Just another WordPress.com weblog
I am overwhelmed and just down-right sick and tired. And to be totally honest, if I knew my parents wouldn’t crucify me, I would highly consider failing my classes…on purpose! Every time I turn around I have some kind of project due, scene to film, rehearsal to attend, the list goes on and on. It’s like I can’t catch a break; it’s like God wanted to dump everything on me all at once.
http://www.surfersvillage.com/gal/pictures/StormCloud1.jpg
Wow. I am utterly ashamed at myself for taking so long to start blogging again. And to be totally honest, I have no outstanding excuse other than the fact that I have been swamped lately. It seems like I’ve been going non-stop since June, which is when you all last heard from me. Please accept my sincere apology for this lapse in blogging. And I should probably fill you in on what all has happened since we last spoke (typed/read).
http://www.centerwest.org/projects/past/listening/images/pic_cowboy.jpg
Over the summer I had the huge honor of working with my best friend, Jay, and another good friend, Rachel, as a Youth Intern for First Presbyterian Church, here in Harrisonburg. We worked closely with the high school and middle school youth groups through organizing events and attending three awesome trips. I’ll be sure to blog soon about these trips, as many of you were influential in me going, especially through generous donations.
I pray that this new post finds each of you enjoying the crisp fall air and embracing God’s wonderful creation around you. Remember to take some time each day to simply sit and marvel at this gift the Lord has given to us. Until next time…
Phil
I recently finished reading a book that sent me on a journey in faith unlike any other. This book, by Lee Strobel and Mark Mittelberg, is an energetic, engaging guide to help you take steps to influence others for Christ. Suddenly, what once seemed scary or daunting becomes an exciting and do-able adventure that will has energized my own faith while urging me to make an eternal difference in the lives of others.
This 42-day journey has truly inspired me to become more outspoken about my faith and how it has effected my life and the way I live. Strobel and Mittelberg did a masterful job of re-igniting my personal responsibility to increase my boldness to share the greatest news on Earth. Reaching people for Christ is our mission and so The Unexpected Adventure is right up our alley. What the authors show us is that this journey of faith will bring amazing “unexpected” encounters when we’re trusting in God to use our lives for His purposes.
http://www.theunexpectedadventure.com/index.php?option=com_adventure
The Unexpected Adventure is not a book that you read cover to cover in a few sittings. It is truly a devotional type book and an incredible resource that provides even further resources within it to help you through your own adventure. It has encouraged me to step out of my comfort zone and move to the front lines in my journey of faith. Strobel and Mittelberg show us that there’s nothing to fear; we’ve got “Spiritual back-up!” Through this book, you will learn that God is behind the scenes of your adventure with plans and purposes that reach far beyond all that you can dare to hope for or imagine! I highly recommend you go out and buy this book. It will challenge you and, in time, will teach you ways to embark on personal evangelical missions.
1 Corinthians 13:4-8 tells us, Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. Love never fails…
In hopes of bringing back the “Warm & Fuzzy” series, here’s a picture that kind of goes along with my (Days to Live) series. Hope you all are having an awesome day and are finding the opportunity to enjoy the gorgeous weather!
http://www.innocentenglish.com/cute-animals/cute-baby-kittens-puppies-img/funny-cute-little-hamster.pic105.jpg
Tomorrow, Tuesday, may seem like just another day on a calendar. But for me, it’s a reminder that I have only 25 days left to live. for those of you who haven’t been following the blog for the past few days, last Thursday I was challenged by a book I’m reading to live as if I only had a month left. So today, while sitting at work, I began think about my life and how I have lived up to this point. I then hit a wall.
I don’t know of anyone who can fully remember what life was like during their first year of life. What toys did I play with? What was my first word? Who did I walk to first, mom or dad? To be totally honest, it doesn’t really matter what the answers to these questions are. What matters is that I have been given the ability and the opportunity to live.
http://www.images-photography-pictures.net/baby-picture-quiet-childish-david-baby.jpg
I stumbled across a trailer for an upcoming movie, called Babies. This film documents the first year in the life of four babies in four different countries, and you can view the trailer by clicking here. This film, in my mind, is meant to serve as a reminder at how fleeting time can be and how precious life truly is. I am a young man who love children and cannot wait to have children of my own…okay, I can definitely wait, but you know what I mean.
A baby will make love stronger, days shorter, nights longer, bankroll smaller, home happier, clothes shabbier, the past forgotten, and the future worth living for. -Unknown Author
If you have children of your own, tell them you love them, kiss and hug them every chance you get. You never know whether you’ll have them for a day or for a lifetime. Know that God blesses us with children to show us a mere example of the beauty He is able to create. I pray that we all remember that.
In His love-
Phil
From the rising of the sun unto the going down of the same the Lord’s name is to be praised. -Psalm 113:3
This morning marked the second day of my 30-day journey. I rolled out of bed at an uncomfortable 5:30am, traveled to Mr. J’s Bagels to co-lead a high school guy’s small group, and found that only one person showed up (other than myself). We chatted for a while, scarfed down a bagel and went our separate ways, him to school and I to…well that’s where my story begins.
