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Peter Gowesky

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In Faith in Real Life

A Saltlick Discussion

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Okay, so here at the Salt lick, it’s my goal to create a community of people who can be open and honest…  From time to time, we will get into things that are a little closer to uncomfortable then other times.  I mean, for real, how uncomfortable is it to look at my beautiful kids, and hear me tell stories of my life… … not very… … but it’s not all about stories and my kids, and such.  Those are good things for sure.  BUT… 

Today I want to bring up and have an open discussion on one of those tough topics… I’m sure this will get about 1 comment.  I’m okay with that.  My goal is to help us think together.  Not see how many comments I can get.

LUST!  What’s the deal with lust?  Now, I bet your thinking… Woah, let’s keep off the sexual talk here.  Remember this is associated with church and youth group and God type stuff.  “Let me remind you Peter, we don’t talk about sex and lust and stuff like that at church.”  

Oh really?  Seriously?

Hmm…

Anyhow, let me put your fears at ease… I’m not even really concerned with sexual lust today.  {insert big sigh of relief here…}  Lust.  I have this feeling that if we are honest, you and I lust after a lot more than pretty ladies, or strong handsome Peirce Brosnan-esque guys…  (What’s with that guy anyhow…  it must be his accent, click there and you can even join his fan club!  YEAH!)  The lust I’m concerned with today is lust like this: that one dream car, the perfect job, a better baseball team (I guess you can’t all have the phillies… sorry A’s, Red Socks, Royals, Giants… ) a larger salary, a Mac, I don’t know, whatever.  

In Exodus 20:17 it clearly address this type of lust… “No lusting after your neighbor’s house—or wife or servant or maid or ox or donkey. Don’t set your heart on anything that is your neighbor’s.”  Hmm…  Think on that for a few minutes…  

This weekend Tiffany and I are going to the National Youth Workers Convention in Pittsburgh.  We are bringing 10 of our other Youth Leaders with us.  This is one of those weekends that I look forward to months in advance.  It is right up there with family vacation, Christmas, and Thanksgiving, as being on the list of things I look forward to.  It goes, Family vacation, Christmas, NYWC, and then Thanksgiving, on the list of things I look forward to. It is that crucial to my life.  Thousands of other people who get what it is that I do, and why I do it gather together to learn, worship, and be filled again…  to get back to the point of where we were when we first started doing this.  But there is the one thing that I have to fight against.  I have been going for years to NYWC. In my early days, I was pastoring a Junior High Group of about 75-90 kids… that’s huge in comparison to a lot of other ministries.  Then I went to the beautiful shores of Long Beach Island and served at a smaller church where my junior high ministry consisted of 3-5 students.  My senior high on a good night would have 20.  I currently serve in a ministry that has somewhere between 35-50 junior high students, and 45-60 senior high students.  “So what are you saying Peter?”  What I’m saying is that it is easy for me to have ministry lust.  to look at other ministries and say I wish that I could have that many kids, or that sound system, or that lighting system, or that creative support team, or a facility dedicated to youth like they do over at “The Grass is Greener over here Community of the Redeemed Church”.  

Ministry lust… I struggle.  I had it when I had 75 kids, I had it when I had 3, I have it while I have 100+ kids.  God tells us that this type of lust/coveting, is not good, in fact He commands us not to have it, not to make it apart of who we are.  So, I fight against it.  I work hard.  I ask God for strength.  But it is tough.  

Here it is… the question that you knew I was going to ask, “What non-sexual thing do you lust after? And let’s take it one step further and help each other…  How do you avoid the trap of lusting after it?”

Join in the conversation…  It’s a free skate, all are welcome…

~Peter

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In Faith in Real Life

Fanning the Flame

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As you may or may not know, life is crazy here in the Gowesky household.  Let me say it again, CRAZY!  In the last few weeks we have been getting ready to move again, I have been remodeling a bathroom, and running at speeds common to only cheetahs.  

So, Tiffany and I have been playing a game of catch.  Like, we try and catch up a little here and there.  Seriously not the greatest thing for a marriage.  We both know this.  We have a great couple from our church who have taken a serious interest in our kids, and also us.  We are grateful for the Millers!  

This past friday night (before our Junior High All Nighter) the Millers had it arranged for us to come over to their house to enjoy a nice private dinner (they made some excuse for leaving…).  So it was pretty much all ready for us to sit down and just enjoy each others company.  There were candles and special salads, and bread, and delicious shrimp scampi.  MMMmmm it was seriously awesome.  But even better was just being with Tiffany.  We hung out and enjoyed their fireplace, and relaxed.  

