Leadership & Calling – Page 2

Pray for me!!! (Selfish I know…)

January 28, 2009 2 Comments

photo-50 Since writing this post I came across another blog post by Lisa Shea. She was writing about the need to intercede. It’s a sweet article. You can read it here… I know this may sound selfish, but please copy and paste this list and print it off, memorize it, write it on your eyelids, do whatever, but I am asking you to pray. You can’t say I’m selfish because I did say that I would pray for you too. So, here is the repeat of the list from yesterday…

Pray for a place for my wife, kids, and I to live. We have been living with a family for the last several months. We are craving our own space. The family has been greatly generous and loving towards us. It has nothing to do with them. Just everything to do with the desire to be together again as a family unit.
Pray for me to lead the ministries that I have oversight with, with integrity of heart and skillful hands. But pray in that order. Integrity first. Skill second.
Pray for me as I am taking on leading and teaching “The Five”. This is a new service here at FBC that is seriously trying to make a difference here in this community by unashamedly preaching the Bible in a real life changing culture making way.
Pray that God would give me great creativity as I teach and lead. I don’t want to reinvent the wheel. I want to discover teleportation!
Pray for Godly guys that would surround me and hold me accountable.
Pray for my wife
Pray for my kids
Pray for me as I still deal with the loss of my Dad. It continues to be something that weighs on my heart!
Pray that I would be a great husband to my wife and dad to my kids.
Pray for times of refreshing and encouragement in my life! It seems easy for Satan to find things to discourage me with.
Pray for all the details to work out for my potential enrollment at Biblical Seminary starting this fall! (finances!!!)

Seriously, how can I pray for you? But don’t write Unspoken!

Thankful…

~Peter

In Leadership & Calling

Privilage

January 25, 2009 3 Comments

WOW!

What a privilage it is for me to serve as Pastor to such an exciting group of students! I am so proud to be apart of God’s plan for this ministry! It is incredible to watch as God unfolds incredible things… one after another after another.

Here’s the highlights…

Thursday’s nights “Vespers Service” was out of control! I can’t tell you how many people came up to me and said, I NEEDED THAT! I needed a longer period of time to just be with God and worship and pray! The band led worship and it was humble yet entirely excellent too… Praise God for the mix of humility yet the ability to use their God given talents to help lead us in worship.

We just wrapped up a month long teaching series called Reflect Christ! We looked at how did Jesus react and treat people that he didn’t know, knew, and those whom we know best? What does He have to say about compassion. Better yet, what did He do about the needs of others! INCREDIBLE. I was challenged. This was one of my favorite teaching series so far.

We unrolled a campaign to collect shoes for the organization Soles 4 Souls… We presented it to our church on behalf of the student ministry, and the response and out pouring on the part of the people here was incredible. THANK YOU FBC! People showed up HUGE!

We sorted, bagged, and processed 2727 shoes to date tonight! THAT IS 727 shoes above our goal! HOW AWESOME IS THAT?

We are going to see God do some incredible things to come! I believe it. We have already seen some awesome stuff, but I believe as we have sung, “Greater things are yet to come, Greater things are still to be done in this city.”

I count it a privilage to serve as your pastor here at FBC! I AM SO PROUD OF YOU! PRAISE GOD…

~Peter

In Faith in Real Life

God only works in the USA

December 23, 2008 1 Comment

Amazing isn’t it? Sometimes I think that God only chooses to work in the USA. The great United States of America. Believe me, I am as proud to be an American as you are. (as long as you are reading this here in the US.) So don’t try and hang me as someone who doesn’t love this country, or is thinking of moving to Costa Rica simply because Obama has been elected for office, or because Palin is banished back to Alaska. Ah well… But seriously, I was reading through several blogs this morning, and came across Craig Groeschel’s blog where he was writing about his recent trip to Ecuador. He posted a few pictures in order to recap the trip. I was mostly interested in the picture of Craig with the local pastor. Go here and check it out.

