seemed too short and childlike to be something coming from a guy like Jed, plus he had borrowed the quote from someone else’s writing! I began to protest there must be more to his personal DNA than that! He kindly stated "that's it Dan, nothing more". Given who Jed was, and and who he was becoming, his life statement was profound.

Today Jed has a growing family and a heart for kids who don't have a family of their own. He's an assistant professor and head of a research group that is doing pioneer research in the nature of molecular machines and the pathways of their physical motion. My take on Jed is that he's doing top-notch reesearch about life in its basic forms ---fueled by his vision of bringing healing and hope to the peoples of the world. Jed is a one of the life-giving students I've had the privilege of working with who has come "out of Berkeley".

Note: Please help me improve the integrity and texture of Jed's story. Send me your corrections & feedback by clicking the "comments" hyperlink below:

Enemy Feeder

2009-05-21T09:38:00.000-07:00

"If your enemy is hungry,

give him food to eat;

if he is thirsty,

give him water to drink."

-Proverbs 25:21

Perishing Rescue

2009-05-20T16:49:00.000-07:00

"Rescue those being led away to death;

hold back those staggering toward slaughter."

-Proverbs 24:11

Fear-Zeal

2009-05-19T13:04:00.000-07:00

"Do not let your heart envy sinners,

but always be zealous for the fear of the LORD."

-Proverbs 23:17

Fool-proof Answers

2009-05-18T10:39:00.000-07:00

"Answer not a fool according to his folly,
lest you be like him yourself.

Answer a fool according to his folly,
lest he be wise in his own eyes."
-Proverbs 26:4-5 (ESV)

King Skilled

2009-05-17T11:46:00.000-07:00

"Do you see a man skilled in his work?

He will serve before kings;

he will not serve before obscure men."

-Proverbs 22:29

Poor Sleep

2009-05-16T19:33:00.000-07:00

"Do not love sleep

or you will grow poor;

stay awake and

you will have food to spare."

-Proverbs 20:13

Poor Lender

2009-05-15T16:17:00.000-07:00

"She who is kind to the poor lends to the LORD,

and He will reward her for what she has done."

-Proverbs 19:17

Drop a Dam Failure

2009-05-14T20:11:00.000-07:00

"Starting a quarrel is like breaching a dam;

so drop the matter before a dispute breaks out."

-Proverbs 17:14

God-Charged Success

2009-05-13T18:42:00.000-07:00

"Put God in charge of your work,

then what you've planned will take place."

-Proverbs 16:3

Tounge Tree of Life

2009-05-12T09:46:00.000-07:00

"The tounge that brings healing

is a tree of life,

but a deceitful tounge

crushes the spirit."

-Proverbs 15:4

Peace Heart

2009-05-11T10:12:00.000-07:00

"A heart at peace gives life to the body,
but envy rots the bones." -Proverbs 14:30

# 14 in a series of 31 posts for my kids, son-in-law & various key students

Spiritual Movements or Not Fit for the Manure Pile? v2.0

2009-04-14T09:30:00.000-07:00

I find myself asking the question lately, “Are we walking worthily in the calling with which we’ve been called?” -Ephesians 4:1 and "have we lost our saltiness and are not fit for the manure pile?" - Luke 14:35. For the past 4 years I’ve grown increasingly curious about the nature of spiritual movements. I've tried to “get wisdom” on the topic these past 2 summers by attending the Institute of Campus Revival & Awakening @ Yale University. It’s truly been an eye opening and bewildering experience hanging out at the epicenter of the 2nd Great Awakening with conservative, charismatic, Pentecostal and reformed believers --- all who posess a common heart for authentic Great-Commisional; all with a passion for renewal in the church and for wide-spread campus and societal transformation. All Godly people with visions of seeing Christ truly lifted up and glorified on every American college and university campuses. All so different in how they minister and approach campus ministry.

So, I guess this has become a new hobby of mine, ...identifying, tracking and understanding new spiritual movements on college campuses. Most of them are brilliant and fascinating (ie. Niel Cole & “The Organic Church Movement“; Jaeson Ma and “The Campus Church Movement”, “The Bethel Movement out Redding California”, “John Piper/Mark Driscoll and various reformed movements”, “KCCC & The Epic/Destino movements”, “The Berkland movement”, etc.). All of these movements have been very transformational for students who get involved with or influenced by them. All are extraordinarily diverse and all are growing rapidly and will I predict have global impact. Of course most of them don't agree with one another on a variety of touchy subjects. But, it's fascinating to me when I inspect them closely, how the Biblical fruit born in the lives of the students impacted by them is remarkably similar (and seems to be coming from the same "Vine").

Recently I’ve been lamenting that (some of) the various elements of Campus Crusade for Christ, InterVarsity, Navigators, and other life-giving national movements that have been so mightily used by God in the past ---are becoming too busy and void of the Supernatural; and too vested in maintaining many of their various programs, paradigms, and traditions (and are really not "moving" and reinventing themselves as is spiritually needed today). In all humility I confess that aspects of my own personal ministry and elements of CCC on all our major campuses are not manifesting the radical Kingdom supernatural characteristics of Spirit-led spiritual movements. It's so hard to get a qualitative analysis on this. The question, "Is something a spiritual movement?" is not sufficient; the question, "What KIND of a spiritual movement is this?" is probably more in the zone. ie. what is it's primary driving personality and power?

Given the spiritual hunger and thirst of today's college students, I think they need to be drinking from the KIND of Supernatural beverages Jesus calls "new wine" & "living water" ---as well as eating bread that is "true bread".

I see signs of new movements popping up all over the place from a variety of geographic epicenters and spiritual networks. All are seeking to address the soul-hunger of this generation. Unfortunately I also think this generation so hungry and naive that they are poised to
get taken for a ride by cultic personality-driven individuals and sucked into high-control movements that are not worthy of their lives. Spiritual leadership possessing great wisdom and discernment is needed for "such a time as this". Therefore, the bottom line question for today's thoughtful student leader and sincere campus minister is, "What kind of spiritual movement is truly needed today on campus?" Or in the words of J.I. Packer, "What seems to be needed is another Jesus movement...".

Looking for the Supernatural On Campus

2009-04-12T01:34:00.000-07:00

God's Spirit is on me; he's chosen me to preach the Message of good news to the poor, Sent me to announce pardon to prisoners and recovery of sight to the blind, To set the burdened and battered free, to announce, "This is God's year to act!" He rolled up the scroll, handed it back to the assistant, and sat down. Every eye in the place was on him, intent. Then he started in, "You've just heard Scripture make history. It came true just now in this place." -Jesus of Nazareth (Luke 4:18-20 - Isaiah 61:1,2)

There's all this clamoring for attention on campus. Everyone wants a piece of the universities soul. Myriads of leaders, clubs and causes all vying for position and power. If they really thought about it, ...who they are really looking for is Jesus. Most don't know who He is. Most have never encountered him. Most looking for Him all the wrong places. Most miss Him by a mile, even most Christian groups. All this whirlwind of activity, ...much of which will not last or matter much in in this life or the Next.

There's a hunger and thirst in the souls of today's college students that is off-the-charts. They are searching for Jesus, but they are not aware it's Jesus they are looking for. This quiet desperation is fueled by intellectual angst, cultural emptiness, and father-mother-hunger . These days are an uprecidented time for the Gospel (on campus and off). So, it's not business as usual for campus ministers. I've been pulling out and dusting off the basics ("the radicals") again. I've experimenting lately with fully letting Him live His live in and through me in the power of the Holy Spirit and I've been humbled. I'm beginning to see stuff happen in me and on campus that can only be explained as supernatural.

So this April, I've asking myself, "Where are Jesus and His followers "making history" on campus these days?" "Where are Jesus' disciples on campus breaking out their churches and campus ministries and manifesting Jesus' attractiveness, Jesus' holiness, and Jesus' supernatural good works?" Pay attention, the Spirit of the Living God is upon us and we've been sent by the Holy Spirit to preach, free, heal, and announce "This is God's year to act!" I feel like I've been holding back during my past career as a campus minister ----I feel like now is the time to pull out the stops. I feel like we are on the verge of something extraordinary happening in our day and age. Let's lean into it.

Amazing April --- Walk Around Campus Eyes Wide Open

2009-04-03T07:54:00.000-07:00

"April is Amazing" - There's a powerful spiritual convergence that happens on college campuses in April like no other month of the year. April is beautiful and memorable. Don't miss it. Jesus comes to campus in April!

