Sunday Reflections 12.21.08

Is Christmas really this week? I can't believe 2008 is coming to an end - Once again - I need a machine that can slow down time... Here are some thoughts from the week:

• Here are all the articles/blog posts I thought were worth reading this week!
  

• Dating - Keith Moore wrecked me on dating - he said, "Because some of you haven't been diligent - you haven't met that perfect person yet. It's been the grace of God you haven't because they'd probably look at you and just keep walking - you're not ready yet. Become what you want to attract!"

• One of my good friends, Ryan Walczak, got married on Friday - I'm so happy for him!
  

• I just watched this sermon (Developing an Attitude of Gratitude) by John Maxwell that was unbelievable - I would definitely recommend watching it!

• I've been listening to Keith Moore's series on Diligence - Wow - another (like all of his) must listen to series!

• Revolution (Our Youth Ministry) has a new website up! Check it out here!

• I'm 2 weeks into training for the Pittsburgh Marathon with Scott Dozier and Chris Martin - through the process we're all going to grow spiritually, mentally, and physically - it's a joy to go through the journey with these guys!

• This week I'll be conducting my 2008 review - I am so pumped! If you don't have a review planned for your year - I would strongly encourage you to!

That's enough for now... enjoy your Sunday

Read more...

Sunday Night Reflections 12.15.08

Alright... so I'm a day late... but tons of things happened this week... here you go:

• Here are all the articles I thought were worth a read

• I am officially done with College (undergrad) forever! Glory to God

• Pastor Larry came back and spoke at Rev last Wednesday - it was awesome!

• We're currently making a new website for Revolution - it's going to be sweet!

• Chris Martin is helping me with a blog makeover - he's a blessing!

• This was the first official week of training for the Pittsburgh Marathon in May - I'll be training with Chris Martin and Scott Dozier - there are a ton of people running the half marathon - if you're interested let me know and I can hook you up with them!
  

• If you haven't already - check out my friend, Zack Blair's blog - it's awesome! Him and his wife Lauren lead our college ministry at Victory.

• I went to one of my good friends, Ryan Walczaks, bachelor party Saturday night - I interned with him at Revolution - back when we were not allowed to date (oh the conversations we had about being single!) Now he's getting mad - I'm so happy for him (his wedding is this Friday) Check out their website here!

That's enough for now......

Read more...

Sunday Night Reflections 12.07.08

Another week come and gone- Can someone please slow down time! I just got in from Rev's Leadership Christmas Party - it was a blast! Here are some thoughts:

• We had an awesome all-worship night at 19 North - God did some awesome things in my heart . . . Love it
• Here is a list of all the articles and blog posts I thought were worth a read this week.
  
• Started a series by Keith Moore this week on Diligence (thanks Weav!) - it's awesome!
• I officially had my last week of classes ever in college - as of Friday I'll officially be a college grad - WHEW!
• I'm watching The Princess Bride right now - that movies awesome!
• I'm tired - I'm going to be blogging on my year end review process this week - I hope it helps..
• We had our Staff Leadership Christmas Party on Friday - it was a blast! We had a gift exchange game that got very competitive!! I ended up with a $25 gift card to Barnes and Nobles . . . I love books!
  
• Pastor John had some good messages you need to listen to this week (Check out the podcast here)

Thats it... hope you had a great week!

Read more...

Sunday Night Reflections 11.23.08

Is Thanksgiving really this week? Where did 2008 go? Where is life going? I find myself asking these same questions everyday. I just got in from a long day of church, paintball, riding people around, and grocery shopping... Here are some thoughts from this week:

• Here are the posts/articles I thought were worth reading this week
• Pastor Steve Moore got a blog (believe it or not!!) - Check it out here! I'm sure there will be tons of wisdom to come in that blog!
• Atlanta was unbelievable with Jeanne Mayo and her team - I love them all!!! We got to go to the Martin Luther King memorial and hear a Pastor that walked with him speak into our lives - it was powerful.
  
