Oprah comes to Vegas!

To tape her show and I got to see ALL three of them!!!
Show views on May 8th!

A Lovely Weekend!

My mom and grandmother flew in.
My Aunt Wilma and Molly drove in.
And we all got to see Jersey Boys!

Social Policy

Its a hard class and a little boring mainly about Social Welfare Policy (TANF) and Child Abuse/Neglect.

Well today my professor started talking about "the thing going on in Texas...400 kids getting taken out of their homes." Well I had not idea about the fundamentalist Mormons and all of it (which now I have educated myself on cnn.com) His response was the following: " You are a college student and should know what is going on in our world today, you need not be ignorant on world events." To which I responded (very politely) "Well I watched to local news last night and saw nothing about this." Which I had but really just to keep the scoop on the new Hillary and Obama fight.

He went on to say, "I don't understand when college students don't know whats going on, do you know what the War in Iraq is?" To which my classmate and someone I have gotten close to got angry. She yelled a little...

With all this said I GOT INTO THE SCHOOL OF SOCIAL WORK today. Even with not knowing current news reports.

The Crossing's Newsletter

7 Questions for Nate Johnson

1. What do you do for The Crossing and tell us about your family. I am the Creative Arts Pastor for student ministries and my wife and I moved to Las Vegas from Kentucky this past January. Emily and I have been married for a little over a year but have been dating since early High School. I have two older brothers and one older sister. My parents have been happily married for over 35 years.
   
   
2. What is your favorite thing about working with students?
   My favorite part about working with students is the energy and joy I get by being around them. My passion and desire to show Jesus Christ is increased every time I get to hang out with a student. I have had many young adults invest in my life, which has impacted my walk with Christ greatly. To think that God would want to use me in impacting students is a very humbling mission.
   
   
3. If you had the opportunity to meet one public figure of your choice, who would you pick?
   If I could meet any public figure it would have to be Bono from U2. Not only is he the lead singer of one of my favorite bands of all time, but I would love to talk to him about some of the issues that he speaks passionately about.
   
   
4. What are you listening to right now?
   I am listening to an EP of a Christian band that is called The Myriad. I love their driving sound and purposeful lyrics.
   
   
5. What’s your favorite thing about Las Vegas so far?
   My favorite thing about Las Vegas so far is that no matter where I go in this town, I can see the Luxor light. Not only is it a symbol that I actually live in Las Vegas, but also, I get turned around a lot and it helps me always know where the strip is in relation to where I am going.
   
   
6. What’s your favorite sports team?
   My favorite sports team is and always will be the University of Kentucky Wildcats. No matter what sport it may be, I bleed blue!
   
   
7. Where is your favorite place you have traveled to?
   My most favorite place that I have visited has to be Northern Ireland. I went there on a mission trip a few years ago and I was blown away by how many different shades of green there could be in one area.

   
   

Strive

April is Graffiti clean up month!
Our students did a great job painting over graffiti
The bottom picture is of Kyle and Nate rounding up the troops
I thought it was cute!

Nate's parents came and we saw Stomp! It was so fun!

Since Nate doesn't write on my blog check out a blog he did write on here.
Also were starting a new series at church- Nate made the logo above.
TORN.It seems the world is torn between God's view and the cultures view on Sex

Our crazy lives!

Nate and some boys at CIY Believe
Then we were off to Mexico!

The House we built, I didn't get to stay to see it totally finished!
Had to come home to get ready for Easter.
Nate stayed and got to dedicate the house to the family.
The mother is about to have open heart surgery and needs a clean place to recover.

Then Fred and Brian came over Easter.
It was WONDERFUL to see them!

Do you know the Capital of Nevada? Don't Cheat and look it up...

Elaine and Cece came to visit!

Then Steph!
Were off to Palm Springs tomorrow for CIY Believe with our Middle Schoolers
Then straight to Mexico to build a house through YWAM with our High Schoolers.

Everyday Stuff

Our house church activity night!

Nate's been riding his bike to work. hehe

Nate's grandmother, Nana painted this.
We got it framed and love it!