April is post spring break and Easter season. It's boys and girls walking around in full bloom in every way imaginable. College community is at it's peak, campus clubs and living groups are in their prime, ...and everyone is strutting their stuff. It's sweet month to go-for-it relationally and socially. April is a rich season because Jesus weaves college memories for you that will last a lifetime.

It's a month to say all you've been wanting to say. It's a month to love with all your heart those you've been yearning to love. It's a month to allow Jesus of Nazareth to walk around campus in you and through you ---in the power of His beautiful Holy Spirit. April is a time to live it out and risk it all. Don't miss it! Everything unravells during finals. Everything dissapates over summer break. Walk around campus with eyes wide open. Jesus is on campus! Jesus is inside. Jesus is what makes April so Amazing.

The March/April Curran Events ! ! !

2009-03-25T18:04:00.000-07:00

The Curran Events --- March/April 2009 -by Margee

“let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven.” -Matthew 5:16

San Diego Winter Conference ! ! ! The conference was life changing for many of the SJSU students in the areas of leadership development, vision, outreach and growth. San Jose State brought over 30 students to Winter Conference. San Jose State students were in charge of leading prayer for the conference each morning. 60-70 people would come early in the morning to pray. The highlight for Daniel was a talk given by Rick James where Rick offered the audience an opportunity to come forward to renew their vows to Jesus. Hundreds came forward. It was very powerful. Another highlight was having David attend as a Cal Poly student. He and 3 friends shared a tiny little room and LOVED being part of the conference. Daniel gave 2 seminars on discovering the Spirit- filled life. Each seminar drew bout 100 students. Daniel never tires of giving this talk!

Please pray for us: That we would allow Jesus to fill & direct us in campus ministry

Please pray for our kids & students: Ebey + John, David, Hannah & Hope and for all the students in Athletes in Action @ UC Berkeley to live Matthew 5:16 and to: “let their lights shine before men, that others may see their gooddeeds and praise their Father in heaven.” -Matthew 5:16 (paraphrase)

Daniel’s speaking engagements: Jesus has provided some really wonderful opportunities for Daniel to speak to, encourage and be encouraged by bands of believers in the Bay Area and beyond. He started off the semester giving a talk on the Spirit filled life at UC Davis’s AIA meeting. He then did a 3- part series on the Uniqueness of Jesus for the AIA Students at CAL in January and early February. At the same time he also did a 3 part series on WIN-BUILD-SEND for the CRU students at Berkeley. He had the blessing of also speaking at the West Coast EPIC Conference (CCC’s ministry to Asian Americans). He just presented 3 workshops at the BASS Conference in Castro Valley. He currently has invitations to speak at AIA at Cal Poly SLO, to the Korean Campus Crusade for Christ Spring Conference and to the Bridges Ministry to international students in Sacramento. In addition to speaking, Daniel is also hosting 3 “New Staff on the Field Trainings” for new staff and interns on the San Francisco State, UC Berkeley and UC Davis campuses. Daniel LOVES his time “on the road” ministering to and with the body of Christ.

James Besser: Cal Rugby player, AIA student leader Daniel has really enjoyed his times on the Berkeley campus with James, a CAL rugby player. They often meet over breakfast and sometimes do a “mini chapel” before James’ has a game. Daniel has loved learning about rugby, going to some of his games, praying for him and supporting him in his ministry and sport.

ATHLETES in ACTION at Berkeley Daniel and I have so enjoyed our times with the CAL athletes. We continue to travel in to Berkeley each Wednesday night for their weekly meeting. It has been fun to hear from some of our old Campus Crusade friends who have spoken at the AIA meetings: John Bruce and Andy Fitzgerald who are both serving as local pastors! 5 AIA students and I volunteered with SF Habitat for Humanity last week. It was GREAT to serve side by side!! Another fun aspect of ministering to athletes is that we can go “cheer them on” in their matches, games and meets!! Daniel and I saw our first lacrosse game a few weeks ago!!Margee and AIA

GIRLS TIME: THURSDAYS Kristyn Giesel and I prepare dinners for the girls and have a great time fellowshipping, studying the word and praying with the AIA women who show up each week. Right before Valentines Day we hosted a “bridal shower” for the group, focusingon what it means to be the bride of Christ. We had dinner, played a few bridal shower games and then took a look at how much our bridegroom JESUS loves each one of us. The following week, Kristyn’s husband, Jon (a former CAL football player) and his friend Jerry fielded questions the girls had about dating and relationships. It was great to hear their perspective. We have just begun to study Jesus’ I AM statements in the book of John. I LOVE being a part of this ministry to the AIA women at CAL. Kristyn and I are currently mentoring some of the girls involved what a privilege. I am still pinching myself that Jesus opened WIDE the doors for me to work with this group!!

Love, Margee

Gleaning Money

2009-03-23T13:41:00.000-07:00

"Dishonest money dwindles away, but he who gathers money little by little makes it grow" -Proverbs 13:11

Heart Weight

2009-03-23T13:23:00.000-07:00

"All a man's ways seem right to him, but the Lord weights the heart." -Proverbs 21:2

Fruit of the Lips

2009-03-19T22:09:00.000-07:00

"From the fruit of his lips a man is filled with good things as surely as the work of his hands rewards him." -Proverbs 12: 14

Secret Keeper

2009-03-19T21:37:00.000-07:00

"A gossip betrays a confidence,

but a trustworthy wo(man) keeps a secret.

-Proverbs 11:13

Proud Fall

2009-03-03T20:08:00.000-08:00

"Before his downfall

a man's heart is proud,

but humility comes before honor."

-Proverbs 18: 12

Muzzle Sin, Hold Tongue

2009-02-19T21:16:00.000-08:00

"Sin is not ended by multiplying words,

but the prudent hold their tongues"

-Proverbs 10:19

Spur One Another On!

2008-12-18T09:21:00.000-08:00

Margee, tells me that I'm amazing when my eyes are off myself. Why? Because I'm freed up to flow into the lives of other people. This eyes-off-self approach to life, ...is a life-giving, no-regrets way to be.

"Let us consider how we may spur one another on
toward love and good deeds. Let us not give up meeting together,
as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another
-and all the more as you see the Day approaching."
-Hebrews 10: 24,25

The writer of Hebrews encouraged Jewish saints who were suffering terrible distress to...

1) Be Interpersonally-Considerate (eyes off self): "consider one another"

2) Be Collectively-Close (flow into the lives of others) "do not give up meeting together"

3) Be Relationally-Courageous (live a life of love) "encourage one another"

Don't underestimate yourself, ...fix your eyes on Jesus. You can be amazing, too!

These are extraordinary times we are living in. This season is a karios moment in the Kingdom of God. It's a time for believers in this generation to generously offer Jesus’ Bread-of-Life and Living Water to hungry, thirsty families, churches and all the peoples of the world. But, first ---we need to re-think and re-organize our community life in such a way that we are NOT forsaking habitually meeting together for the expressed purpose of mutual encouragement (in the midst of our distress). What is truly needed during these trying times is personal courage. Personal courage to not forsake "gathering together".

What is needed is fervent resurgence of micro-community prayer under the guidance of the Holy Spirit. What is needed is nothing short of corporate obedience to the profoundly humbling act of gathering ourselves together to share a meal, speak into one another's lives, ...and pray. The Church of Jesus Christ’s greatest need today is to offer herself up daily as a hundreds of thousand of simple seeking small groups, crying out as loved, adopted children of the Father. Jesus the Son stirs our imaginations, ...so that we may “spur” one another on towards “ love and good deeds” in the power of the Holy Spirit.

God created us and called us into good works ---for such a time as this; therefore, let's be about gathering together and spurring one another on in Christ. Don't hesitate. Don't let another day pass by. Gather a few believers around you to pray ---surrender your fears to God. Let the Holy Spirit inform your imaginations about how to "spur one another". Be courageous in love and good deeds this year. Let this be the year to be "communally courageous!

Shalom, -Brother Daniel

For more about Daniel & Margee Curran's Bay Area Campus Ministry:
visit their Mission Donation Portal: https://give.ccci.org/give/0259597

She is Supreme

2008-12-03T08:08:00.000-08:00

“Do not forsake wisdom,

and she will protect you;
love her, and she will watch over you.
Wisdom is supreme; therefore get wisdom.
Though it cost all you have, get understanding.
Esteem her, and she will exalt you;
embrace her, and she will honor you.”
-Proverbs 4:6-8 NIV

"Wisdom", mural by Robert Lewis Reid. Second Floor, North Corridor. Library of Congress Thomas Jefferson Building, Washington, D.C. Caption underneath reads "KNOWLEDGE COMES BVT WISDOM LINGERS".