Here’s what I want to get at. Why is it that I was surprised to learn that 85% of this pastors village has a relationship with Christ? Why is it that I was surprised to learn that this man ministers to somewhere in the vicinity of 1200 people a week! That is absolutely incredible. In Ecuador none the less!!! The stats- incredible; my surprise- disgusting.

Why am I surprised that there can be a mega church in a poorer country? Do I think that Jesus came to seek and save the rich?

Why am I surprised that a pastor can be incredibly successful yet wildly under resourced? Do I think that Jesus was born in a premier neonatal unit? Do I think that Jesus had powerpoint, motion backgrounds, and clever video illustrations to help present his message?

Why am I surprised that God chooses to do huge things else where? Did I misunderstand the whole bit about being for all people?

No. Clearly No. NO! Without a doubt NO. Then why does it surprise me…

It is so easy to become so disillusioned to think that Jesus can and will only work through your own church. Do you ever find yourself praying for a nearby church? Not that often I imagine. What about the church down the street, or the youth group just around the corner? Do we have such ministry lust that we can’t see past our own actions and efforts to really see what God is doing?Are we so blind that we don’t/can’t see what God is doing globally?

My desire is to be pleasing to God. I want to be used by Him. I want our youth group to be used by God to make a difference in this world. I want our church to be so with it that it draws those outside of a relationship with Christ to it. Yet I know that it is up to God wether our church and youth ministry stay the size it is, or if it is to grow exponentially. It all rests on His sovereignty.

So, here is today’s question. Do you fall into the trap of thinking that God wants to only work in your church? What do you think about all this? Am I all alone on this one?

~Peter

In Faith in Real Life

1 year later

November 5, 2008 3 Comments

369 days ago my wife Tiffany and I officially started here at First Baptist Church of Doylestown. Incredible! It has been a whole year since we arrived. In honor of this day I thought it would be appropriate to look back and think through some highlights of the year. So, here it is… The One Year Review.

WINTER RETREATS- I had an absolute blast on both of the winter retreats, high school and junior high… All I need to say is, Hot Tub Olympics. That was awesome! For those who don’t know what this is… we came up with all of these “challenges” to do in the hot tub at Lake Champion. One of my favorites was run from the tub to the slush puddle- roll in it- only to return again to the hot tub… first man in wins! Great times…

Remodeling the Student Center- This was a huge highlight to me. When we began meeting as separate groups in the student center I felt like we were so much more connected together. That we really and truly began to grow together as a family. Keep up the good work!

Teaching through “So Our Ipods are Different!” This was a really fun series for me to teach. I felt like we had a great time going through those several weeks. I will never forget the closing night of that series. Keith Dickey was leading worship, and I had my eyes closed having just gotten done teaching and I was praying that God would unite this group, and when I opened my eyes I saw guys hugging guys, arms around each other, and singing in unison praising God for who He is! We shared communion, and prayed with one another. That was a highlight to me! An unforgettable moment.

I will never forget the beginning of our Junior High worship band. There we were, 3 musicians and 2 singers. Standing around the piano in the sanctuary. Wow, we were not that good… But I am proud of where we are now! Great job guys! It is a joy to lead worship with you all when I do.

There are so many highlights of this last year. I can’t even believe that it has been a year. I know that if I really sat and thought about it I would come up with tons more! It is a privilege to be with you guys, and to have you call me your youth pastor. I love it! I serve alongside of the best team I could ever think of. I am grateful for everyone of you youth leaders! God has gifted us with you. Thank you!

~Peter

In Leadership & Calling

The State of the Soul

November 2, 2008 3 Comments

Have you ever wondered what your soul is? Where it is? And have you ever wondered if there was anything you could do to figure out how to get more in touch with your soul? I know that I have…

This A.M. we heard from Mark Yaconelli. Let me tell you what, when he got to the point where he said, I’m going to wrap it up with this one thought, Josh and I both said to each other, NO! Don’t stop… Keep going. Keep laying into us. Keep challenging me.

See, here’s what was said…

He said that the soul is that place hidden deep within us that is deeply knit to God, that place which is in serious contact with God. We were challenged with these questions. “How do we slow down and hear from the soul?” “How do we work to hear from the soul?”

