Emily grew up in Davenport, IA and moved to Kenosha, WI to attend college at Carthage in 2003. She graduated in 2007 with degrees in Public Relations and Communication & Digital Media. She then moved to Milwaukee, WI to answer customer complaint letters for Kohl’s Department stores. After she couldn’t take angry customers anymore, she moved back to Kenosha to work as Alumni Director for Carthage College. In November 2009, she got engaged to Brent Nelsen. Soon after she moved to Madison, WI and started working as the CAM assistant. Brent and Emily were married August 2010. Emily enjoys baking, reading, being outdoors, running, jumping and eating icecream.

After Kayla’s talk last night, this story came to mind. I think it has some interesting parallels to the church… let me know what you think…

A Parable of a Lighthouse

On a dangerous seacoast where shipwrecks often occur there was a once a crude little life-saving station. The building was just a hut, and there was only one boat, but the few devoted members kept a constant watch over the sea, and with no thought for themselves, they went out day or night tirelessly searching for the lost.

Many lives were saved by this wonderful little station, so that it became famous. Some of those who were saved, and various others in the surrounding areas, wanted to become associated with the station and give of their time and money and effort for the support of its work. New boats were bought and new crews were trained. The little life-saving station grew.

Some of the new members of the life-saving station were unhappy that the building was so crude and so poorly equipped. They felt that a more comfortable place should be provided as the first refuge of those saved from the sea.

So they replaced the emergency cots with beds and put better furniture in an enlarged building. Now the life-saving station became a popular gathering place for its members, and they re-decorated it beautifully and furnished it as a sort of club.

Less of the members were now interested in going to sea on life-saving missions, so they hired life boat crews to do this work.

The mission of life-saving was still given lip-service but most were too busy or lacked the necessary commitment to take part in the life-saving activities personally.

About this time a large ship was wrecked off the coast, and the hired crews brought in boat loads of cold, wet, and half-drowned people.

They were dirty and sick, and some of them had black skin, and some spoke a strange language, and the beautiful new club was considerably messed up. So the property committee immediately had a shower house built outside the club where victims of shipwreck could be cleaned up before coming inside.

At the next meeting, there was a split in the club membership. Most of the members wanted to stop the club’s life-saving activities as being unpleasant and a hindrance to the normal life pattern of the club.

But some members insisted that life-saving was their primary purpose and pointed out that they were still called a life-saving station. But they were finally voted down and told that if they wanted to save the life of all the various kinds of people who were shipwrecked in those waters, they could begin their own life-saving station down the coast. They did.

As the years went by, the new station experienced the same changes that had occurred in the old. They evolved into a club and yet another life-saving station was founded.

If you visit the seacoast today you will find a number of exclusive clubs along that shore. Shipwrecks are still frequent in those waters, only now most of the people drown.

Author unknown

Hey all – Just got this update from Matt:

Hi everyone.  The 1^st week and a half of sabbatical has been amazing in a way that I didn’t expect.  I have been eating at great patios and decks outdoors, soaking in lots of sunshine, skateboarding, and playing doubles beach volleyball, and I haven’t even left the Midwest yet!!  Unbelievable!  I just love warm, sunny weather!  It energizes me like little else.  The first week of sabbatical was spent relaxing at home, spending time with God, going on dates with my girls,  working out daily, and catching up on some reading.

After that, Rachel and I took off to some friends’ cabin about an hour north of here for 4 days just the two of us.  The cabin is on a lake that is about a mile around with a great sandy beach all the way around it.  Our few days together were incredible as we had lots of time to talk, eat good food, watch lots of March Madness basketball, take naps and enjoy the outdoors together.

So, needless to say, the time has been wonderful.  Decompressing took longer than I though it would all together.  I didn’t realize the extent to which I was attached to being in the know about things going on around Blackhawk within our downtown community and our college ministry.  I had to work hard at not checking or sending work-related email.  But now, I seem to have found a rhythm and stride that is allowing me to relax and disconnect.  It feels good.

I take off for Florida today to be by myself for a week.  I’ll be down near my extended family, staying in a condo on the beach.  I checked the surf report this morning and waves look to be decent for the next few days so that is great news.  It’s always hard for me to be away from Rachel and the girls but I’m looking forward to being on the ocean and having some extended time with God while I am on my own.  If you think of it, you could pray for me that my time with God would be rich and I would be reminded of God’s love for me just as I am.  I am realizing that my identity in Christ can easily get tangled into my job as a pastor.  It’s easy to forget the extent to which God loves me just as me.

That’s it for now.  More to updates come while in Florida when my arms are too tired to paddle anymore!

Okay, I’ll admit it… I’m one of those people that start listening to Christmas music the first chance I get! And I know there is one Madison station that is already playing ‘All Christmas Music, All The Time’. (Thank you 94.9)!