Genesis of Wisdom

2008-12-01T12:22:00.000-08:00

"The Fear of the Lord

is the beginning of wisdom,
and knowledge of he Holy One

is understanding.
For through [Wisdom] your days will be many,
and years will be added to your life."
-Proverbs 9: 10,11

Wise Mouth

2008-11-30T17:32:00.000-08:00

"For the Lord gives wisdom,

and from his mouth come knowledge and understanding."

-Proverbs 2: 6

If Sinners Entice

2008-11-28T11:12:00.000-08:00

"My son, if sinners entice you,
do not give in to them.
...do not go along with them,
do not set foot on their paths"
-Proverbs 1:10, 15

More Precious Than Rubies

2008-11-25T23:48:00.000-08:00

"Choose [Wisdom's] instruction instead of silver,
knowledge rather than choice gold,
for wisdom is more precious than rubies,
and nothing you desire can compare with her."
-Proverbs 8:10, 11

The Apple of Your Eye

2008-11-15T17:13:00.000-08:00

“My son, keep my words
and store up my commands within you.
Keep my commands and you will live;
guard my teachings

as the apple of your eye.”

-Proverbs 7: 1,2

"To highlight the incomparable preciousness of his teaching
he orders the son to protect it as the apple (pupil) of your eye.
This most delicate and yet most precious

member of the human anatomy

is essential for illumination and guidance

-without it there is only darkness
-and so epitomizes what needs the most diligent protection."

(Bruce Waltke p 368 “The Book of Proverbs” 2004)

A Necklace of Wisdom

2008-11-03T08:24:00.000-08:00

“My children, keep your father's commands
and do not forsake your mother's teaching.
Bind them upon your heart forever;
fasten them around your neck.
When you walk, they will guide you;
when you sleep, they will watch over you;
when you awake, they will speak to you."
-Proverbs 6: 20-22

“The Proverb of the Week --- Proverbs Chapter 6”

This is my latest post in an ongoing project of surveying the Book of Proverbs one chapter at a time. Seeking out the choicest proverbs each week and texting them to my children, son-in-law, and mentees. I have held this passion all my life for “getting wisdom”, yet I struggle endlessly to apply wisdom to my life. So I continue to pray for myself, my kids, my son-in-law and others to above all “seek, get, live wisdom!”

A Problem with Adultery

2008-10-27T15:58:00.001-07:00

"Now then, my children, listen to me;
do not turn aside from what I say.

Keep to a path far from an adulterers house,
do not go near the door of her house,

lest you give your best strength to others"

-Proverbs 5:7-9a <> NIV-dc

This is the latest post in an ongoing project of carefully choosing a proverb each week to text to my four children, son-in-law, and a few students I mentor. Why? Above all to get wisdom! ...the Proverb Of the Week (aka "POW!"

SMS Texts from the Heart of a Father

2008-10-13T05:52:00.000-07:00

“Blessed is the man who finds wisdom,
the man who gains understanding,
for she is more profitable than silver
and yields better returns than gold."

-Proverbs 3: 13,14

"The Proverb of the Week,
...SMS Texts from the Heart of a Father"

-by Daniel Curran

My beautiful family is rapidly transmorphing before my very eyes. Anything can happen to them at any given moment of any day, ...good, bad, or ugly. Wisdom is about "living right". It's about "living right" in the moment, now. Above all, get wisdom!

My oldest daughter recently married and is junior at UCSD.

My son left for college a month ago and is a new student at Cal Poly SLO.

My middle daughter is a junior in HS (6 feet tall) excelling in school and water polo.

My youngest daughter just started high school (3 feet of hair) and is excelling socially.

What can a father offer his beloved children, and his new son-in-law, as they are spreading their wings and going into the world?

He can pray for them daily, point them to Jesus, ...and send them SMS text messages containing his "Proverb of the Week":

[Wisdom] is more precious than rubies;
Nothing you desire can compare with [Wisdom].
Long life is in [Wisdom's] right hand;
In [Wisdom's] left hand are riches and honor.
[Wisdom's] ways are pleasant ways,
And all [Wisdom's] paths are peace.
[Wisdom] is a tree of life to those who embrace her;
Those who lay hold of [Wisdom] will be blessed. (Proverbs 3: 15-18)

Note: last week I texted my kids their "POTW" at a bad time. Hope's & Hannah's phone alerts went off during their early morning band practice and Hope got her phone confiscated. Selah. Above all, get wisdom!

“The Saving of a Life, …the Illumination of a Family”

2008-07-25T12:56:00.000-07:00

“The Saving of a Life, …the Illumination of a Family”

Atlantic City, NJ. It all happened so fast and unexpected; a flash, a consuming fire, and the saving of a life. We were tired and weary from flying across America to a much needed family vacation in Avalon. It was our last time together before David leaves for college and Ebey marries John. Our ever-changing, constantly-transforming family of six was finally altogether. Edith Schaeffer says, "a family is art in motion”, always moving, always changing, blown about by the winds of the Holy Spirit. Little did we know how true this would be in our experience. On this night we were quite irritable as we were ending of our day of travel. Dad and David wallowed in Toyota Highlander rental-car luxury in the two front seats, while Margee, Ebey, Hannah and Hope were crammed into girl squalor one on top of the other in the back seat. Getting lost for a half an hour as we had crossed into New Jersey had lowered our morale and there was much whining, wailing and nashing of teeth from the back seat. It was 3am and we were loosing it.

Whizzing along at 70 miles per hour we turned South on the Garden State Expressway past Atlantic City and our surroundings became dark as the highway straightened out, ...the back of the car grew quiet in response. Lights from shore homes in Ocean City twinkled from across the back-bay. Twisted trees and shrubs whizzed by both sides of our car. We settled into the final leg of our journey and all was quiet.

Then, flash! A quarter of a mile in front of us, bright orange-yellow tongues of fire burst forth from between trees in the center divide. It looked like someone had lit a giant torch or ignited a beach bonfire with kerosene. Then a large single burst of reflected orange light bounced off all the trees to the right side of the road and all of us said "whoa!". We rose to attention and I began muse about what we were seeing in the distance, ...are they police lights? a fire? an accident? everyone look! I put my foot on the brakes and swerved our car onto the right shoulder. We stopped at mile marker 37.4 next to a guardrail. Our headlights shine on scattered pieces of road debris in front of us. We found ourselves looking at burning car in front of us on the left side of the road. It had flipped over the center guardrail, and was lying on it's side (not the car in the photo) pointing down this v-shaped slope that divides the north and south sides of the highway. Its back end was pointed upward towards the guardrail. The roof of the car was facing us and obscured by darkness, …but the under-carriage facing away from us was spewing yellow flames sideways and upwards from the back end of the car. A small tree and the nearby grassy area were ablaze 10 feet in all directions.

David is out of the car first, he sprints across the road and heads down into the center divide. He meets up with a driver from another car who had stopped just ahead of us and had seen the whole thing happen. Ebey yells from the back of our car, “I’m calling 911”. Hannah leaps out the side door of our Toyota in her sandles and immediatly stumbles over headlight debris in the road. I’m out of my drivers door and in fatherly concern yell, “Hannah, get back in the car!”. She yelps back, , “But Dad, I know CPR!”. She steadies herself and gets her bearings amidst the debris and I realize Hannah is not a little girl anymore but a young woman with life-saving skills that may be sorely needed just 100 feet beyond. I say, “come Hanny" and we cross the road together.

David was first on the scene with the guy who saw the wreck happen. I run down the embankment with Hannah. As we draw near we notice that the dark side of the car that was facing us has an open sunroof and the front windshield is completely missing. The door that was facing up was mangled and the car body bent. At that moment a fear leaps inside me: what will we come upon? It could be anything: a broken, bleeding family trapped inside? Occupants thrown out of the car? Death? In that instant I fear for what my kids might see, I want to protect their eyes. Another driver stopped on the opposite side of the highway and scampered down the slope along side me. He called out to someone inside the car. “Can you get out?”. David and the other driver stopped short and were surveying the scene -concerned the car might blow up any moment. My newfound companion kept calling out to someone, and that instant I knew if there was someone inside that car ---we had to get them out now. I made a decision and pressed on toward the open sunroof.

There was someone inside! The top of their head was facing us and they were struggling to get out. My companion reached in and grabbed an arm, I reached in and grabbed an arm and armpit. We pulled him half-way out of the sunroof and then all the way. David was immediately by my side and grabbed a leg. We dragged the man away from the burning car so fast his pants almost came off, ...just as the back half of the car become enveloped by flames. He was blond, 30 something with a punk haircut, black pants, studded belt and black leather cowboy boots. He was sweating and breathing heavily, body rigid with adrenaline, eyes wide open in a state of mild shock. We ask him if he could move his fingers and legs, …he says yes. We pause, wondering what to do. The flames grow brighter and we realize we are not safe amidst the growing heat and light.

