Passion 2012

It's finally here! Today, the Passion conferences released their official promotion video for the 2012 conference held at the Georgia Dome in January. 


Passion is an annual conference designed to launch a movement within Generation Y to carry the Name of Jesus to the ends of the earth and to make His Name famous. Since this conference is geared (at least right now) toward Generation Y, the age limit for attendees is 18-25. Don't let that disappoint you though. Passion always needs volunteers!--and let me tell you that Passion attendees love those volunteers and appreciate everything they do. Since this is the last year I can attend the conference, I've already decided that I'm going to volunteer every year (if within my power). 


This conference is incredible. I specifically chose to opt out of the 2010 American Christian Fiction Writers conference (as in I didn't even try to save up for it) just so I could attend Passion 2011. That came as shock to some of my friends--especially since they had to hear me lament for days over the fact I couldn't attend the ACFW 2009 conference. I probably exaggerated the "lamenting for days" part. Realistically, it was more like a month! 


Yes, Passion is that awesome. 

Here is another 45 second snippet of a different video.

If you'd like to volunteer or register, simply click on the banner. 

"All My Fountains"

Yesterday, the Passion Conferences released an awesome video recorded during the gathering that took place in January. This song is catchy, and the message is so much deeper than I originally thought when I first heard it.

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Isn't it a great song? I'll never forget, how after this song, I heard one of the most powerful messages that I've ever had the privilege of listening to. John Piper stepped into the arena and explained how this song conveys God being at the bottom--the foundation of our joy--and how everything we do springs up from God and is motivated by our love for Him. One of my favorite quotes is when Piper asked,

"Do you enjoy worshiping God, making much of God, because he's committed to making much of you? Because that's idolatry of the worst kind. Or, do you enjoy God's making much of you because it shows you the kind of God that He is?"

In an arena filled with 20,000 college students, every person held a collective breath in stunned silence as we took hold of those words and allowed them to linger through our mind.


 Wow. . .


Until that moment, I never considered that I could turn God's love for me into an idol; that I could worship how He loves me more than I worship Him. I never realized how I could take the Gospel--that which is to  magnify Jesus Christ--and somehow turn it into a shallow belief that it's all about me. I believe Piper even pointed out that God loves us too much to let His own love for us become an idol. He is a jealous God.


I highly recommend this message. If you would like to download it to your computer, click here.


Also, don't forget registration is now open for Passion 2012 and will be held at the Georgia Dome in Atlanta, Georgia. A flood of national and international college students will pour into the Dome come January 1st. The conference expanded the occupancy to 75,000 students. If you fall into the appropriate age to attend, or know someone who you believe will enjoy the conference, then click the banner at the bottom.


Hope to see you there!

Purchase Song:

   

The Wait Is Over

You'll never believe what came in the mail today. The Passion 2011 CD titled, "Here For You." My legs have been sore for the last two days, but that didn't stop me from wanting to do a little dance of excitement. After all, I've been waiting since January 4th for its release.


Without out a doubt, if you haven't purchased this album yet, then  I highly recommend you get right on it. Last year's release, "Awakening," which features the radio hit, "Our God," can only be defined as epic. This year, I'm not sure if there is even a word to describe the musical and spiritual climax the music takes.


The Passion albums are recorded live during the Passion conferences. For some reason, that is what I love most about the Passion series. I find it incredibly awesome that one can hear the students who attended the conference actually singing on the record.


The songs on this year's album are incredible. From the powerful opening track "Here For You," to the upbeat "Set Free" that will make you move on your feet, to my all-time favorite, "Spirit Fall," this album is bound to move you in worship.

One major disappointment with the album is that it failed to completely capture the Passion 2011 experience. But let's be honest--that is asking a lot from anyone. After all, it's impossible to capture the amazing, awe-inspiring, Holy presence of God the students experienced during those four days at Passion 2011 Atlanta, and cram Him into a tiny album. It's one of those things you have to experience for yourself and carry with you for the rest of your days, maintaining the zeal and fire that surrounded the students at Passion.

If you didn't have a chance to take part in the experience I just described, then you still have another opportunity. On April 1-3, 2011, Passion conferences will host another event in Dallas/ Fort Worth, Texas. There's still time to register. I highly recommend you jump on the chance. Simply click on the banner below, and it will take you to the site, where you can learn about further details.

"The Sound of Rushing Waters"

 "Then I heard what sounded like a great multitude, like the roar of rushing waters and loud peals of thunder, shouting: 'Hallelujah, for our Lord God Almighty reigns. Let us rejoice and be glad and give him glory!" Revelation 19:6-7, NIV. 