So, as we were enjoying dinner I decided that the only thing that would make it even a tiny bit better would be a little parmesan cheese.  I went hunting in the fridge to find some parmesan and boy did I find it.  First off, this fridge has to be the most incredibly clean, and organized fridge in the world!  AMAZING.  I had to share it with you.  

Now, I must point out this one little aspect.  When I opened up the fridge to look for a little parmesan cheese, let me tell you what, not only did I find parmesan, I found like 2,000 other types of cheese!  Check out this “cheese drawer”.  

Seriously… WOW!  I love cheese, but I think I found someone who loves cheese even more than I!  

What would I find in your refrigerator that would surprise me?

I need to be honest, for me it’s mustard.  I love mustard.  You would find tons of different types of mustard…  YOU???

~Peter

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In Faith in Real Life

EVEN MORE SURPRISED THAN BEFORE!

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So, my wife is a fox.  As in smokin hot, yes… but even more so as in cunning and sly.  She has been planning for several weeks to get me away from my routine.  On Tuesday I was just sitting in my office as normal and to my surprise she planned a dinner with me at PF Changs.  (Side note: Thank you to whoever that was who left that gift certificate on my desk… I LOVE YOU! we used it and it was great.)  At Changs, she tells me that we aren’t going home, but that we are headed away for the night.  Well, that was music to my ears.  We went off to Willow Valley for the night.  PBU has a Pastors getaway that she had scored, and we were able to go there and enjoy willow valley, and all that they have to offer.  We went from the hot tub to the pool, back to the hot tub, and put that cycle on repeat several times.  I felt like a lobster being submerged.  But it was great.  

So, I guess we were both excited to be away, and kid free, so we ventured into their kids pool, and she said, I really want you to go down the slide.  I was like, um… No, I think that I am a big boy now, and I am to big for the slide.  She thought otherwise.  So, she approached the life guard and said My husband really wants to

go down the slide is that okay?  He gave permission, so she sent me down that slide a couple times.  I threatened her that there was no way that I was going down the little frog slide…

Anyway, I digress…  All this to say is that we had a great time hanging out, being together, relaxing, enjoying the sights of Lancaster County, and just being still for once. How awesome is that!  Anyway… 

I was thinking, where is your favorite place to go to rest and relax, getaway and just be still?  

So, the last thing that was said, was…  “So, I planned a surprise trip…  I guess it’s your turn.”  So, check it out… Here we go… We’re ready to amp it up, drink a few red bull’s and put our thinking caps together.  Let’s see if collectively online here at the saltlick that we can come up with a mind numbing awesome “surprise” getaway for my bride.  What would be your idea?  What do you think I should do?  

~Peter

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Hero to zero- FEAR

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Okay, so what truly scares you?  I hate spiders… They creep me out, scare me, and just all around bother me like nothing else.  Several months ago, I hear my name being yelled from the basement of our townhouse and Tiffany says, get down here now!  So, of course like any good husband would do, I bolt down there to aid my damsel in distress.  I get down there to see a monster spider just chillin’ in the middle of our carpet, hanging out like I wanted him there or something.  So, upon seeing the sight, I said, what do you want me to do about it?  You kill it!  Talk about manly, knight in shinning armor momments, this was not one of mine.  I hate spiders…   Did I mention that?  I think I threw a stack of magazines in that general direction in hopes that my shot gun approach would in fact disable the spider to the point of death.  I was successful.  

So, we are back to Acts today.  Acts 9:10-19…  Check it out here…  

Here is this guy Ananias who gets a call from God to go and do the scariest thing possible.  Go and visit Saul.  Saul (later Paul) had permission from the High Priest to take out any of the believers that were following “the way”.  Ananias says, “God, I’ve heard the bad things this guy can do to me… Like for real?  You want me to do that?”  God replies yes!  I have called you to this…  This is for you.  Face your fear, and be obedient to me.

Ananias, a normal guy, we have no idea where he comes from, or where he goes after this, but God has called him to this task.  To face his fear and obey God.

What scares you?  What do you think God is asking you to do that just terrifies you?  Let’s hear em…  

~Peter (still scared of spiders)

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In Faith in Real Life

Jesus is my friend…

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So, I know a while ago, I posted about this song that was sweeping the blog world.  But, Leave it up to David Crowder to make it cool!  Check out this video and I’ll let you decide which is cooler!  