Let’s move him up the hill fast!, …we drag him fast along the ground again. Far away from the car to avoid fire and explosion. Me, David, two strangers and this sweating, rescued man were all lying/crouching together there on the ground. With Hannah standing nearby we tell him he’s going to be okay, that he’s safe. Someone takes off their shirt and make him a pillow. I pull up his pants which had been yanked down aways as we had dragged him so fast along the grass. He looks up at his burning car with awe and resignation and says, “I can’t believe I fell asleep at the wheel”. He collapses, closes his eyes and people begin to attend to him. The car is now completely on fire. Thick black smoke billows out of the sunroof with a chimney effect and things are beginning to pop and explode and crackle inside as the interior of the car is engulfed in flames. The car’s horn goes off as the steering wheel melts as if the car is giving up it's ghost. It stops in about 30 seconds as the electrical system is overwhelmed with fire.

I ask my guy who pulled him out with me if he could stay on and attend to him. He said, “yes”. I put my hand on the man’s sweaty head. I think I heard him say his name was John. I pray for John. For healing, for him not to go into shock, …and for people around him to care of him. I feel like my time here is done, a concern for my family comes over me and the need to get them to Avalon before the road gets blocked off fills my mind. I say goodbye to John, exhort the other driver to take good care of him. I walk with David & Hannah up to meet Ebey, Margee and Hope who are looking down on the scene from the road. Cars are approaching us and not stopping, I shepherd my family across the expressway and back into our car -noticing for the first time that the front bumper of the crashed car is embedded into the guardrail next to our rental car. State troopers begin arriving on the scene. Margee and Hope had been furiously praying for the safety of everyone involved, especially us. I was so touched by how everyone in my family had played such a key parts in this drama that had unfolded.

*****David was the first responder out of the car and down the hill. He gave us courage to move out and into the action.

*****Hannah, risking her own safety as she stumbled unawares over pieces of the broken car gave us confidence to approach whatever we might find at the scene as she offered her newly learned lifesaving skills.

*****Ebey had the focus, wits, and the cell phone to immediately call in emergency rescue help.

*****I, Daniel, once at the scene, felt and acted on the need to get anyone in the burning car out immediately.

*****Hope had a deep, sensitive spiritual concern to pray for the safety of everyone involved.

*****Margee’s strong confidence in God’s ability to save came alongside Hope and they prayed and prayed until the emergency was over and everyone was safe.

A family is art in motion. Never the same, always changing. Blown by the winds of the Holy Spirit, ...and tested by fire. I was amazed we had all acted with such strength and beauty and harmony in such a dire situation. I was inspired. I felt so grateful and proud of my family on the surface, …and deep, deep down inside I was in awe of God and his handywork.

We piled into our car and headed slowly down the road, dodging debris as we passed by the surreal scene on our left. Watching the grassfire spread spread out in a circle and seeing the car fully consumed in flames. More state troopers arrived and more people were stopping, watching and attending the rescued man. We drove on into the night, …along the same black stretch of highway with the same tress and bushes whisking by. But, things were not the same as before. We recounted some of the details and put together some of the pieces of what had just happened. We prayed for the man and thanked God for getting lost for 30 minutes and the timing of everything that only god knew. As I drove the final miles into Avalon and approached the house something began to dawn on me. The entire rescue of the man had been in the light of the flames of his burning car.

Everything, all my memories of that evening had this orange flickering glow to them. I will treasure this moment with my family for the rest of my life. My pride in my son, my admiration of my daughters, the devotion of my wife. And, everything, everything that night was illuminated by fire. The scene, the memories of my family,even my own soul. My heart felt aflame. I saw my family as art in motion, this everchanging mobile, blown by the winds of the Holy Spirit and with fire. -dc

"I baptize you with water for repentance
But after me will come one who is more powerful than I,
whose sandals I am not fit to carry.
He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and with fire.”

-John The Baptist, …concerning Jesus of Nazareth
(Matthew 3:11)

The Death of a Berkeley Student

2008-05-05T09:18:00.000-07:00

Chris was a freshman guy who in the fall of 2004 expressed an interest in spiritual things. He had a passionate desire to succeed in school and truly wanted to follow Jesus. We met several times over meals in Cal's new dining commons to talk about faith and the Gospel.

He was a strong young man who had worked very hard to get into Berkeley. I respected him because he was upfront about making his studies a priority and the reasons behind declining to get involved in ccc small groups or weekly activities.

He was the consumate postmodern Cal student: brilliant, leader, creative, driven, social, spiritual, thoughtful... and in a tragic encounter with apparently another college student from Berkeley City College, ...he's gone.

College students are not supposed to die. They think they are going to live forever. They are the ones we pour our resources and energies into helping succeed, ...because we think they are going to live forever (or at least outlive us). As a campus minister I'm saddened and sobered. As a father of a college student my heart breaks for his family and friends. As a Californian I mourn the loss of one we had such high hopes for. As one who knew him briefly at the beginning of his college career, ...I'm glad I spent those times with him talking about the most important Stuff in the world. Selah.

"There is something else meaningless that occurs on earth: righteous men who get what the wicked deserve, and wicked men who get what the righteous deserve. This too, I say, is meaningless. So I commend the enjoyment of life, because nothing is better for a man under the sun than to eat and drink and be glad. Then joy will accompany him in his work all the days of the life God has given him under the sun." (Ecclesiates 8:14,15)

...It's Really, Really All About Love!

2008-04-06T20:55:00.000-07:00

"It's All About Love! ...Revisiting and Reconsidering Jesus' Great Co-Mission." (aka "Reformations of a Campus Missionary..." ) <>< Photo of Francisco & Treasure Island as seen under the left arm of the cross; Golden Gate Bridge & Berkeley under the right arm). -taken March 21st, 2008.

So, I took a ½ day with the Lord in the Berkeley Hills on Good Friday with 2 of my favorite Berkeley students. I found a fallen tree to lean against while they found spots "a stones throw away" from each other and me. It's amazing what 2 hours alone with Jesus can do for your soul.

With a million dollar view of SF Bay I spread out my sack lunch and I began re-reading the introduction and conclusion to "The Great Omission" by Dallas Willard. Soon I found myself reflecting on Matthew 28:16-20 and was once again surprised when Jesus began convicting me of being lax in teaching my students and family to “love the Lord with all their hearts” & to “love their neighbors as themselves”. This conviction has been coming at me with increasing clarity and intensity each time I think about my life and discipleship.

I went to work looking for "root" causes of the problem in Jesus “organic” teachings about loving Him and "one another" in John 15. I stayed there a long, long, time. Asked myself lots of questions about “vines” and “branches” and “abiding” and “obedience” and Jesus’ “new commandment” about “lov[ing] one another”, ...and asking myself the question why will "all men will know" we are Jesus' disciples if we have "love for one another"?

Then things got really personal, ...I stumbled into Ephesians 5 and Jesus schooled me good on “husbands love your wives” by relating this teaching back to what He says are the two "greatest commandments" and by integrating it with His "new commandment". This passage has stumped and humbled me for over 20 years. God knows I love Margee and try to love her as Jesus does, ...but I'm still perplexed about what it takes to love as "Christ loves the Church". Then, there in my little chapel 2 feet away from a cross I'd crafted & stuck my log, ...Jesus began to crack the code on this passage for me, ...for the very first time!!! I saw it's logic and literary richness. I saw it's sources and connectedness with what Jesus taught, commanded and lived. I felt like I was part of the Agape Genome Project, very awesome and quite humbling.
I felt excited, embarrassed, and blessed all at the same time. It was wonderful, renewing and a wee bit terrifying to sit at Jesus’ feet and learn about love from Him directly. The Holy Spirit spoke to my heart through the Word and broke through. All my worries and troubles and faded into the background of my mind. Love walked onto center stage and stayed there. As I approach the rest of April, I'll be stealing away often to quiet places to put myself in His Presence on this topic. I want more of this. I've found a "treasure in a field". I'm pooling my funds and I'm gonna buy this field! Round-trip cost of gas to Berkeley $8. Coffee & tea at Cafe Strada with Lucky & Anthony $6. Simple sack lunch $2. Sitting at Jesus' feet for 2 hours and letting Him school me on love -priceless!

That afternoon 2 things came clear:

#1) I can’t love my neighbor or my wife very well IF I don’t love myself; nor can I love myself very well unless I love God, and let God love me first

#2) When it all comes down to it in the final analysis, ...it's truly all about love!

