Summer Highlights
School started back up this week… I have no clue where my summer went. It literally seemed like summer went by in the blink of an an eye, although the older I get, the more life goes by in the blink of an eye. Anyway… here are my highlights of summer 2008:
Impartation Conference - This was such an amazing conference and a great way to kick off summer. Keith Moore, Doug Jones, and Duane Sherriff rocked my world. Plus, I got to meet Keith Moore!!!
Summer Scream Camp - Camp was an absolute blast…nothing like a 13 hours bus ride to the middle of nowhere! God moved and did some awesome things.
The Prank – Nothing like coming back from camp at 3:30 a.m. in the morning after a 13 hour bus ride and finding my entire cubicle covered in aluminum foil…everything. One of the best pranks I’ve ever witnessed!
Canada with the Walczaks - This was my vacation this summer… I had an absolute blast! The Walczaks were unbelievable hosts and I am so glad I got to spend my vacation with some of my best friends. Good times….
Silver Ring Thing – There is something so special about seeing 900 teenagers commit to sexual purity. Does anyone remember the fire alarm going off? Who turned on the hazer!!
Cedar Point – My first trip ever to Cedar Point. Loved spending the day with Sean Moore and Rev Students. Good times…
19 North Scavenger Hunt – Enough Said!
4:12 Students – Just did a post on these guys. I loved spending my summer in the office with them. They’re awesome and know we all have some great friendships and memories we’ll never forget!!
Certainly there were many more highlights… these were some of the big ones. Overall, it was an awesome summer! I am looking forward to the Fall and wrapping up 2008!!!
The Something Store…Check it Out
Ok… so Josh Griffin has got me hooked on all of this stuff online!
This Website (The Something Store) is pretty awesome. You can buy something (you won’t know what you’re buying) and send it to yourself or someone for $10 (shipping is free in the US). It could be a lot of fun to randomly send something to a friend… so if your bored and have an extra $10 to throw away… send someone Something!
What Matters Most (Part 2)
August 29, 2008 by bubba
Filed under Blog, Ministry, Relationships
I was out with a bunch of friends (I will not use names) . . . at the end of the night one friend had some circumstances come up in which I had to stay with them after everyone left. Selfishly, my first thought was… this stinks… I want to go home (I had nothing of importance to do…honestly I wanted to play Super Mario Galaxy). I sat their . . . annoying thoughts running through my head, when suddenly I looked over at my friend and they had burst into tears. We started talking, I gave them a hug, and I ended up praying with them over the next half hour.
As he was leaving that night he turned me and said, “Bubba, God is so good . . . I guess he can take something horrible, and turn it into something wonderful.”
I thought to myself, what if I had just left, what if I wouldn’t have talked with them, hugged them, and prayed with them. My heart starting breaking, one because I almost missed that amazing opportunity to share God’s love with someone, second, that I have not been making what is important to HIM important to me. I am making the decision to refuse to settle for anything less now than what is important to Him now. This is another one of those life changing things happening in my life right now… so what about you?
Do you find yourself pressing ignore on your phone because you don’t want to be bothered? You’re too busy to spend time with someone in need? When someone wants to talk to you about something they’re going through do you automatically have thoughts like, “I do not want to do this right now… maybe later . . . go see someone else . . . leave me alone!”
I think it’s time we all evaluate what matters most… and make sure what matters to HIM, matters to us.
You Tube Video fo the Week #4
Here is our 4th YouTube video we’ve played at Rev that a student sent in! We’d love to see your favorites and play them at Rev if they’re good enough! Please send them to revstaff@lifeatvictory.com!
YOU MUST LISTEN TO THIS MESSAGE!
Wow did I just get rocked this morning. I listened to this message (download the podcast) by Louie Giglio (one of the best speakers I’ve ever heard) which was played at Perry Noble’s church this past weekend. I literally cried while I was running this morning listening to this… it will change your life and really allow you to get focused on what matters most (my other post from today).