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7-NOZU2iPA8&eurl=http://www.ragamuffinsoul.com/]

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hyTtK5R6NqM]

I know which one I chose…  How about you?  Continue the conversation…

~Peter

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My Hearts Desires…

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I’ve been reading in Acts, and I’ve come up to the conversion of Saul of Tarsus.  It’s actually Acts 9:1-9.  Check it out here.

So, anyhow, I was thinking about this today, and I have been pairing my reading with a great book by a huge thinker in our day, N.T. Wright.  He writes a book called Acts for Everyone.  It makes for an excellent study aid.  Here is something I never knew before…  So, back in the day, the Jews used to meditate on certain scriptures, chapters, and such.  One such meditation is from Ezekiel 1:26-28.  They would actually look to see God in the sky, coming in on a chariot.  They would meditate on this.  

Can you imagine Saul’s surprise to find out that he is literally looking upon the very God of the universe with his own two eyes?  

It made me think…  What are the meditations of MY heart.  What am I longing to see God do?  What do I set before my mind at all times waiting to see what God will do with it?  

So, here’s the deal, Saul, got what he was meditating on, with an added twist.  “Saul, why do you persecute me?”  That must have been a shocker, eh? Here is a guy thinking He is doing the right thing, seeking after the right and God honoring thing.  Then, BAM!  He is asked that question…  Why do you persecute Me?

So… This made me think about the things that I am seeking after, meditating after, longing for, and yearning for.  Are these things that would please God?  

What do you think?  Respond, lets start the coversation…

~Peter

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In Faith in Real Life

WOO HOO!

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Sr. High Fall '08 Retreat

 

 

Well as if life isn’t busy enough, it just gets crazier and crazier.  This past weekend, I had planned a fall retreat for our Senior High group.  We called it Detox.  We took a look 2 Kings 17, the fall of Israel.  We discussed and thought through what God wants for our lives.  More importantly the toxic things in our lives that we need to detoxify in order to have a right relationship with God.  This was great!  What a phenomenal weekend.  We left right after school let out on Friday and made it up to Hickory Run State Park to go camping.  We had great times around the fire, laughing, talking, singing, praising God, praying, and enjoying God’s nature.  On saturday we spent the day white water rafting!  What a blast…

Everyone enjoyed themselves…  Everyone that is except me!  I had a great time until say, midnight saturday evening when I got deathly sick!  There is nothing worse than being sick to your stomach…

Oh, wait, yes there is.  

It’s called being sick to your stomach while hanging your head out of a 6 man tent, only to return to the most uncomfortable section of God’s green earth, clutching your stomach.  There can’t be anything worse than that…

Oh wait, yes there is.

It’s called being sick to your stomach while hanging your head out of a 6 man tent, with 20 teenagers all within earshot of you, listening and carrying on, only to return to the most uncomfortable section of God’s green earth, clutching your stomach. Um… Yes, That is the worst thing.

UGH!  Anyhow, my poor wife, Noah was sick at the same time as me, 3 years old and all barfing all over the place.  She deserves accolade upon accolade!  I love that woman!

So, I get home, and one day later, I am off again.  This time for our pastoral staff retreat.  As a staff we needed time to just be together and plan, philosophy, dream, pray, and seek God’s face.  We are here in Beach Haven, NJ at IBC’s missions house.  Pray for us as we spend some great time with one another, bonding, praying, thinking, planning, praying, laughing, praying, and seeking after God’s will for First Baptist.  

I can’t wait to get home to my family for a while!  One of our elders said to my wife, He (being me) must feel like a stranger in his own house.  NOT GOOD!  I can’t wait to get on the floor and wrestle Noah till he is crying tears from laughter; play baby dolls with Grace, and cover her with kisses.  And Tiffany, well, she needs a few kisses herself!  

Kisses are coming Babe!  See you tomorrow…

~Peter

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In Faith in Real Life

Love & Support

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Dear Friends,

Thank you so much for all of the kind words that you have written and said.  I appreciate your cards and your meals.  Tiffany and I are so blessed to be supported by not only one church family, but three!  In our short 26 years of life, we have already served in Youth Ministry roles in 3 churches.  It was such a blessing to hear from friends from all three of those bodies!  We miss you, and we are thankful for your prayers as we both walk through this time.  It has been incredible to hear from people around the country and even around the world!  Thank you, thank you, thank you.  

To our family here in Doylestown, words cannot describe how grateful we are for each of you.  I am so thankful to serve in a church that cares for me as a person not just for what I can bring to the table!  We love you!

Thank you,

~Peter

After seeing this outpouring of love, it made me wonder, When was the last time that someone showered you with care and concern?

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