Archive - August, 2008

Our Summer "Intern" Program Recap

Our 4:12 Students Getting Ice Cream after our Celebration Dinner!

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

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.

Putting in the Miles (Part 3)

Both Life and Ministry are a Marathon, Not a Sprint

In 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.”

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