• I listened to the series "Are You on the Path" by Keith Moore during my trip - I would definitely recommend hitting that up.
  
• Perry Noble continues his series for women: Beautiful, a series for Women and the men that pursue them... Highly recommend it.
  
• Andy Stanley's third message in his series "The Best Question Ever" is out... download it immediately!
  
• This quote by Perry Noble rocked my world:
  

"If you aren’t willing to fight for your vision…then you have no vision…all you have is a daydream that you are begging God to make come true."

• Zack Blair tore it up as usual at 19 North listen to the podcast here.
• Revolution has lots of changes coming up... I am so pumped. Pastor Nathan is doing a great job!

I have the week off of school... 3 day work week...turkey bowl Friday... I'm pretty pumped! Breakfast with my boys and a mentor in the morning - stoked!

Until next time.....Love you guys....Bubs

Read more...

Sunday Morning Reflections 11.16.08

Ok... so it's 6 a.m. (I'm leaving for Atlanta tonight so I won't be able to blog then)and here are my reflections from the week:

• Click here for a list of all of the articles I thought were worth a read this week
• Michael Hyatt had some great blogs on increasing your online presence that you should read
• I'm leaving for Atlanta tonight to spend a few days with Jeanne Mayo and 35+ other youth pastors - I'm pretty excited ...expecting God to do some big things! Whew!
  
• One of my heroes (Pastor Larry Bettencourt) spoke at 19 North last night - had a great message you can listen to here.
  
• Revolution is taking off - new website will be up soon, we're remodeling the youth center slowly, but surely...it's going to be awesome! Sean E Mo tore it up on Wednesday with a message on "Fun". It's worth a listen - Pastor Nathan is speaking this weekend (I'm anxious to listen!!)
• Pastor John spoke on having a winning marriage that fired me up this weekend! Listen here!
• Can you guys believe that Thanksgiving is almost a week away?
• I think this Friday a bunch of us are going to go to light up night - you should come (just a thought)
• Women - don't forget that Perry Noble is in the middle of a great series for you called: Beautiful: A series for women and the men that pursue them! Listen to it!
  

Anyway... I don't think I'll be blogging this week while I am in Atlanta - when I get away... I really do want to get away from everything and let God do a huge work in my heart. I'll miss you guys and I'll be back on Thursday! Have a great week!

Read more...

Sunday Night Reflections 11.9.08

So it has been a really crazy week:

• I moved out on Saturday with two of my friends into a 3 bedroom townhouse - it's pretty awesome! (I'll post pictures at some point) I miss my dad and my sister - Love you guys!

• Rev was sweet - Pastor Nathan had a great message on Wednesday and David Faulk tore it up on the weekend! Our attendance has growing consistently - I am pumped about that

• Andy Stanley's second message in his series "The Best Question Ever" is available to listen to - it's pretty good

• I started listening to a series by Keith Moore called "The Truth about Temptation" - it's definitely worth a listen (but so is everything brother Keith throws down!

• Here is a link to all the articles I thought were worth reading this week - enjoy!

• I get to go to Atlanta next Sunday until Thursday to hang out with Jeanne Mayo and a bunch of youth pastors - I'm pretty excited - I've never been to Atlanta!

That's good for now - night world!

Read more...

Sunday Night Reflections 11.2.08

Is it me or is time flying by? It's November 2008...what the heck! Halloween has come and gone! Before we know it, we'll be putting up our Christmas Trees! Craziness! Life just flies by! Anyway... I had a great week... here are some thoughts/week review:

• Ladies - if you haven't started listening to THIS SERIES (Beautiful: A series for women and the men that pursue them) yet - you better get on that!
  

• Friday night I got to live my dream and actually take part in haunted house. A team from 19 north and I went to serve a local home for troubled teens. I was dressed up as a Chicken and popped out of a box! I scared tons of teenagers! It was awesome. Some teens referred to me as an "F***** chicken!" - lol
  

• Denny Pattyn came and spoke to the youth at Rev on Wednesday - he tore it up! He spoke on sexual purity- yea baby! It was awesome. We also had a costume party - good times!