What Matters Most (Part 1)
August 27, 2008 by bubba
Filed under Blog, Ministry, Relationships
I think as twenty somethings it is easy to get focused on ourselves . . . where we’re going, what we’re going to do with our lives, who we’re going to date and marry. We build our reputations up on Facebook, try to become friends with people who can do something for us and get us somewhere, and get so focused on work that we forget about what we’re really here for: to make a difference in peoples lives. So here are some things God’s been teaching me along these lines:
- God dealt with my heart months ago, “Whose kingdom are you trying to build yours or mine?
- How are you treating people who can do absolutely nothing for you?
- We can get so focused on doing the work of the ministry that we stop doing ministry!
- The best minute I’ll spend today is the one I spend investing in people!
- People don’t care how much you know, until they know how much you care.
- Everyday I ask myself, who can I add value to today. At the end of the day I ask, who did I add value to today.
How do you treat the least of these?? Does what matters to God matter to you? How are you treating the people who can do absolutely nothing to benefit your life?
Our Summer "Intern" Program Recap
At Revolution we offer a summer of service program we call 4:12 (from I Tim. 4:12) where we hand pick a handful of students that we want to invest in for the summer. They come into the office at church 2 days a week for both personal growth and to serve. Their day is split up into two parts, the first half is focused on their personal growth through devotions, leadership video curriculum, ministry curriculum, and nuggets from the Rev Staff and Leadership. The second part of their day is focused on serving and working for several different areas and ministries of the church.
This was my second year being involved with this ministry, last year I led it, and this year I oversaw Cory Vogan, who led it this year. I just have to say it is a privilege to get to hang out with these guys for the summer. We get to build some great relationships with each other and create some amazing memories. Here are some things that our students taught me this summer:
- Students have way more potential than any of us realize
- Students can work a lot harder than people give them credit for
- Students want to make a difference in the lives of other people just as much as anyone else does
- Students that are on fire for God are contagious and effect everyone around them!
Thank you Jesse Swanson, Niki Wolbert, Allison Hammerle, Nathan Hampson, Josiah Long, Victor Nardini, Laura DiFalco, Brian Schmelzer, and Katie Johnson! You’ve made a difference in my life, our leaders lives, and at Victory Family Church. My only prayer is that you got out of this summer through our investment half of what we got from yours. THANK YOU!!
Sunday Night Reflections 8.24.08
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.
Putting in the Miles (Part 3)
August 23, 2008 by bubba
Filed under Blog, Marathons, Ministry, leadership
Both Life and Ministry are a Marathon, Not a SprintIn a few hours I am going to be running my first 18 mile run with Pastor Larry. When I actually think about that…it’s insane!
As you know I’m training for the Chicago Marathon on October 12th, 2008. As of today that is 49 days away! We’ve been training since March, so it has been quite the journey and I am pumped about it!
This is going to be my third installment of lessons I’m learning while training for the Marathon. I just want to focus on one thing I’ve been learning in life and ministry and that is: Life and Ministry are a Marathon, not a Sprint. Here are just a few thoughts concerning this:
- So many times we want to be in a season we’re not ready for or equipped for yet
- The best thing about the future is that it happens one day at a time, so if I can just handle today right, my tomorrow’s will turn out how I want them to.
- Tomorrow is the scorecard on how you handled today
- The Secret of my success is always found in my daily agenda
I guess what I’m learning is that I can only do so much in a single day. There will always be more I could do, there will always be more work, and if I don’t see the big picture I’ll get buried and miss out on so much of what life is really has to offer. However, if I do the best I can each day with the time I have, when the day I’ve been waiting for comes, I’ll be ready.
As Abraham Lincoln once said, “I will prepare, and one day my chance will come.”
Free Music from Phil Wickham…
Phil Wickham is offering his new CD: Singalong for free on his website.
This is a fantastic CD and I’ve been using it for my devos, running, and in my car! All you have to do is sign up for his newsletter!
Grade: A