Feeling Excited, Embarrassed, Blessed & Revived, Brother Daniel

PS After "Good Friday Chapel" I came home and surveyed the entire NT about "love", ...see for yourself: http://www.studylight.org/lex/grk/view.cgi?number=26 At first pass I've found 7 different kinds of unique commands to love, ...contact me if you find more! This is all very exciting to me (like discovering fire). Below are 7 embers I want to fan into flame:

Love MyGod

Love MyNeighbor

Love MySelf

Love OneAnother

Love MyWife

Love That Which is Good

Love MyEnemies

UC Berkeley & San Jose State Prayer Pact

2008-03-27T00:57:00.000-07:00

Treasure Island Report: They came from San Jose State University and UC Berkeley to pray for their campus and the students of the Bay Area. We all came hungry to discover God's agenda and to pray about it together. We wrestled in prayer about humbling ourselves and praying and seeking His face, ...and turning from our wicked ways (2 Chron. 7:14). Then we began to discuss and imagine what our campuses would look like if they were fully alive in Jesus Christ. Inspiring, deep stuff was shared. Beautiful things that stunned a lot of us. We asked the question is revival happening now or are we waiting for it (or both), ...and how we can personally experience revival now and prepare for corporate revival in the future.

The high points of the evening for me were being taught and inspired by their prayers. Hearing one another's hearts for unity and love to break out amongst the entire Body of Christ on each others campus led to a decision at the end of our time to form a "prayer pact" relationship between leaders in the unity movements at Cal & SJSU. A desire to continue what God did at this prayer meeting by praying for corporate spiritual revival on one anothers schools and campus ministries was felt by everyone. Something like this recently sprung up between USC & UCLA called "United in Christ": http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=2232046196

The view of San Francisco at sunset over the water was breathtaking. When the lights of The City came on as darkness fell, it stopped me in my tracks. But the most beautiful thing I saw tonight was the united prayers coming from the hearts of these students ...to see their campuses and cities and own lives revived and awakened to fullness of life in Jesus Christ. Thank you Lord for what you did in our midst tonight. Jesus, help us fan it into full flame in the weeks and months ahead. Holy Spirit move powerfully amongst college student throughout the Bay Area, ...especially this spring. Tonight was significant. Tonight was more than a spark, ...it was like a flare-up. The kind of flare-up that happens when scattered embers of a fire are gathered together in one spot (and fanned into flame). Lord Jesus lead on. -daniel

Treasure Island Prayer 8-11pm Wednesday, March 26th

2008-03-25T21:05:00.000-07:00

Rain or shine, ...just show up* to Treasure Island on Wednesday 8-11pm for a sweet Spring Break Adventure.

Q. Will you peck away for 3 hours on Facebook or play video games on Wed night? Or will you step out of your warm suburban or urban home, ...and journey to an abandoned US Naval Chapel on a windy deserted island with the most beautiful view of San Francisco you have ever experienced? Pile a few friends into a car and make the trek. I'm praying for 20 to 200 folks come out. However many actually come doesn't matter, ...we will remember this experience for the rest of your life, ...especially if God moves.

We aren't looking for students who have their act together, we're looking for honest souls. We want to provide a simple "flash" prayer-gathering for college students who want Jesus to make a big difference in their world. We're calling students who hunger and thirst to follow Jesus of Nazareth and live in His Kingdom now. Students who need God and one another. That's why this wild and mysterious setting in the middle of the Bay ...to really pray.

Our generation is broken and anxious about the troubles it sees the world. Wars, hunger, corruption, economic struggles, environmental disaters. Plus our personal concerns for our own communities, families and churches. We know none of the presidential candidates or other world leaders hold the answers. We've discovered sadly, that most of our professors, pastors, parents and politicians haven't created a better world or Church for us or our children to live in.

...so, it's was only a matter of time until college students in the Bay Area humbled themselves during Spring Break and prayed. We're diving into 2 Chronicles 7:14 and praying there awhile. Hop in your car and "just show up". Spread the word, bring friends, bum a ride, ...if you can't come -lend your car or pay for gas and send a few folks from your college group. If you are on Spring Break in the Area ---come out and meet some new people who love God. Come and "fan into flame" the gift of God that is within you.
Come when you can, leave when you want, as the Spirit leads.

Wednesday, March 26th, 8-11pm (Spring Break)

The Old Treasure Island Naval Chapel

…just off the I-80 Bay Bridge in the middle of San Francisco Bay
California Ave & Avenue Palms, San Francisco, CA 94130

Event Details & Map on Facebook:
http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=12199331802&ref=share (RSVP if you can)

“Bay Area college students praying for HolySpiritual revival, renewal, and awakening”

Hosted by: Daniel Curran

Sponsored by: The San Francisco Metro Ministry of Campus Crusade for Christ <> http://www.metamore.org/ in partnership with San Francisco Bay Area Metro Ministry Leadership Network <> http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=2327771655

Spring Break "Flash Mob" Prayer-Gathering on Treasure Island!

2008-03-23T22:15:00.000-07:00

Spring Break “Flash Mob” Prayer-Gathering on Treasure Island!

...it was only a matter of time until college students in the Bay Area humbled themselves during Spring Break and prayed. Help spread the word & bring a carload of friends. Come when you can, leave when you want, as the Spirit leads.

Wednesday, March 26th, 8-11pm (Spring Break)

The Old Treasure Island Naval Chapel
…just off the I-80 Bay Bridge in the middle of San Francisco Bay
California Ave & Avenue Palms, San Francisco, CA 94130

Event Details on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=12199331802&ref=share (Just show up. RSVP if you can)

“Bay Area college students praying for HolySpiritual revival, renewal, and awakening”

Hosted by: Daniel Curran <> (510) 290-8145 <>

Sponsored by: The San Francisco Metro Ministry of Campus Crusade for Christ <> http://www.metamore.org/ in partnership with San Francisco Bay Area Metro Ministry Leadership Network <> http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=2327771655

-----------(Please Message/Invite/E-mail/or Text 3-4 friends rite now, thx!)-------------

Flash Prayer-Gathering on Treasure Island

2008-03-19T20:47:00.000-07:00

Flash Prayer-Gathering on Treasure Island
Wednesday, March 26th, 8-11pm (Spring Break)

“Bay Area college students* praying for
HolySpiritual revival, renewal, and awakening”

The Old Treasure Island Naval Chapel
(just off the I-80 Bay Bridge in the middle of San Francisco Bay)
California Ave and Avenue Palms San Francisco, CA 94130

RSVP on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=12199331802

Hosted by: Daniel Curran

Sponsored by: The San Francisco Metro Ministry of Campus Crusade for Christ – http://www.metamore.org/

Simple Instructions:

-7-7:30pm –Arrive on Island, find parking, gather/hang out in front of chapel
-7:30pm –Read further instructions posted on Chapel main entrance doors
-8pm –Chapel main entrance doors open

-Wear sweatshirts, hats other clothing with your colleges name or logo on it
-Dress Warm (no heating in chapel; island is windy)
-Bring your Bible & a personal water bottle (no snacks or beverages provided)

-Prep by meditating on 2 Chronicles 7:14, Matthew 28:16-20 & Zechariah 4:6
-Musicians bring one instrument: non-electric guitar, drums, didgeridoo, etc.
-Worship leaders each bring 6-12 hymnals, songbooks or song sheets

-Consider bringing a small cash offering with you to help cover rental costs
-Drivers ask someone in your cars to pray for safey & for God to meet with us
-Facebook this event to your college group, small groups & friends

*this gathering is primarily (but not exclusively) designed for students on break from Bay Area schools like SJSU, UCSF, CSUEB, UC Berkeley/UCSF, Sonoma State, Stanford, AAU, UC Santa Cruz, etc., …AND their friends who are home on break from schools outside the area. Also invited are ALL Bay Area community college students, campus ministers, college pastors, college-bound high school seniors, grad students, college-university faculty/staff (wear clothing with a name/logo from your favorite college and to help organize a carload of students to come with you!).

Note: the concept of a “Flash Prayer-Gathering” was inspired by the concept of “smart mobs” ( see Wikipedia: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Smart_mob )or “flash mobs” (see Wikipedia: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flash_mob ). Flash mobs are a specific form of smart mob, originally describing a group of people who assemble suddenly in a public place, do something unusual for a brief period of time, then quickly disperse.

A Flash Prayer Gathering on Treasure Island???