• This weekend was the big day at Victory. At rev we had 180+ in attendance with 27+salvations - I am so pumped for the future of Rev, 19 North, and Victory!

• During the big day announcements - I got shot with 4-5 paint balls at each service by Chris Marnik - it was .... wonderful

• Click here to see all the articles I thought were of interest this week

Hope you had an amazing weekend! Obviously I'll be posting all about me this week since that is what you voted for... It's going to be hard to let you know all about me in a few posts - I'll do my best!

You're awesome!

Read more...

Sunday Night Reflections 10.26.08

Alright so for me... this has been an insane week. Have you ever had one of those? A week where your entire foundation gets rocked? If I had to pinpoint something that God taught me throughout the week it would be this:

When troubles come your way, consider it an opportunity for great joy. For you know that when your faith is tested, your endurance has a chance to grow. So let it grow, for when your endurance is full developed, you will be perfect and complete, needing nothing! -James 1:2-4

I think whenever "storms" come our way it really shows us where we are in our walk with God. It shows us if we've grown, if we're stagnant, or if we've backed away from Him. I think of the quote, "Tomorrow is the scorecard (report card) of how you handled today." If you've been putting the Word of God in your heart... it'll show... if you haven't...the storms of life will overwhelm you.

As for the rest of my week:

• Ben Rath had an incredible message at 19 North - PLEASE LISTEN TO IT!

• We has a sex, dating, and the single life Question and Answer at Rev both on Wednesday and the weekend. Good times! We had tons of great questions!
  

• If you haven't listened to this message yet - DO IT RIGHT NOW!

• Click here to check out all of the articles I thought were worth reading this week.
  

• Our church had a ridiculous illustration this weekend... I'll post the video when it comes out.
  

See you tomorrow.....

Read more...

Sunday Night Reflections 10.19.08

So this was a rare week for the Bubs... I actually did not have a great week. You ever have a week that you just want to get away from everything? Where all the small things that bother you have all come together and exploded inside of you? I had one of those weeks, however, last night at 19 North God did some really cool things in my life and I'll be posting about it tomorrow.

As for the week:

• Amanda Phillips got married on Friday... I love weddings!

• I burned my thumb on a pop-tart... AH!
  

• Rev - Wednesday at Rev Vanessa Phillips spoke and tore it up... it was an incredible message. Every girl should listen to this (guys too!). Listen to the podcast here.

• This weekend I spoke at Rev... I spoke on having God arrange your marriage...podcast should be up soon

• The ministry of helps training at Victory was awesome!
  

• 19 North - Zack had another great message... he had some lines that changed my life. Check out the podcast.
  

• The Rath Faction - Ben took some ? and A this week... still answering questions... everyone should read his blog!

• Perry Noble had a post that every guy should read

• Pastor Larry now has a blog and twitter - check them out!

I have a lot going on in my heart in my life.... keep me in your prayers!

Read more...

Sunday Night Reflections 10.5.08

I had a long week... but a good one....here are some thoughts:

Ask Anything Friday - This went over really well... next Friday I'll be in Chicago, but I'll be bringing this back on a weekly basis! Get your questions ready!

Revolution: Had a great week at Rev! All Worship night was on Wednesday and Sean and the band tore it up! I totally bailed out on singing Jesus Freak in front of everyone.
Pastor Nathan kicked off our series: Going all the Way this weekend. He was awesome... Definitely had some great one-liners! I would definitely recommend hitting up the podcast!

Achieve Leadership Breakfast - It was great to get back to Achieve... I love learning leadership in the morning with bagels and coffee... little bit of Heaven! Pastor Larry taught on Alignment... good stuff! You can listen to current and past breakfasts on PL's podcast here.