Mark went on to talk about how the pace of life that most of us keep don’t allow us to actually stop and literally “smell the roses”. What about the things that God has created, creation, family, friends, emotions, etc… do we take time to appreciate these things? To listen to our soul… to listen to what God may be saying to us through these things.

What about this… In our society, we judge success on the fact that we have arrived at the end. Am I training myself and my kids that what matters most is the end? Or is it the getting there? Is it feeling the wind in my hair??? (when I had hair…) Is it about the moments spent in silence looking at the stars wondering how far is heaven? Is it looking at the waves and wondering what keeps them coming? Man… I was stopped in my tracks. I needed to hear this. I needed to hear that I have to slow down, otherwise I am in danger of destroying my soul. Loosing my soul. Forgetting my soul. Abandoning my soul. I’m unwilling to do that.

What do you think? What’s the state of your soul? Do you buy into it?

Oh, by the way, I have reserved seats in the very front row for DAVID CROWDER TONIGHT! GOD IS SO GOOD!

~PETER

In Faith in Real Life

The end of an evening…

November 1, 2008 3 Comments

So, here we are, we have heard from Mike Pilivachi, and several others! It has been incredible so far. I can’t wait to see what happens next. It has been awesome to be surrounded by thousands of other people who get Youth Ministry. YS has taken a different approach this year to the convention. It is different… I have to admit that right now I am missing David Crowder Band. They have been the worship leaders here at YS for the last several years. Starfield is leading worship this week, and it has been good, but I do miss the DCB. Maybe next year.

Thoughts I’m thinking on…

“It’s not the destination it’s the journey.” -Mike Pilivachi

“Sacred Echo’s are the repetitive nature of God showing up in things over and over.” -Margaret Feinberg

“It’s the Holy Spirits Job to convict, It’s God’s job to judge, and it’s our job to love!” {Billy Grahm}-Andrew Marin

What do you think?

Oh, and by the way, here’s a little video for you!

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6hPh4Y0F7cU]

More tomorrow!

~Peter

In Leadership & Calling

Its on

October 31, 2008 2 Comments

Youth specialties 2008 is about to begin! I am so pumped. I can’t wait to see what God does… Here we go! Let’s rock.

In Faith in Real Life

WOO HOO!

October 15, 2008 1 Comment

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

In Leadership & Calling

This weekend

September 12, 2008 1 Comment

This weekend, I am going to be guest speaking at Grace Church in Penn Argyl PA. I am pretty excited about it! I was asked to be their rally day speaker. This is a pretty cool idea. Every year this church gets someone to come in and charge them up and get them pumped for the next year. So, this is my job this weekend! I am looking forward to it.

Here’s what you can do for me. You can Pray!

Here’s what you can pray for:

Pray for safety as I travel to and from Penn Argyl this Sunday.
Pray that God would give me the words and the message that He has for His people up there in Penn Argyl.
Pray that Tiffany and I would have a great time spending the day together.
Pray for my Youth Group family and my leaders here at home while I’m gone. They will continue to meet this Sunday night.
Pray that God would continue to use me however He desires!

Thanks! I’ll let you know how it goes later!

~Peter

In Faith in Real Life

What keeps you up at night?

September 6, 2008 6 Comments

Lately, I have been thinking about stuff… You know? I find myself thinking about ministry, life and my family. Sometimes I wonder if this is normal? I mean there are times when I just can’t stop thinking about it. I’ve found myself saying, “Okay, it’s time to go to bed now. Stop thinking about stuff!” I suppose that you could call this craziness, or maybe just disturbed.

I wonder about how can we do things better? How can we more effectively minister to students. What would be my dreams and goals… I sit and think about the church in a perfect world. I dream about the day when we can be a church that stands culturally relevant, and is culturally attractive to those in our community! I dream about how we can get to that point. I am pained by phrases, and ideology that causes more harm to the name of Jesus, than it does good.

Sometimes I wonder… Sometimes I dream…

What keeps you up at night? What are your passions?

~Peter