2008-03-09T17:01:00.000-07:00

So I've got this idea in my head that I keep trying to pray away, ...but it keeps coming back. It's about calling a flash* prayer gathering on Treasure Island someday/sometime during SFSU's, SJSU's, & CSUEB's Spring Break (March 24-28). I keep telling Jesus, "Don't you know I'm at max capacity right now in all areas of life; that my yard needs attention, my garage is cluttered, and I've got home repairs that need to be done?" To be a faithful steward of my household I need to spend most of my spring break being about "Habitat for Curranity", ...not host some crazy prayer meeting on this forsaken island in the middle of San Francisco Bay!!! Holy Spirit you have some nerve, ...to strike a nerve in me at such a time as this!

Yes Father, ...that still small voice of your Spirit is whispering to me, "college students in the Bay Area need to come together and pray for college students in the Bay Area". Yes Lord, I know. And yes Lord, ...I know they need to pray "now". It will bring you great glory in your Kingdom for them to fervently pray the prayers that only Bay Area collegians can pray, ...for spiritual revival, for spiritual renewal, and for spiritual awakening in their hearts, on their campuses this spring. Selah.

You see I've been compelled and increasingly burdened to pray for college students over the past few months. There are so many things going on spiritually in so many areas on so many levels that all my spiritual alarms are going off. Yes Jesus, I truly want to pray for them over spring break. I'd even love to take a 1/2 Day with You on Treasure Island and invest some of my solitude with you to pray for them. I love it's wild windswept open spaces, unpredictable weather and empty buildings, ...they are a remarkable Bay Area "wilderness" one can escape to -to pray. But, to call and mobilze, and organize the gathering???? Oh Lord, ...I know what that will cost in terms of spiritual warefare alone. But it's not the spiritual warefare, ...it's having the faith that You will keep the administrative details for me to a bare minimum that tests me. Paperwork and phone calls and text messages are making me weak in the knees these days Lord. Have mercy!

So, here I sit in my office in Martinez on a lazy late Sunday afternoon waiting and wondering and reflecting. I Facebook messaged a collection of friends in campus ministry yesterday morning about the idea (the Lord woke me up and told me to message them before I lost my nerve!). And I sent 2 emails to The City asking the persons responsible for the big abandoned military chapel just inside the Island's main gate, ...about what's involved in using it. And so I shall wait. To hear back from them and to wait upon the Lord.

Hmmmm, a half-day on Treasure Island with the Lord would be so refreshing over "my" Spring Break. I'd love to spend extended time with Jesus walking and praying and thinking in that lonely place. So I've penciled into my calendar: Wednesday March 26th from 10am-pm for a "1/2 Day with the Lord" (alone).

But what about this "flash prayer gathering" idea Lord? When and where? Early morning, late afternoon, night? How? Will I be selfish and stall??? I have so many undone tasks here at home. Maybe the night of March 26th? Oh lord send me some wise counselors. Father give me a "lucky break". Holy Spirit help me find the "sweet spot" in that week when Bay Area college students are free to gather and pray...

Into your hands Jesus I commit the need I see and the idea I have. I choose to wait on You to work and trust You to show me Your Way. My hands are empty Lord, ...but open receive anything from yours...

your servant, daniel

*def. of flash": 1) spontaneous, 2) easy to plan, 3) easy to publicize, 4) easy to get to, 5) mass-convergence of bodies in one location for a short period of time, ...6) low-cost, 7) high-fun, 8) big enduring impact

Note: I've kept this passage before me as I pray for my own life, wife and children, ...and for the lives of college students here in the Bay Area. I don't understand verse 7 very well; but, God has used verse 6 powerfully again and again in my life over the years -since 1987. This passage is informing and forming my imagination and prayers. Let's humble ourselves and pray!

"So he said to me, "This is the word of the LORD to Zerubbabel:

'Not by might nor by power, but by my Spirit,' says the LORD Almighty.

"What are you, O mighty mountain? Before Zerubbabel you will become level ground.

Then he will bring out the capstone to shouts of 'God bless it! God bless it!' "

(Zechariah 4: 6,7 -NIV)

Fireseeds of Spiritual Awakening? ...sparks are beginning to fly!

2008-01-05T16:01:00.000-08:00

Dearly Beloved (v2.0), I had this wild ending to December and a beautiful beginning to January. God called me away for 2 weeks of speaking & teaching (9x) at CCC's Winter Conferences in San Diego & Dallas. Highlights were:

1) helping baptize 30-40 college students with Jaeson Ma/keynote speaker at the San Diego Winter Conference in the hotel fountain on New Years Eve (yes we got in trouble with the manager),

2) helping lead 3 morning "pray for spiritual revival" prayer times down in San Diego (God drew students to himself, esp. during a "56 Hours of Prayer" prayer room created on site by a UCLA student),

3) watching all 4 of my kids and Margee minister so beautifully to the missionary children in the conference childcare program (people kept coming up to me and saying how much they were touched by seeing my kids all serve together),

4) pancake candlelight dinner w/ my daughter Ebey @ her UCSD apartment and a prayerwalk w/ her "man" John afterwards at Windansea beach on New Years Day (priceless),

5) seeing over 150+ hungry-thirsty students come out to my "Praying for Jesus' Beautiful Vision" workshops at the Dallas Winter Conference, ...to be trained how to pray for spiritual revival and awakening on their respective campuses (off-the-charts response to God as they prayed through 2 Chronicles 7:14 for themselves and their campuses),

6) being introduced to Melinda Carter and learning about this wonderful new Christian community that she has recently helped birth in Austin called "The Fireseed Anthology Project" (I am really inspired by her experiement: http://fireseedanthology.wordpress.com/ )

7) and, the amazing litany of divine prayers, appointments and ministry opportunities Jesus kept leading me into. Each and every one of which was very powerful yet refreshing to my soul. On the way home on the plane I began writing furiously in my journal all these fresh new ideas and insights that keep coming to me. (I felt like I was being carried along by the Lord!)

Now I'm back in the Bay Area and I'm looking forward to continuing to fan into flame the gifts God that He has given me. I want to gather students and others locally to pray for spiritual revival to happen at their schools, esp. at Diablo Valley College, UC Berkeley, and San Jose State University. I'm simply blown away by all the activity of the Holy Spirit I'm experiencing inside me and seeing break out around me and want to lean into all that God is doing...

Of special note: After the baptisms were finished, Jaeson Ma and Howie (student/UCLA) prayed for me and the San Jose state student delegates who were with me at the conference. While Jaeson prayed for me he saw a whirling vortex of the Spirit occuring on the SJSU campus ---a beautiful whirling movement of Jesus comprized of students from every nation, irresistibly drawing others into it. This is such a confirmation to me because I felt so strongly I was supposed to pray this fall for San Jose State, and I did -but with no clear vision or direction. I've recently been asked to be CCC's new ministry Network Coordinator for SJSU so I'm cherishing this encounter in my heart.

Whatever the case, something is up with this generation of college students and I'm humbled God is drawing me into it. Pray with me to help prepare the way for a new Great Awakening, another Jesus Movement, and a fresh outpouring of the Holy Spirit on college campuse this spring. Like I said, it’s been a wild past two weeks.

Your servant, daniel

For information about the amazing and recently republished book "Fireseeds of Spiritual Awakening" by Dan Hayes, go to: http://crupress.campuscrusadeforchrist.com/discipleship/fireseeds-of-spiritual-awakening

For a sample (pdf file) of the entire first chapter of "Fireseeds" go to: http://crupress.campuscrusadeforchrist.com/files/products/fireseeds.pdf or click "The Fireseed-Revival Manifesto" link on my blog

-------------------------<><----------------------------- San Diego & Dallas Winter Conference Workshops description: "Praying for Jesus’ Beautiful Vision, ...Forming Prayer Bands That Spark Spiritual Revival & Awakening" by Daniel Curran Come pray for Jesus’ Beautiful Vision for your campus and your own life as well. Let’s “humble [ourselves] and pray” (2 Chronicles 7:14). Unity Gatherings and prayer movements are abounding on campuses all across North America. Let’s lean into what God is doing these days and pray for an outpouring of his Holy Spirit that sweeps this continent and beyond. You will be immersed into an invigorating, transferrable prayer-experience you can bring back to your campus. You will discover how to pray for revival –by actually doing it. We’ll also discuss: prayer band formation, prayer band “rules”, honoring Jesus’ co-mission to “as disciples, make disciples”, responsibly preparing for and leading in the midst of revival, the necessity of full student ownership, and the indispensable role of faculty advisors, college pastors & campus ministers.

"It's a Wonderful-Full Life" (Eugene Peterson writes beautifully about the Savior's Birth!)

