P90X

So a lot of you have been asking me about P90X – What is it? Does it work? Is it worth it? Etc.. Here’s what I know:

P90X is a set of 12 workouts on DVD that are very intense! I first heard about it from  people doing  it in my church. All I know is that they would talk about how tough the workouts are and I saw that they were getting results. Since then, I’ve gotten the workouts and done them – they’re awesome and very tough! Here are some thoughts on the program:

It’s Convenient - 12 DVD’s – so you’re able to do them at home. All you need is an hour a day… You don’t need a ton of weights. A few dumbbells or  stretch bands, and a pull-up bar.

It’s not Richard Simmons - Most workout videos tend  to be very cheesy . . . while P90X has it’s moments, I really enjoy Tony (the trainer) and I find the workouts flying by! Best workout videos I’ve ever seen!

Anyone Can do it – I really like these workouts because the trainers show you how to modify exercises if you can’t do perfect form, encourage you to set your own goals instead of trying to keep up with them, and have the motto, “Do your best, forget the rest.” They know that over time – you’ll get to where you want to be!

It’s a Variety - Half of the DVD’s are strength building, the other half are core, stretching, and cardio work… I love the variety!

It Works - It comes with a workout calendar and a nutrition guide for you to follow. I’ve seen the results of those who’ve followed through with the program – and they end up looking great!

My results - To be honest, I haven’t done the program all the way through, I’ve been training for the Marine Corps Marathon, so I usually will run one day and do a P90X workout of my choice on my off day. Once I’m done with the marathon, I plan on going through the entire 90 day program in the winter. (I will post pictures with my results!)

I’d definitely recommend buying this program if you’re willing to discipline yourself daily and follow-through with this. It’s like anything in life – if you put your heart and mind to it, you’ll do it, and get the results you want. The question is – how bad do you want it?

Buy it here!

Silver Ring Thing, No Ding Before The Ring, Second Chances, and Your Friends

I am very excited about having Silver Ring Thing come to our Church this Sunday. Silver Ring Thing is a purity program allowing people to commit to sexual abstinence until they are married.  I posted on purity and the program last year that you can read here.

When: This Sunday (August 30th) from 6-8 p.m. with an after concert with Third from First from 8-9 p.m.

Cost: $5 online, $8 at the door, and $20 for the Ring!

To Register for the Event Go Here: http://www.silverringthing.com/registrationdisplay.asp?regID=281

Directions to Victory: Click here

I can’t encourage you enough to invite as many people as you can to this event. This event has, can, and will change lives forever. If you’ve invited your friends to church and they didn’t want to come, try this out… tell them it’s all about sex! Do whatever you can to get them here!

If you’re a youth pastor – it’d be beyond beneficial to get your students here! Register Now!

Here is the promo video for the event:

iTour Promo from Jared Ott on Vimeo.

And some other videos to wet you’re appetite on sex and dating, compliments of LifeChurch.tv

See you on Sunday!

4:12 Summer of Service Tribute!

¹²Don’t let anyone look down on you because you are young, but set an example for the believers in speech, in life, in love, in faith and in purity. – I Timothy 4:12

We just finished up our summer of service program. It’s a program where we have students come in twice a week during the summer for personal and spiritual growth along with working behind the scenes at our church in several ministries. This has been the 3rd year we’ve done it and every year I fall in love with the students we have come in! It’s so fun to watch the students grow personally, learn to work with one another, and pursue God with all of their hearts!

Here is a tribute to each one – Over our dinner celebration we gave each student an “Award” that we made up on the spot.

Ryan Nuzzo – “The Never Here Award” – Nuzz! You’re the man! Thank you for having a servants heart, for knowing and sharing the Word of God with everyone, and for making hilarious videos, or at least coming up with ideas for them!

Giant -”The Golden Toe Award” – Giant, you have a great heart and a ton of potential. Believe it!

Aaron Schmelzer – “Flirt of the Year Award” – Schmelz – we love you’re compassion. You love people and that is obvious to everyone. Thanks for making us laugh and most of all – thanks for the hugs!

Swanson – “The Most Super Powers Award” – Swanson! You’re the man! Thanks for your sarcasm, desire for personal growth, your heart for people, and willingness to be taught. You have a bright future ahead of you!

Brian Schmelzer – “The Most Plain Colored Shirts Award” – Tom Schmelzer!!! Haha… I love you brother! If you want to know what you’ll be like in 20 years – Look at your dad! Never stop being you bro!

Niki Wolbert – “Female Flirt of the Summer Award” – WOLLL – B! It’s been great having you for 2 years! You’re a leader and a great MC. I love your desire for the things of God… never lose that and watch the places where God will take you – you won’t be able to believe it!

Anjelica – “Blondest Award” – Anjelica, we are so glad you became a part of S.O.S. this year. I know you want to go into ministry and I could totally see that! You have such a heart for people! I can’t wait to see how God uses you!

Allison Hammerle -  “Most Likely to Kill Someone Award” – Allison! You’re a born leader! We love having you come in – SOS would not be the same without you, neither would Rev! Thanks for everything you do!