Marathon - Finished my last run with PL before the marathon on Saturday. I can't believe that in one week I'll have already run my first marathon! Insanity... Again, if you'd like to get live updates on our times the day of the marathon via text or e-mail go here.

19 North - David Faulk spoke at 19 North Saturday... he always fires me up for Jesus. Listen to David.

Google Reader - I mentioned this last week, but this thing is awesome! You can put feeds of the majority of sites that you read daily on here and read them and share them! From now on... if I find something of interest (article or blog post) I will share it on my reader. You can check out my Google shared items here!

That is enough for now... back to homework :-( See you tomorrow!

Read more...

Sunday Night Reflections 9.28.08

I had an absolutely amazing weekend!!! Here's my recap of the week:

The Great Race - I got to run this for the second year in a row with Pastor Larry. We had a great time! I ran the 10k (6.25 miles) in 47:50 which comes to a 7:40 mile. I write that because it's the hardest I've ever run that distance... I ran with everything I had and always wants to run under an 8 minute mile-Victory! PL and I ended up running an extra hour and fifteen minutes after the race all around Pittsburgh...it was beautiful! I loved it!

God's Plan (Part 1) Comment - Ben Rath left a fantastic comment on my God's Plans (Part 1) post. YOU NEED TO READ THIS!!!

Life Plan - I read a post by Michael Hyatt that I loved! It is how he created his life plan. It really helped me with what I do to plan my life. If you're having trouble giving your life purpose . . . this will help a lot!

Google Reader - I just started using Google reader which allows me to put feeds from whatever sites and blogs I read on a daily basis on one site. This makes my daily reading so much easier! If you read a lot of blogs and websites on a daily basis... you need this!

Wicked - I just posted my review of this.... read it!

Revolution was awesome this past week...we finished up Fear Factor. Two girls were in the finals and they ended up eating Madagascar Hissing Cockroaches! Nasty! It was a blast! We had our student leadership training on Saturday morning and it went really well!

There is always more I could talk about... I'm exhausted though... bed time!

LOVE YOU GUYS!

Read more...

Sunday Night Reflections 9.21.08

It's been a while since I've made a post!!! Ahhh!!! It was a crazy week... here we go:

23 Miles - I had my last "big" run on Saturday before I start to taper in my training for the marathon. Running 23 miles wasn't actually that bad! We're only 20 days away from the 26.2 monster... I am pumped to get away!

102 Minutes - I meant to post this last week... Ben Rath had a fantastic blog post about 9/11 and the kind of people that were involved.

The Cadre - I mentioned this before, but I am in a mentoring program with Jeanne Mayo. We had our first conference call this past week. It was awesome! She seems like an incredible woman, so loving, so down to earth. I am excited to get mentored by her! I'll get to go to her house in November for a weekend in Atlanta (how sweet is that!!).

Rev - We had a great week at Rev. I got to hang out with Pastor Nate a few times this week... I am really excited about what he brings to the table! Rev is going to go to a new level!

Marriage - Ok... in the past month 2 of my friends from high school got married and one girl I knew just got engages this week. I can't believe how fast time is flying... even more so... I am pumped to see who all my friends marry!

Just some thoughts...

Read more...

Sunday Night Reflections 9.14.08

It's been a pretty sweet week... here are some thoughts:

New Season of Rev- Today we had our last service without a youth pastor. It's been a little over a year of Sean, Zack, and I running youth. I am excited for a new season of Rev and to see it go to another level. I just helped move in our new youth pastor (Nathan Hurst), he is a great guy and I am pumped to see God work through him!

19 North - Zack and Lauren and doing a whole month series called "Co-Ed" which is on sex, dating, and the single life. It's a great series. Last night ZB took talked to the ladies and Lauren talked to the guys. I would recommend listening to the podcasts! Also, we're having the first ever Silver Ring Thing 20-something event at Victory through 19 North this Friday. Do not miss that!