Crush Picture

This is just cute.

We had so much fun!

Intersections

Nate wrote a little something.
Since he never writes on here...

Ka- Cirque Du Soleil

Were going Friday!!! 1/2 off for locals and we got some V-day money!
Were so exicted for our first Vegas show as residents.

KÀ by Cirque du Soleil is an unprecedented theatrical event. A masterpiece in storytelling, KÀ uses acrobatic performances, the thrills and action of martial arts techniques from all over the world, plus innovations in puppetry and multimedia to tell the epic tale of twins on a perilous journey to fulfill their shared destiny.

Along the way, the twins confront characters and events representing the opposing forces of good and evil. Before their world comes under attack and collapses around them, the twins receive a magical talisman for protection. As the plot unfolds, danger lies in wait for them at every turn.

KÀ by Cirque du Soleil brings the visual language of cinema to a dazzling live event that is more about storytelling than any previous Cirque du Soleil production.

Check out the Crossing's Student Ministries website. Nate has spent a lot of time redoing it! It looks great!

CRUSH

We had an event tonight at church for Valentines Day.
It was a lot of fun and a great outreach for our students to bring friends!
Nate made the logo above!! He is just so cool.

Tacky Party

Nate kinda looked sleazy. Kyle wore a tacky sweater...that was his. this is Camden, she isn't tacky, she is just cute.

We love Daryl. The tacky party was at his house.
He also leads Nate's House Church with him.
He is in a bath rob and has lighthouse salt and pepper shakers!

The letter of James has often been referred to as the "proverbs" of the New Testament. Filled with poignant illustrations and real-life application, James speaks through the pages of his letter to the "right now" issues of our lives and our faith. In the midst of this series we will journey together to regain our focus and rediscover some life-changing elements of an authentic faith.

I really like the book of James and encourage you to read it!

What is a Rebel?

Nate and I went to our first UNLV basketball game.
It was fun, they (we?) won BUT what really is a rebel other than a man with a white mustache and a cowboy hat? I googled it and found nothing!
Matt (left) is a student at The Crossing and his sister Chantal took us!
We go to their house for House Church on Wednesdays.

House Church

Nate and I lead a House Church on Wednesday nights. These are small groups designed to build community not just with you group but with one or two others. We have two girls groups and a guys at a family of the churches house. We eat a meal together (which different people bring: last week I made pasta, this week someone's mom brought sloppy joes!!) then we do announcements, worship, and talk about anything else that is important.

Each house church picks a country that they want to impact this year. Our students picked Asia. A girl in the church was there first semester on a missions trip so they collected money to send her a care package. Now were working with Gospel for Asia. A missions organizations. Are students bring money each week and are trying to buy GFA-missionaries a bicycle. I think its such a cool thing that these students are thinking not only outside themselves, their schools, church, home but also their country.

Knott's Berry Farm

World's Largest Thermometer. Big deal.

This is Kyle the intern we like him.

Our day at the park was fun. Full of lots of middle school students.
Nate still isn't feeling great but he survived and drove in a church van.
Sunday morning we went to RockHarbor Church in California.
It was very trendy, very Cali. We enjoyed it.
We also saw the most beautiful rainbow it followed us for at least an hour!

Monte Carlos Fire

Since Nate and I hardly left the house today
(he gets Friday's off) we didn't see any of the action.
Were off to Knott's Berry Farm this weekend.
Be praying for Nate he isn't feeling good!

This Weekend!

Nate and I hiked on Friday.
We also went to the caucus but it was a little more boring than I had hoped.
Plus Hillary won.

I love the Bellagio conservatory.
It changes seasonally right now its the Chinese New Years!

My dad came to visit!
Nate is out of town Monday-Wednesday or a staff retreat!
Its nice to have him here!

Upstairs

This is our "bonus" room upstairs. I love it!

Not great lighting but its really cute.
Our bathroom is great but really narrow so the picture was bad!

These prints are in my guest bathroom. I adore them!
Our guest room for all you that will come!!