This time last Tuesday, I found myself in Atlanta, GA attending the Passion Conference. I have to say that I returned home transformed.


The Passion conference isn't really a conference, but rather, it is a movement designed to empower my generation with the awareness of our place and purpose in God's Kingdom--a purpose to make His Name famous through-out the earth. Led by some of today's most profound teachers and worship leaders, anyone who attends is sure to come away with a blessing. For me, however, it's not the teachers nor the worship leaders who left their imprint on me. If I had to sum up my passion experience with one word, it would be "Kingdom."

The start of prayers 

Last year when I attended Passion 2010, I left feeling as though God had poked a hole through the clouds and given me a tiny glimpse of what Heaven is like. This year, I realized I don't have to wait until Heaven to see the fullness of God's kingdom. His Kingdom is active and alive here on earth.


With over 22,000 college students in attendance, one can imagine what it must sound like in the Phillips arena, where the worship sessions are conducted. Imagine the sound of that many students, raising their voices in unity as they pour out all their adoration to the King of kings. Imagine the sight of students lifting their hands high toward Heaven, praising the King on His throne. That is Passion.


I'll never forget when Louie Giglio stepped on the stage during the last day of Passion and asked the students to lift up a shout of praise to Jesus. The sound that filled the room took me right to that verse in Revelation. It sounded like I was standing underneath a waterfall. It also reminded me of that scene in The Return of the King, where the long-awaited king's coronation is finally taking place. The people are excited, they're filled with joy, and they are lifting a shout of praise to him. That's how it was for us.

Students entering the Go Center

One of the things I love most about Passion is their Do Something Now campaign. Students are encouraged to find a global/local cause and engage themselves in it. This year Passion presented 10 different causes that averaged up to a total cost of $470,000. Yet we gave over $1,167,249. 24.  To see the causes, I encourage you to click on this link: http://268generation.com/blog/


The thing I love most about the Do Something Now campaign, is that they encourage us to not only invest our money in the Kingdom purpose, but our time, as well. We have the opportunity to pray over Bibles heading out to Columbia, to write notes of encouragement, to write prayers on index cards. They also bring the opportunity for child sponsorship, which allows us to invest continually in a child's life.


University students from all over the world attend this conference. It's amazing to worship with people who are scattered across the nations, each one speaking a different language and coming from a different ethnic group, and to realize that all of us are joined by the same heartbeat, one that pumps the cleansing blood of Jesus through each of our veins.

The model of a house being built in Haiti

I no longer feel like I'm peeking through the clouds of heaven and catching a glimpse of what's in store. I realize that the Kingdom of God is here and His people are gathering in unity to pour forth His praises now and shake the nations with His glory. The events we read about in revelation are not the beginning of God's kingdom. They are simply the end of His Kingdom on earth, the end of the first chapter in His glorious plan. Each child of God is a part of something amazing, and so much bigger than what we ever imagined. Through righteousness God's kingdom will shine.


There is a movement sweeping through the hearts of my generation, awakening us to die to the selfishness, petty discords that have plagued us for years, church politics, mediocrity and complacency and instead to pick up our cross and put on Jesus' righteousness.


"But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people belonging to God that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light. Once you were not a people, but now you are the people of God; once you had not received mercy, but no you have received mercy." 1 Peter 2:9-10.

The Attitude of Christ (Guest blogger, Chris)

As I mentioned in my last post, a few weeks ago I attended the Passion 2011 conference with a group of friends. I had my friend Kristine blog about her experience. Now, I'd like to introduce you to my friend Chris, who is going to blog about his own experience and what he learned through the conference. I also encourage you to check out his blog: www.Christophermims.net

The Attitude of Christ by Chris

Chris

Several weeks ago, I attended a conference in Atlanta, GA called Passion. This was not the first time I had taken a group to such a gathering. The theme verse for the conference is Isaiah 26:8 "In the path of your judgments, oh Lord, we wait for you; your name and remembrance are the desire of our soul." The conference caters to a generation of young adults and seeks to renew their spirits so that God's "name and remembrance are the desire of" their souls.