Redefining Relationships - Craig Groeschel had a great blog series this week on redefining relationships. He talked about how the bigger a church gets, the bigger our families become, and as we just grow up in life, we have to constantly be redefining our relationships with people. I'm just starting to see this in ministry and I am realizing it is a very hard thing to go through. Craig's insight really helped me out.

Loves Correction and Submission and Authority - I've been feeding on these two series by Keith Moore... they pretty much rocked my world. Everyone (especially young leaders) need to listen to these two series (along with all of Keith Moore's series!!)

Fear Factor - So we're having a month long Fear Factor competition at Rev. It's been crazy! We had our 2nd round this past Wednesday and made students bob for worms in all kind of nasty junk. It was a blast and I'm pumped for next week... only 4 contestants left!

I'm going out to watch the Steelers game with some great friends tonight... until next time! Love you guys!

Read more...

Things I've Been Reflecting ON 9.10.08

It's been an absolutely insane 2 weeks! A lot of new seasons have started in my life and it will be a big season for making decisions and a lot of change.

New Youth Pastor - we've hired a new youth pastor! Pastor Nathan Hurst from New Orleans! He came to Rev 2 weeks ago and spoke and we got to hang out with him and his wife a while to get to know him. I am excited to sit under new leadership and see what I can learn, I'm excited that Rev is going to go to a new level, and I'm most excited to learn everything God has for me to learn this year through this new experience.

RMU Last Semester - I am finally in my last semester of college. I literally cannot wait until December! This has caused my Fall Schedule to be Insane!

Victory Bible Institute - I am starting my third year of Bible School...I can't even believe that. It seems like Pastor Craig was just telling me they'd be starting it and now I'm in year 3. It's been one of the most beneficial things I've ever done though!

Chicago Marathon - I'm literally a month away from running my first marathon! I've been training since March! That went so fast . . . it's going to be tough, but I am excited to cross the finish line!

What's Next? - Perhaps this has been the craziest thing I've been reflecting on. In the past 2 weeks, I've had situations come into my life that I'd thought would never be there and it's just added to my phase of dreaming for the next 5 years of my life. I can't believe I'm growing up... but here is what I know: God is big, He'll lead me, and if I seek Him first, He will do super abundantly far above all I could dare ask, hope, or think in my life. (Eph. 3:20)

Messages Worth Listening To:

• Erwin McManus did a message on his podcast: "Is Jesus the Only Way?" - a must listen to for anyone!

• I started listening to 2 Keith Moore's Series: One on Submission and One on Faithfulness. I would recommend them both as well. Especially for young leaders!
  

Read more...

I Am Pumped Up!

I was listening to Keith Moore and he said,

"I don't know if you know me or not, but I'm the kind of guy, that if God tells me to do something, I don't care if it's completely and politically correct, I don't care if nobody likes it, I'll just do it, and I'll do it again and again and again. Because in a few days I'm going to stand in front of Him and give an account for what I did and I won't be able to say, "yea, but Lord, they didn't like it and so I couldn't do it...no no no... we'll give an account before Him!"

I am in a wonderful season of my life in which I'm learning what I'm called to do and growing confident in that call. In Acts it says that if something is of God, it cannot be stopped! I know what God as called me to do and I won't let anything hold me back from that call... I am pumped up about this! I will stand in front of God one day and be accountable for what He called ME to do. Not the person next to me, not my family, not my friends . . . ME!

I wish I could keep going on this... but I don't want to keep rambling (and I have to go to class)... more to come! God is so good...

Read more...

Labor Day Reflections

I like the whole concept of a weekly reflection post . . . so here it is!

Life is Good - I just had someone bless me with a hat, coffee mug, bumper sticker, and Life is Good book. I am a huge fan of their stuff because I really do love my life and I enjoy every moment I get to live! Life is really good... but really...if I had to tweak it, I would make it say: God is Good! (Anyone want to go into business with me? . . . just a thought)

Twitter - Ok... so I am officially addicted to Twitter! I believe it is the new Facebook! It is an awesome way to keep up with what is going on in people's lives (although some think it is stalking) haha... I enjoy following peoples lives in whom I would normally not get to spend a lot of time with. YOU NEED TO GET A TWITTER!!!!