I know it drives most people crazy to hear Christmas music before Thanksgiving. My husband’s aunt posted on her facebook wall a photo from a sign in Nordstrom’s that said, “We won’t be decking our halls until Friday, November 27th. Why? Well, we like the idea of celebrating one holiday at a time”. I think that’s neat that a store is willing to wait extra time to put out the Christmas decor. Most places started on Halloween day or before! In my mind they are all about revenue… And that DOES make me sad.

But I look forward to Christmas music all year! Some of the cheesier songs can definitely wait until Christmas (or never), but those Christmas hymns remind me about the wonderful time of year of being close with family and the best gift the world has ever received (hopefully you know what I’m talking about).

And I will leave you with this stanza from my favorite Christmas song that puts a tear in my eye ever time:

O holy night, the stars are brightly shining;
It is the night of the dear Savior’s birth!
Long lay the world in sin and error pining,
Till He appeared and the soul felt its worth.
A thrill of hope, the weary soul rejoices,
For yonder breaks a new and glorious morn.

Fall on your knees, O hear the angel voices!
O night divine, O night when Christ was born!
O night, O holy night, O night divine!

Remember your first days on campus? My first days on campus are when I first felt real freedom. I remember being in our college’s cafeteria and thinking I could eat ice cream for dinner and no one could stop me. I could stay up until 2am when I had class the next morning. And not only could my parents do nothing about it, there were many others who would stay up just as late. College for me was a time of new friendships, falling in love, broken hearts, failed exams, aced exams. It was a time of figuring out the most important things in life and what decisions I would make without my parents watching my back. It was my first step into adulthood and really discovering who I am as a person.

I also remember being terrified. I went to a small school 3 hours away from home. I only knew one other person on campus and I was worried about making friends. It wasn’t since kindergarden that I had to make an entire set of friends and back then the hardest thing about it was sharing my toys. Well, I ended up making some wonderful, life long friends throughout college. I was very blessed to have some wonderful Christ followers step into my life and invite me into their community. It forever changed my path and who I am today.

I bring this all up because another school year is about to being. Hundreds of new students in the Madison area will be going through the same excitements and fears in the upcoming weeks. And this is what CAM’s Welcome Week events are all about – so join in! Meet some new people – get involved – find a community! CAM is all about being a community where you can get connected, ask questions and explore your faith! You could change someone’s life! Here are the events – come to one or all of them!

Aug 30th: Sand Volleyball & Ice Cream @ the Regent

Aug 31st: Game Night

Sept 1st: First Football game (go to the game or watch it at the guy’s house)

Sept 2nd: Frisbee & Bonfire

Sept 3rd: Farmer’s Market & Picnic

Sept 4th: Coffee before Downtown Church

Sept 5th: GRILL OUT!

Sept 6th: First CAM of the semester

Check out our facebook (Blackhawk CAM) for more info, dates and times! Hope to see you there!

Alright everyone – It’s Quiz Time!

Can you name the person who said the following quotes: Justin Bieber or Mohandas Gandhi?

• Peace is its own reward.

• I believe in equality for everyone, except reporters and photographers.

• If a few drops of the ocean are dirty, the ocean does not become dirty.

• All people are equal and all people deserve respect.

• If the Lord can forgive so can I.

• Nobody can hurt me without my permission.

• Always aim at complete harmony of thought and word and deed.

• Hate is a funny thing.

• Live as if you were to die tomorrow. Learn as if you were to live forever.

• My prayers go out tonight to the people of New Zealand.

• Happiness is when what you think, what you say, and what you do are in harmony.

• When you smile I smile, and when my friends hurt I hurt.

• I’m not dead. I had to check on this one, but it turns out I’m alive.

• My life is my message.

• The best way to find yourself is to lose yourself in the service of others.

• One in eight people in the world lack access to clean water.

• Their hate can never stop you from chasing your dream.

• Even if you are a minority of one, the truth is the truth.

• Before you criticize somebody, walk a mile in their shoes. That way you are a mile away and have their shoes.

• Even last week they had me scolded on a plane in the news because I wasn’t in my seat fast enough.

• In a gentle way, you can shake the world.

• The act of giving is so much better than the act of taking.

Write your answers in the Comment section – Can anyone get them all right?? I will post next week with the answers

I am currently reading Donald Miller’s “Searching for God Know What”. I appreciate his writing because it makes me laugh out loud one minute and sit back a ponder the next. (My favorite book of his is still “A Million Miles in a Thousand Years”). This book (Searching for God Knows What) has really challenged me on how I read the Bible and probably more importantly, where I get my value from! The Bible isn’t meant to be read as a ‘how to’ book full of formulas and tips on living. It’s a narrative; a love story about us and God really. Donald’s insight on particular verses don’t always fit with the ‘norm’ interpretation and makes you think. I don’t know if I completely agree with all of his thoughts, but I think its great to be challenged!