I seem to attend these conferences with the attitude of “I know what's coming up.” Not that such an attitude makes the conference any less exciting. I always learn something new! This year, I learned about the attitude of Christ. The facilitator of one of the smaller groups that I was in pointed out the passage in Philippians 2:1-13 where Paul gives us an image of Jesus Christ's attitude. Paul speaks of how Jesus constantly lowered Himself: He was God yet He became a man, He became a servant, He humbled himself to death—even death on a cross (the cruelest, most excruciating, and humiliating death known to the world at that time). The facilitator then paralleled Philippians 2:1-13 to Isaiah 14:12-14, where it speaks of Satan's attitude. This verse shows Satan is constantly trying to raise himself! Satan is looking out for himself and himself alone! Quite obviously, this is the exact opposite of how we should be living as "Christ-followers."

This really hit home for me, because at times I feel my motivation for doing certain things—even church-related things—seems to call more attention to myself rather than to God. This is something that I have to rely on God to change in my heart and in doing so, give Him the glory for such! How can I expect others to have the heart and actions of servant, when simultaneously, I am not doing the same? I pray that God continues to work in my life and change my heart, and that the same happens in each of you!

Live the Faith!

Making Christ My Firm Foundation (Guest Blogger, Kristine)

I've just recently come back from a Passion conference that  I attended with a group of friends. Today, I'd like to introduce you to one of my friends, Kristine, who attended the trip. She's going to be guest blogging today. I love what she has to say about the impact the experience had on her. So, please give her a warm welcome!

Making Christ My Firm Foundation by Kristine 

Kristine

Every time I head into an event like Passion, I expect to have these warm fuzzy feelings as I

worship. I associate those feelings with God being present. The first couple of nights at Passion, I didn't experience those feelings at all. For the past couple of months leading up to Passion, I felt like I was so far away from God that I could never find my way back.

My job requires me to  work 2nd shift—so I don't get to enjoy the Christian fellowship/interaction as most people do. I've noticed fellowship makes a difference. I read an example of a Pastor who went to visit a man in his congregation who hadn’t been to church in a long time. Inside that man’s house, they sat in front of a fire and stared at it for a long time, without saying anything. Suddenly, the pastor reached for the tong and pulled out one of the burning embers, then placed it in front of the fire. It quickly lost its flame.

That story hit me. The fire is like the church’s constant fellowship. And without it, our flames fade and die. For over a year now I've felt like my fire has been completely exhausted and unable to rekindle. For a long time, I've told myself that I'm going to get back on track and restore my relationship with Christ. But it hasn't happened. Something has been holding me back. I kept trying to think of all the things it could be--Guilt; jealousy; fear; laziness. It could be one of those, or it could be all.

I think one of my biggest weights is just the simple fact that I don't know how to have a relationship with Christ. I accepted Jesus into my heart March of 2002. At that moment I became a Christian, but at the time in my life it was just a label. I didn't know where to go from there or how to build that relationship. I was told to read the Bible and pray, but I never really grasped the concept. Because I never did these things at the beginning, I never developed that firm foundation with Christ. To quote something that a friend of mine said, I was essentially trying to build a relationship with Christ starting at the roof. 

During the worship sessions at Philips Arena, I sat there, looking around and seeing all the hands lifted, and hearing the people really screaming to God. Yet, I felt nothing. I felt like I was singing just to make noise. I felt fake. I have never felt like that before. So, I closed my eyes and tried to pray to God to work on my heart and allow me to let open my heart to Him, but I was so distracted. Other thoughts kept squeezing their way through. It was frustrating and at the same time it was an eye opener. 

God opened my heart this weekend. He revealed to me that I need to start at the beginning and build a firm foundation with Him. My biggest fear right now is that in a few days or in a few weeks, I'm just going to fall back into what I've been doing and completely forget or push aside God. As a friend of mine stated, we are all of this spiritual high and Satan will do whatever he can to steal that from us. I'm afraid he will do just that with me. But, I know that I have a great group of supporters and I know that prayer works. I believe if we all pray for each other that we will not allow Satan to steal the joy of Christ from us, we will be able to hold on to our flames and allow them to grow bigger and brighter so we can carry the name of Jesus—starting with our own Church. So, after all that, I would simply like to ask that you all pray for me. Pray that I will have the strength and the continued determination to start at the bottom and build this meaningful relationship with Christ. Pray that I (and everyone else) won't allow Satan to get in the way of that. I am doing the same for you all. :]

Passion 2011

I'm so excited! In less than a month I will be heading to Atlanta for the Passion 2011 conference. I attended last year and had a blast. I learned so much about God at the conference, and certain thoughts that changed my thinking continue to resonate deep within my heart this day. 

If you've never attended Passion then you should definitely look into doing so. Here is a link so you can check it out: 

http://268generation.com/passion2011/

I've also provided the two promotional videos for you to stream on here. One is from Passion 2010 so that you can get an idea of what Passion is about.