2007-12-24T11:02:00.000-08:00

It's a Wonder-Full Life
It takes a special kind of birth to grab the world's attention.

Eugene Peterson posted 12/21/2007 10:11AM. 2 of 2, ...For full article visit: http://www.christianitytoday.com/ct/2007/december/28.34.html?start=1

So how did it happen that this birth, this Jesus birth, managed to set so many of us back on our heels in astonishment and gratitude and wonder? And continues to do so century after century, at least at this time of year?

The brief answer is that this wasn't just any birth. The baby's parents and first witnesses were convinced that God was entering human history in human form. Their conviction was confirmed in angel and Magi and shepherds' visitations; eventually an extraordinary life came into being before their eyes, right in their neighborhood. More and more people became convinced. Men, women, and children from all over the world continue to be convinced right up to the present moment.

Birth, every human birth, is an occasion for local wonder. In Jesus' birth the wonder is extrapolated across the screen of all creation and all history as a God-birth. "The Word became flesh and dwelt among us"—moved into the neighborhood, so to speak. And for thirty years or so, men and women saw God in speech and action in the entirely human person of Jesus as he was subject, along with them, to the common historical conditions of, as Charles Williams once put it, "Jewish religion, Roman order, and Greek intellect." These were not credulous people and it was not easy for them to believe, but they did. That God was made incarnate as a human baby is still not easy to believe, but people continue to do so. Many, even those who don't "believe," find themselves happy to participate in the giving and receiving, singing and celebrating of those who do.

Incarnation, in-flesh-ment, God in human form in Jesus entering our history: this is what started Christmas. This is what keeps Christmas going.

Eugene Peterson is the author of many books, most recently of The Jesus Way (Eerdmans, 2007). This essay is reprinted from God With Us: Rediscovering the Meaning of Christmas (Paraclete Press, 2007).
Copyright © 2007 Christianity Today. Click for reprint information Related Elsewhere:
God With Us: Rediscovering the Meaning of Christmas is available from ChristianBook.com and other retailers.

Peterson's other articles on Christmas are in our special section: http://www.christianitytoday.com/ct/special/adventandchristmas.html

God Poured Himself Out On "The Concrete Quad" @ Diablo Valley College

2007-11-27T23:15:00.000-08:00

(Updated v2.0): Pleasant Hill, CA. I've seen amazing things happen this fall at Diablo Valley College near our home. God burdened my heart to rally college pastors, campus ministers, and students we knew to come out to DVC’s Quad the first week of classes to fellowship, join a Facebook social-networking website, …and to pray!!! What began on DVC’s concrete Quad back in September has become a beautiful story of God at work in a very difficult campus situation. “Community college is an oxymoron”. Students only have brief hangout times w/ former high school friends and then rush off campus to work or go home. One student lamented, “an unspoken expectation at DVC is –when a class you’ve taken together over, so are the friendships”.

I continued to pray and prayerwalked the Quad during the semester and asked others to join me. God began to move. CCC@DVC’s Facebook group has swelled to 92 members as of November 30th. Friendships began to form and flourish everywhere. The G3 I planted on the Quad has grown to six men –all from different ethnicities and walks of life. Two women's G3's led by sophomores Laura & Lisa have formed and are growing. Margee mentors them and loves being back on campus. One women's Bible Study got planted off campus and several tastefully done outreaches happened on the Quad. One DVC student caught a vision to reach out to the "street racing" subculture that exists in our area. An official campus club was chartered called "DVC United” http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=19788842272 which desires to promote unity and help other Christian groups get started. And, 3 major events happened the last week of November!!! (a unity rally, film outreach, and an international student dinner).

Since this semester began with prayer out on the Quad, to close out the semester I led the men in my G3 to pray for God to keep pouring out His Spirit on their campus. As I took one last prayer walk around the Quad I prayed for all the beautiful students hanging out there and reflected on all the great things the Lord has done in their midst: “Thank you Jesus for everything, especially for leading us to gather together and pray out here on this concrete Quad. Thank you Holy Spirit for pouring your life into these students and drawing so many of them to you. Thank you Father for bringing true Community to this community college. Amen.”

Back In Berkeley 2 Days Later to Love on Cal Athletes

2007-11-08T15:39:00.000-08:00

I just got back from speaking to Athletes in Action at UC Berkeley. Margee came in with me and we had the best time together. 30-40 athletes –all shapes and sizes and sports. The women athletes flocked to her. We loved it. On the way home Margee said, “One of the women leaders wants to come on AiA staff and asked if she could meet with me, …and I said I’d love to.” We loved being back in the Cal context, …ministering to students who are fully immersed in college life, asking big questions and dreaming big dreams, … and striving for excellence in their studies. Margee got to counsel one woman towards experiencing assurance of her salvation, …I got to talk w/ a coll skeptic guy on the track team who others have been praying for. He really opened up to me and said he’s deciding to believe in God. He's really into studying genetics and was totally excited when I told him Michael Collins is coming to speak at Berkeley. Tonight was a big boost for him. Oh, and my talk went great, the Lord carried me. I felt energized and free. –dc

There is Something Beautiful Happening in Berkeley

2007-11-08T15:23:00.000-08:00

So I got to speak tonight to this amazing crowd of Berkeley students. 500+ strong, lifting their hands and hearts to Jesus. There is a strong Jesus movement happening at Cal. It's significant and it's beautiful. Their hearts ache and long to follow Him and to be more like him. What a privilege to be in their midst. So humbled that the message God put on my heart fit like a hand in a glove with their program that evening. This brother crooned a spiritual song to God backed by an acapello choir towards the end of the evening, ...it was a holy moment all of us were enthralled by -you'ld have to be there to understand. -their servant, daniel

"What Began as a Prayer Mission, ...Has Morphed into a Small Student Movement"

2007-10-02T06:37:00.001-07:00

What began as one-time prayer mission with my friend Patty Paik back in August, has turned into the beginnings of a student movement at Diablo Valley College. For the past 4 weeks small groups of students have been gathering for fellowship, encouragement and prayer out on the Quad at DVC. Their Facebook group has swelled to 88 members, they are making friends with one another and reaching out to their lost friends. They are inspiring other students to pray and self-organize. I’ve had the privilege of planting a “Group of Three” men that has grown to 5 members including myself. Meet Lemar from Richmond, Jonathan from Walnut Creek, Paul from San Pablo, and Nathan from Lafayette. All from different ethnicities and cultural backgrounds. All meeting weekly on the quad to encourage one another to seek God. All followers of Jesus. Pray for their tribe to increase and for places to meet when the weather turns bad.

Pray for me, I think God is calling me to drop the R-bomb at San Jose State University tonight... eta 8pm (and I'm scared -but willing)

2007-09-13T11:05:00.000-07:00

your servant, Daniel 1:8

I don't know how to describe it, ...but I feel like I'm walking into something tonight when I speak again at SJSU. Into something that has been paved by the prayers of the faithful for decades. The hearts of today's college student are tinder dry for the fires of God to burn through them. I've been encouraged by local intercessors to speak from the deepest part of my heart. I have this message that the Holy Spirit has been working into me as I meditate on Matthew 28: 16-20. It's a message about "all authority & all presense". A message of the simultaneous soveriegnty(sp) AND intimacy of Jesus Christ -a truth that is so beautiful that I can't stop thinking about it. I feel like I'm supposed to broach the subject of revival & spiritual awakening at San Jose State tonight at CCC's NightLife meeting @ 8pm in Spartan Memorial. I'm trying to make sense of all God is teaching me from his Word, ...but I feel like "I'm being set up by God the Spirit", broken by God the Father, ...and led by God the Son.

Pray for me, my heart is overjoyed. I've seen the white hot embers of revival fireseeds burning firsthand in Berkeley at in an upper room prayer meeting in an attic of a house in South campus last week. I followed the Lord go back to UC Berkeley last week to minister on campus, ...for the first time in 2.5 years! I felt God's power working through me, felt his Word abiding in me, sensed the Holy Spirit directing me, ...and saw more happen in one day at Berkeley last week than I would normally see happen in an entire month or semester back in 2001-5. It wasn't me it was God, ...I don't think I bring that much power and passion to bear on the scene. God is at work on campus and I am humbled to see it firsthand!

Pray for me. Even San Francisco State is transforming as a campus in terms of it's sociology and spiritual openess. Everyone is noticing the change. I'm excited and scared and passionate for God to work in and through me during the next 24 hours and in the weeks and months ahead. I feel like "this is the Bay Area's Year". It's time for us to be "in one accord with the Lord" and with one another.