And as for where my value comes from… I really like his lifeboat analogy. A teacher once gave him and his class a list of people on a lifeboat (like a doctor, lawyer, child, old person) and they had to decide who gets thrown off to save everyone. Donald compares our lives to this lifeboat. He observes that we always need to be better than someone so we don’t get thrown off. Meaning we’re always comparing ourselves against one another and looking for validity from other humans instead of God. As I reflect on my own life, I can see that I am this way without even realizing it! This is definitely something I plan to work on.

If anyone would like to sit and chat about this book, let me know! I’m almost done reading it

“…evolution may explain how we came from apes, but it does nothing to explain why we wear clothes.”

The grill out was great fun! Food, music volleyball! Too bad we forgot to take pictures

We aren’t sure how many people ended up coming, but we do know you all ate 362 hot dogs & brats, 4 large coolers full of watermelon slices, 12 giant bags of puppy chow and tons of chips. Way to go!

After all that fun are you wondering how to get more involved over the summer? Come check out Summer CAM next week in the basement of the Regent at 8pm. (And if you loved the volleyball join us at the courts outside the Regent at 7pm).There will be signs posted in the Regent to help you get down there!

Do you want to meet up with someone from CAM for coffee to learn more about CAM? E-mail us at: cam@blackhawkchurch.org

See you next week

Hey all!

Study Day (Mon, May 9th) was a blast again this year! We counted over 1250 students come through Blackhawk’s doors that Monday. (See pic below).

We had a raffle for Mifflin Tickets – And the winner is….

Nicholas Boldt!

Congrats! And thanks for everyone who helped make it a great day

After many years as a ministry, the staff of CAM has decided to close the doors and pursue their true loves. Even though we have many fond and great memories from CAM, we feel it is time to say good bye.

Kayla Dunnum will be perusing her lifetime dream in being a Pet Psychologist. Yes, Kayla will tell you what your goldfish is thinking.

Brett Michaelsen has had many job offers as a clown in a rodeo. He has accepted a job as ‘main clown’ at a rodeo in Dallas. Don’t wear red.

Matt Metzger, with the inspiration of his two daughters, will become a Barbie Dress Designer. He has no current job offers, but has started his own business on the side.

And I, Emily Nelsen, plan to become a professional bodybuilder. Watch out.

So good-bye all, we had a good run.

(PS. in case you didn’t see what today is – APRIL FOOlS!)

We threw a lot of Bible verses at you these past three weeks during our Dating Series. I have typed them all out for you below. Take some time to reflect and meditate on what God is saying to us in these verses.

Psalm 139
For the director of music. Of David. A psalm.
1 O LORD, you have searched me and you know me.
2 You know when I sit and when I rise;
you perceive my thoughts from afar.
3 You discern my going out and my lying down; you are familiar with all my ways.
4 Before a word is on my tongue
you know it completely, O LORD.

1 John 4:9-10 
9 This is how God showed his love among us: He sent his one and only Son into the world that we might live through him. 10 This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins.

Jeremiah 29:11
For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.

Matthew 6:33 
But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.

Proverbs 31:30
Charm is deceptive, and beauty is fleeting;    but a woman who fears the LORD is to be praised.

Colossians 3:1-4
Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things. For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God. When Christ, who is your life, appears, then you also will appear with him in glory.

Colossians 1:28-29 
We proclaim him, admonishing and teaching everyone with all wisdom, so that we may present everyone perfect in Christ. To this end I labor, struggling with all his energy, which so powerfully works in me.

Matthew 22:37-40 
Jesus replied: “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.”

1 Corinthians 13:4-8 
Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. Love never fails.

Matthew 20:25-28 
Jesus called them together and said, “You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their high officials exercise authority over them. Not so with you. Instead, whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, and whoever wants to be first must be your slave— just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.”

Colossians 1:28-29 
We proclaim him, admonishing and teaching everyone with all wisdom, so that we may present everyone perfect in Christ. To this end I labor, struggling with all his energy, which so powerfully works in me.

1 Corinthians 7:32-35 
I would like you to be free from concern. An unmarried man is concerned about the Lord’s affairs—how he can please the Lord. But a married man is concerned about the affairs of this world—how he can please his wife— and his interests are divided. An unmarried woman or virgin is concerned about the Lord’s affairs: Her aim is to be devoted to the Lord in both body and spirit. But a married woman is concerned about the affairs of this world—how she can please her husband. I am saying this for your own good, not to restrict you, but that you may live in a right way in undivided devotion to the Lord.

2 Corinthians 6:14-15
Do not be yoked together with unbelievers. For what do righteousness and wickedness have in common? Or what fellowship can light have with darkness? What harmony is there between Christ and Belial? What does a believer have in common with an unbeliever?