Ellen Limback – “Shoe Fettish Award” - Ellen, it was great having you this summer! I loved your nugget! Never lose your servants heart!

Josiah Long – “Rat Pack Award”- Josiahhhhhhhhh!!! Where would we be without you! Thanks for always coming through and being faithful! It doesn’t go unnoticed and God will promote you and take you to great places!

Michael Hampson! – “The Strongest Virtual Intern” – Hampsonite!!! I’m going to take you at in UFC 2009! Get ready! Thanks for coming in this summer – you were a blessing! Can’t wait to see how God uses you at Rev over the next few years!

Nathan Hampson – “The Most Likely to Build a Cyborg from Spare Parts from Intelligent Lights Award” – I tell you this everyday, but you’re the man and we couldn’t do what we do without you. Thank you for being faithful and for dreaming big for Rev! We’re going to touch a generation together bro!

Emily Franco – “Flagger Award” – Emily! You’ve grown so much in the past 3 years! It’s been awesome watching that! You’re MCing opportunities will come! Keep being faithful and serving! You’re awesome!

Peter Reynolds – “Flirt of the Century Award” – Peter! You’ve grown so much in the past few years as well! We all love you at Rev! It would definitely not be the same without you! God has big things for you bro – believe that!

Michael Zilka – “The Best Kept Secret Award” - Zilk, your quiet, but amazing! Never quit being you – you have so much to offer and you were a huge blessing this summer! Thanks!

Thank you guys so much for the memories, growth, ideas, videos, and all of the hard work this summer. I hope it’s a summer you’ll look back on and realize it changed your life! Love you guys!

How to be Miserable and Never Have any Great Opportunities

It is pleasant to see dreams come true,but fools refuse to turn from evil to attain them. -Proverbs 13:19

I’ve been talking about gifts and how when developed they’ll open doors for you. Today I want to focus on why most people never get the opportunities they want in life. Here are a few reasons:

• Pursuing Money Instead Your Passion - I’d say this makes up 90% of America. College students graduate looking for the $ and pursue dreams that aren’t in their hearts. They pursue them until their 40 and realize they’ve wasted half their lives and they got the money and the money didn’t make them happy. Get good at what you’re passionate about and the money will come.

• Trying to Develop in Areas  that You’re Not Gifted In - If you asked 10 people if you were a gifted singer and 9 of the 10 said no, I don’t care how good you think you are and might become – give it up and find something that you love and that is obvious to others that you’re good at it.

• Being More Focused on Being Discovered Rather Than Being Developed - So many people will do anything to be discovered and are never willing to pay the price that it costs to be developed. Only people who are willing to be developed will be discovered. Leaders won’t waste their time on people who only want to be discovered. Get over yourself!

These are 3 big ways to become miserable and never have any great doors open for you… Can you think of any others?

You Can Have All the Opportunities You Could Imagine and Then Some!

¹⁶A man’s gift makes room for him and brings him before great men. -Proverbs 18:16

All the Opportunities You can Imagine and Then Some

Once you’ve discovered your gift and made the commitment to develop your gift daily, the fun begins to start. The Bible says that your gift will make room for you (create opportunities and open doors for you) and bring you before great men. As a result of discovering and developing my gifts I’ve:

• Had Opportunities I Would have Never Dreamed Of – I still can’t believe some of the things I’ve had the opportunity to do. There have been opportunities I’ve had to turn down, and I know as I continue to develop, God will keep bringing bigger and better opportunities my way.

• I’ve Connected with People I would Have Never Dreamed Of – I remember 7 years ago thinking that if I could spend 2 minutes with a high quality leader my life would be awesome! 7 years later, God has connected me to so many high quality leaders I can’t believe it.  And He keeps opening doors to allow me to meet and connect with even more. Your gift really will bring you before great men (Leaders are always looking for potential leaders).

• I’m Going Places I would Have Never Dreamed Of - When I look at where God HAS taken me, I can’t even imagine where God IS taking me.

I literally can’t believe I get to live my life. I had to take care of my part developing my gift and  God always takes care of His part opening doors that I could never open and closing doors I could never close. What God will do for me, He’ll do for you!

What doors have opened and opportunities have come your way because you made the choice to discover and develop your gift?

Develop Your Gift

²⁹For the gifts and calling of God are without repentance. – Romans 11:29

Once you discover your gifting it’s critical that you do everything you can to develop that gift. Since it is the area of your gifting, you’ll naturally be better in that area than the majority of people. As a result you’ll think you can wing it and get by, you’ll be tempted to take short cuts, and be tempted not to develop your gift as much as you could because you think you’ve already arrived.If you take that approach – you’re on a straight path to mediocrity. In the end, success will depend on how disciplined you were to develop your gift.

Here are some ways I’ve developed my gifting… Hope they help!

• Do Something Everyday that Develops Your Gift – If it’s speaking – speak daily, writing – write daily, sports – practice daily, an instrument – play everyday… More important than all of the learning is the doing. Be someone who actually puts into practice what they are learning.