I'm having lunch w/ my daughter Ebey & Sarah Allis Yang (my dear former student drummer girl from ccc@Cal back in 97-98). She's been transformed. A life saved and found in Jesus. I'm finding myself in giving myself away. The Gospel seems to drip from my lips. Everyone wants to hear about Jesus, especially from a soul who is in love with him. Muslims, atheists, skeptics, the usual non-candidates -along w/ Christians -all variations, ...all seem to be hungry and thirsty for pure unadulterated Jesus Christ. Jesus, period dot end.

I need prayer support and I'm asking others to prayI don't know what I'm doing, ...yet I do. God is choreographing my steps. Pray that I "stay in step with the Spirit". Pray for "homothumadon" (greek) to happen, ...for God to manifest himself in such a way that it's verifiably God (not man). Pray that the believers in SJSU will "rush along in unison" with the same hearts, in the ame directions, all burning with the same fire.

I'm speaking in Chapel in East Oakland the next morning @ the School of Urban Missions. Pray for the Holy Spirit's discernment to bring the same kind of message to them, ...they just opened this new school, 80 inner-city college students, the poorest of the poor, all going to Bible college to get equipped to serve back in their communities. I don't really want to preach to them because I'm simply so excited to just visit their campus and get to know these beautiful students that God has raised up, ..."for such a time as this".

Here is a 3min+ clip from last october's uic night: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c0nNaALKKJw ...listen to Lawrence's beautiful, pure-at-heart prayer towards the end, it sounds like Jesus' beautiful vision for SJSU, for all Bay Area campuses and beyond. Let's work, and preach, and pray Jesus' beautiful vision into existance, "Thy Kingdom come, even today.

<>< servant of all, Daniel 1:8

My Worlds Have Converged

2007-08-27T10:19:00.001-07:00

So my worlds have officially converged. I've been one of these rare "one-career" people who has managed to survive 20+ years serving with the same non-profit organization. But, this past year it got real strange. The life of a campus minister is strange to begin with, ...you're not a pastor because you don't have a church building, you're not a missionary because you are living in your own culture, you're not a chaplain because you don't have an official relationship with academic institutions.

A year ago my oldest daughter went off to college in San Diego and all of a sudden the stock value of college students went sky high. A ton of things began to make sense, my two primary worlds of being in campus ministry and "being a good dad" converged as I sat on my one-less-egg-emptier-nest and thought to myself, "each and every one of them is someones son and daughter". All the prayers, hopes, sacrifices and dreams that one child holds in the minds eye of a parent exploded in my heart as I began to connect with who college students really are. The heart of a campus minister collides with the heart of a father of a college student, ...and become one.

I've got 4 kids and last week things got trippy. My son who is 17 isn't due to go to college until next year, ...but I found myself dropping off my 13 year old, my youngest, off at Diablo Valley College for a French class she's taking for her homeschool program. She waved at me as she hopped out of my Jeep, braids waving in the wind, pink-striped backpack in tow and said, "Thanks for the ride dad, I'm a college student now!" I kind of freaked out, but my heart lept within me for her, ...and for the stream of other sons and daughters flowing past me in that parking lot.

A Few Days Later, God Touches on the Concrete...

2007-08-22T09:30:00.000-07:00

So the lord whispered to me when I woke up Tuesday to go back to the quad at Diablo Valley College and pray for revival. I followed His lead back into the fray and brought along this on-fire CalGrad gurl named Patty, ...all we did was sit down on a concrete wall to watch and pray and whoosh 60 minutes later God planted a simple church there in front of us, in front of the bookstore: w/ a cool Philipino catholic dude named John Paul who's in a rock band from San Pablo, this steady CIBC hong kong chinese guy named Johnathon whoz the catalyst from Walnut Creek, a Korean International student named Byeonghe from P-Hill, and this black musician brother named Lemar from Richmond. 1pm next Tuesday is gonna rock the quad at DVC. Jesus keep touching down on the concrete.

Heaven Dumped onto a Concrete Courtyard

2007-08-16T17:37:00.000-07:00

I'm shot out of a cannon into a teaming cauldron of diverse young adult humanity. The Quad at Diablo Valley Community College on a hot August afternoon. Students every size, shape, ethnicity, spirituality. Persian Hip Hop dudes, pagan beauties, quiet cool Latino guys, giggling gaggles of african queens. Quiet pairs of headcovered sisters, eyes not making contact with you. Stealth Asian cell phone guys, talking to countries on the other side of the world. Hollister skinny models and awkward disabled kids. Gangsters and punks. Jesus Freaks and Queers. Homeschool modest, makeuped middle-class, rave brazen urban. Skater cool, gamer greasy, jock confident. All displaced. First day of classes. Left behind by their 4.0 friends, kept behind by their penny-pinching parents. Their worlds converge onto 1,000 yards of hot concrete and splinter into a hundreds of whispering pockets of conversation about where'd ya go to high school and man I couldn't get this class.

The heavens dumped diversity onto a concrete courtyard and it wanders through this random maze of stone benches and trees before it dissapears into outer courtyards, hallways and buildings beyond. The image of God takes it's form today in ten thousand twenty-somethings looking around wanting to dance and waiting for music. Hormones stuffed into that's some t-shirt honey and pants oh too small and pants oh to baggy and shirts oh so saggy. Dreams churning inside, sealed with t-shirt logos and burdened by backpacks. Emotions put away during the walk from the parking lot masked by a cigarette and dulled by what's inside those headphones. So many beautiful, open, lost students. Hope lies in this remnant of radiant, missional collegians in their midst and the Savior they follow. Bands of brothers, circles of sisters synced with the Spirit reaching out to the peoples of the quad. So sobering. So compelling. So mystifying. So dumped onto a concrete courtyard.

I wander through the student union after watching the ten thousand criss-cross the maze all day. Drawn must be by God or my curiosity or my aching heart. Awkard quiet then, "Hello, I remember you" says friendly long-haired raver named Mantis. Mantis of the Pagan student society, yes I remember, I listened to their stories and dined with them open air last fall. He shot me for the newspaper think. I was this commodity, one pagan-loving tall open-air preacher with Indonesian Jesus groupies and the Pentecostal rock band warm up act. That was some day preaching the Gospel by the Pond.

He picks up w/ me like it was yesterday and whisks me into the coolness of the student government backroom. We banter listfully at his desk as he plays me clip after clip of his favorite music genres: Hardcore, Electronica, Happy Punk. Then video after video of twirling, juggling, glowing numchuck Mantis routines. His signature contribution at parties preserved on Youtube. During a throbbing rave of 10,000 young adults in SF's Bill Grahm auditorium he calmly explains to me what's going on inside him and the crowd as he points to where he stood onstage juggling, shooting photos in his glory. It's like he's returning a favor and sharing his Gospel with me. Mantis in this 10k mix feels fully alive. Mantis and his church of ten thousand in the video. Mantis and his ten thousand brothers and sisters on the quad ...are looking. Both Mantis and me in that cool back room are looking for something. We're both looking for Jesus.

Mantis surpizes me and exclaims, "we are the new hippies". We are searching and yearing for peace, love, pleasure and respect. We are looking for it in music. We are looking for it in drugs. We are looking for it in one another. Mantis and his clan are starving, thirsty, and oh so lost. Music unites them in time. This dumped onto concrete clan of music hungry imagebearers are wandering and waiting. This sweaty rave online is my oh so hungry and thirsty. This generation is hungrier and thirstier than hippies in the Haight, sweltering in the summer sun of 1967.

We are ready for the Kingdom. So waiting for the Kingdom. So wanting for a King. All of us, looking for Jesus. Jesus, dump your Kingdom onto all the diversity on this concrete courtyard. Dump it out on ready and waiting me and on raving praying Mantis. -dc

"That's when Peter stood up and, backed by the other eleven, spoke out with bold urgency: "Fellow Jews, all of you who are visiting Jerusalem, listen carefully and get this story straight. These people aren't drunk as some of you suspect. They haven't had time to get drunk—it's only nine o'clock in the morning. This is what the prophet Joel announced would happen:

"In the Last Days," God says,
"I will pour out my Spirit
on every kind of people:
Your sons will prophesy,
also your daughters;
Your young men will see visions,
your old men dream dreams.
When the time comes,
I'll pour out my Spirit
On those who serve me, men and women both,
and they'll prophesy.
I'll set wonders in the sky above
and signs on the earth below,
Blood and fire and billowing smoke,
the sun turning black and the moon blood-red,
Before the Day of the Lord arrives,
the Day tremendous and marvelous;
And whoever calls out for help
to me, God, will be saved.”

(Acts 2: 14-21 The Message)