Marathon Update: Just finished my second week of running an 18 - miler. This Friday I am going to go for my first 20 mile run!! Keep Pastor Larry and I in your prayers as we continue to train for Chicago. (40 days left)

RMU - I started my last semester ever at RMU! I really do believe in higher education, but I also really believe that it is the teachers that make it worth it or not. I've had teachers teach on subjects I would have normally hated, but they captured my attention and I ended up loving it. Unfortunately, I've had a lot of teachers that I have wasted my time by taking their class. I love this thought:

"Communicators take complex things and make them simple, Educators take simple things and make them complex...in fact if you understand it, they get upset!" - Very True!

That is enough rambling for today... Have a great Labor Day!!

Read more...

Sunday Night Reflections 8.24.08

A Life Changing Season

Literally, this whole entire year has been filled with Life Changing Moments for me. I don't think I've ever been stretched as much as I have in this season. Being stretched can be one of the scariest things in the world. I never feel qualified, equipped, or ready to do anything God has called me to. I always have to go back to the simple truth that God loves me, He'll keep me in perfect peace as long as I'm focused on Him (Isaiah 26:3), and He is leading me in every step of my life and is always looking out for my best interest. Here are some thoughts from this week:

Marilyn Hickey was a guest speaker at church this weekend and changed my life. Here were the life changing things she shared:

• God thinks you can do anything!
• Expect God to do extra ordinary things in and through your life

Zack Blair changed my life with his message this weekend. It's been such a privilege to have him as a friend and see God plant a vision for 19 North in his heart. He is one of the most humble people I've ever met and I am so excited to see the work that God does at 19 North. You Must listen to this message (8.23.08) Podcast.

4:12 Dinner - We took our summer "interns" out to dinner to celebrate their summer of service. I'll post on this late this week, but they've changed my life and I am so thankful for all of them and their friendship!!

Vanessa taught me that God speaks through fortune cookies (it's a joke... don't start a doctrine!) . . . Thanks Vanessa!

I love my life, I love God, I love people... I can't even describe what is going on in my heart right now... man... God is so good . . . it literally brings tears to my eyes...good night world.

Read more...

Things I've Been Reflecting On

Ever since I got on staff at Victory I feel as though my life is on an accelerated growth plan! I am learning so much so fast, I am being stretched like I've never been stretched, I am loving my life more than I ever have before!

Here are some things I've been checking out and learning:

Ministry and Who I'll Never Be - These are two posts by Craig Groeschel that rocked my world. Learning to be confident in who God made me and called me to be has been a major lesson lately.

Practical Wisdom - Erwin McManus just finished this series about a week ago. This series rocked my world! He preaches for 25 minutes and then has open mic ? and A. Very Practical! A must listen to series.

Dating - In Erwin's series he was talking about dating. He was talking in context of finding the person you should marry. He said so many times young single people focus on where they are going and where their mate is going. He said that when he met Kim (his wife) she was going to Africa and he was going to L.A., but they were both going to those places with the same intentions (huge!). He said he tells people, "Don't focus on the place... you need to adapt the mindset that I'd rather be anywhere in the world with ____(future spouse), than anywhere in the world without them." (One of the sickest nuggets on dating I've heard!)

Marriage in Ministry - Perry Noble had a great post on Marriage in ministry. Although I am not married, one day I will have to face these challenges, why not learn now so I don't have to fall into stupid?

Holy Discontent and Barbarian Way - These two books have rocked my world. They have completely made me rethink the way I live my life, what I'm here for, my vision, my purpose, and how much risk I need to take in my walk with God. Both are great reads.

I'd love to hear what you're reflecting on and learning... Fill me in!

Read more...