• Books, Books, and More Books – There is no better way of learning than through the experiences of others. with books you can learn what it took someone a lifetime to learn in a few hours. Leaders are readers!

• Listen to Podcasts, Lessons, Etc. - There are tons of audio lessons that will help you develop your gift. Find them and listen to as many as you can!

• Get Around People Who are Doing it Better Than You - Find the people who are well developed and doing big things and contact them and see if you can take them to lunch or breakfast. Pay them if you have to, get around them, and ask them as many questions as you can!

• Look for Coaching Networks - Coaching Networks are becoming huge. They involve a high quality leader who is willing to invest in a handful of people over a 6-9 month period. I’d highly recommend this – it’s changed my life!

• Conferences – Conferences are a great way to get around people who are “tearing it up” in the area you’re wanting to develop. Find conferences based around what you want to develop and be willing to pay the price to go. It’ll be worth it.

What are some things you do to develop your gift?

What are you Gifted at?

²⁹For the gifts and calling of God are without repentance. – Romans 11:29

God has given everyone gifts, talents, and a call on their lives that cannot be taken away. I’ve been thinking a lot about giftings lately. What they’ve done for me, how to develop them, and recognizing what I’m not gifted at.

People that wonder what they should do with their lives (their calling) can usually figure it out by 2 things:

1.) Their Passion - What do you think about everywhere you go? What sets you “on fire”?

2.) Their Gifting - What are you good at?

Today I just want you to focus on figuring out what you’re gifted at:

What are you good at that you love to do?

What do other people say your good at?

What do you do better than 95% of other people?

I encourage you to buy some books on finding your strengths and take some personality tests. Become a student of yourself. If you’re going to be successful at all in life – you have to know your strength zone (your gifting).

The Social Media Revolution

I saw this video this morning and was amazed by the stats. I thought I’d share it with you…Hope it helps you realize the benefits of social media and where the world is going!

Thoughts?

You Won’t Get to Do This Again (Part 3) – What Do you Do to Enjoy the Journey?

I still find each day too short for all the thoughts I want to think, all the walks I want to take, all the books I want to read, and all the friends I want to see. ~ John Burroughs

What Are You Doing to Enjoy the Journey?

I heard a lesson by John Maxwell last year called “14 ways to Jump Start Your Life” that has really helped me stare to enjoy my journey through life. He shared about how there are 10 areas in our life that will “nourish us” or help  us to enjoy the journey. They are all very simple, but it’s always the simple things in life that are the richest anyway right? My hope is that everyday you’ll take a little time each day to either reflect on these or act on them. I promise you that you’ll find yourself enjoying your life more than you ever have before.  Here they are  . . .

Self Nourishment Centers:

• Music – What songs lift me? What songs enable you to really enjoy the moment and reflect on the past? Listen to them daily.

• Thoughts - What Thoughts Speak to Me? Have your favorite thoughts recorded in a notebook, memorize them, think on them daily.

• Experiences - What experiences rejuvenate me? What experiences are you creating today, that you’ll look back on with a smile tomorrow?

• Friends – What people encourage me? Call them on the phone… Take 2 minutes a day to say hey and check in.

• Recreation - What recreation recreates me? Makes me feel like a new person? Are you having fun? Do you do things you’ve never done before often?

• Soul - What spiritual exercises do you have in your life? Spend time in God’s Word, in prayer, and in worship.

• Hopes - What dreams inspire me? Are you taking time every day to dream crazy big dreams for  your life? You should be!

• Home – What family members care for me? Do they know you care for them? When’s the last time you called them just to say hello?

• Giftedness - What gifts activate me when I use them? Are you doing things everyday that you’re passionate about?

• Memories – What memories make me smile? Look thought old photo albums, journals, call up a friend from high school, or a sibling… Just take time to laugh and enjoy how good your life has been.

What are some things you do to enjoy the journey?

Ministry Highlight: Moore Life Ministries

If you know me, you know that I love Keith Moore’s ministry! In fact, other than my church, he is pretty much my only source of spiritual food. Honestly, I can’t find much better in the body of Christ today. You’ll find the majority of people at my church listening to Brother Keith on a consistent basis. Keith was one of Kenneth Hagin’s right hand men for 20+ years before he launched his own ministry.

Website: www.moorelifeministries.com

Free Downloads: Keith offers ALL of his sermons online for free download…Unbelievable!!!

Here are some of my favorite series that I recommend listening to… You can also browse the thousands of other sermons available.

• Faith and Patience (Soooo good!)
• The Truth about Temptation
• The Place of Prosperity
• Diligence
• Keeping the Love Command
• Without a Doubt
• Wisdom
• Free from All Fears
• Qualifying for God’s Best
• The Significance of Saying
• In Your Control
• Rules of Reaping
• Thanksgiving Victory

I hope that once you start listening to some of these messages that it will skyrocket your growth spiritually and you’ll find yourself in an entirely new place in a few months and years! Enjoy!

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