You see, after being challenged yesterday to live as if I only had a month left, I decided to take advantage of something that I often take for granted. The sunrise. To be totally honest, I’ve never actually woken up just to watch it, so I figured…why not today? If I only have 29 days left, why not soak up the beauty that God has provided? So I drove up to the top of the Turner Ashby Memorial trail and sat. I sat for what seemed like hours, mainly because I was extremely tired from waking up so early. But then it happened…
http://americanpublichousereview.com/2008.01/genoa/sunrise_mountains.jpg
My radio was tuned to 103.3 FM, which in Harrisonburg is KLOVE (the Christian music station). The song changed, and the music of Matt Redman came on, and he sang The Heart of Worship. The sky changed from a dull blue-gray into a spectrum of blues, yellows and reds. It nearly brought me to tears. Just sitting there taking it all in, and realizing that for so long, I’ve lost the meaning of life…the meaning of me. I found myself saying the words to the song out loud, in hopes of finding some type of relief.
I’m coming back to the heart of worship, and it’s all about you, it’s all about you Jesus. I’m sorry Lord for the thing I’ve made it, when it’s all about you, it’s all about you Jesus.
I cannot help but to think back on my spring break in Nashville. This place that brought me, and many other, closer to Him. Yet, who I owe it all to is God. He has truly blessed me with a life worth living for. The friends and family that surrounds me are people whom God has used to teach me things and to draw me closer to Him. If it weren’t for the love of God, I simply would not be. I pray that I continue to grow in Him, and live in His light. He is all I want, all I’ve ever needed. He is my desire, and I am joyous in knowing He is near. I see Him in the gifts He has given me and in the people He has put into my life.
After being introduced to the book THE UNEXPECTED ADVENTURE , by Lee Strobel and Mark Mittelberg, I finally set out on Monday to read it.
http://legerity.files.wordpress.com/2009/05/strobel.jpg
And boy, let me tel you. What an adventure it has been! The book focuses on urging Christians to take the risk to talk with people about Jesus. This 42 day adventure is an energetic and engaging guide to everyday steps we all can take to influence others for Christ. Suddenly, what was once frightening or challenging becomes an exciting and inviting adventure “that will energize your own faith while you make an eternal difference in the lives of others.”
Bestselling authors Lee Strobel and Mark Mittelberg tell dramatic and often hilarious storied from their own lives that will inspire you with fresh compassion for your spiritually deprived friends. Then they draw from that practical and useful application steps that anyone can take, and capping each chapter with a relevant Scripture selection.
http://i245.photobucket.com/albums/gg80/zenshred/path.jpg
I’m currently on day 4, and from the start I have felt God urging me to take a step out of my comfort zone and into His path. In today’s reading, the author’s challenge us with this:
For the next thirty days, why not live as if this were your last month on Earth? In what practical ways would you change how you engage with people about God?
Which lead me to this blog. I’ve decided to take on this challenge and for the next thirty days, I’m going to live as if that’s all the time I have. No more making excuses. No more hiding my true feelings. And no more waiting for something big to happen; I’m going to make it happen. I’m going to continue to keep you all updated about how it’s going and what all I do. But until next time, allow this verse to ring in your ears and meditate on it: Teach us to number our days and recognize how few they are; help us spend them as we should. -Psalm 90:12
In His love,
Phil
Yesterday, while updating my Facebook status, I ran across a quote that now calls my profile page “home”. Think back to 1989, and a young boy named Kevin Arnold. Yep, you know what I’m talking about!
http://matthom.com/images/605.jpg
This 1988-1993 period “dramedy” takes place during the turbulent times of the late 1960s and 1970s. The show focuses on Kevin Arnold (Fred Savage), a young teenager living in a quiet middle-class suburb, and his family and friends. Throughout the series’ 5-year run, Kevin deals with middle and high school, encounters puberty, has ups and downs with childhood sweetheart Winnie Cooper (Danica McKellar), deals with annoying older brother Wayne, and hangs out with geeky-but-lovable Paul (Josh Saviano). The series is told from Kevin’s point-of-view through the narration of Daniel Stern.
I used to love watching this show. For some reason, I thought that this world I was watching was what the word was suppose to really be like. I really did believe that somewhere, my “grown-up” self was narrating what was happening in my life. Cool, right?! Anywho…
I thought you guys would enjoy this little Blast from the Past, as well as this quote I found from it…
All of our young lives we search for someone to love. Someone that makes us complete. We choose partners and change partners. We dance to a song of heartbreak and hope. All the while wondering if somewhere, somehow, there’s someone perfect who might be searching for us.
Lately, I have been praying quite hard about my next phase in life. And though a lot is still unclear to me, I know that God is pulling at my heart to do something BIG! With everything happening in Haiti recently, as well as the regrowth of New Orleans, I cannot help but to be humbled. I have been amazingly blessed with a family that loves and supports me, and friends that are there to turn to in times of trouble. I have shelter to keep me warm and food to keep me nourished. And most of all, I have a God that is loving and comforting. A God who’s grace is flowing over me, even as we speak.
http://www.givewithjoy.org/images/Gods%20hands%20earth%20globe%20web.jpg
So what now? Where do I go from here?
