Peculiar Person

Blogging Break

2008-04-16T13:54:00.000-07:00

I am taking a break from blogging for a moment, although I will still be twittering, twtitting, or tweeting or whatever the heck they call it!

I need to take some time to allow God to operate in my life in a big way. I am excited in what the future holds.

I will be back...

Ressurection Sunday

2008-03-24T06:08:00.000-07:00

Just a thought before I start my day.

Easter was great. I spent time with my church family, and my family. Pastor Wayne preached a very simple yet profound sermon. If Christ was resurrected, and indeed he was, it ought to change the way we live our lives. In other words, if we are doing all this crazy stuff like going to church, worshiping, buying Christian books, blogging about Jesus, and all that other stuff we do, it would be pretty ridiculous if Christ had not risen. Thank God Jesus is alive!

Mexico 2008 Video (Filmed & Edited by Jonathan Harchick)

2008-03-19T10:04:00.001-07:00

Embedded Video

Mercy (and I don't mean God's)

2008-03-14T19:24:00.000-07:00

Our fearless leader Brandon Watkiss has never lost a battle of mercy, but Mike Rebich may have been his first draw!

Mexico Update: Day 6

2008-03-14T19:20:00.000-07:00

We just arrived in Neuvo Laredo from ministering in the mountain town of Bustamante. While we were there we saw God move in some big ways. The Lords favor and authrity was with us. He saved us from rattle snakes, healed sickness, and even gave us favor with the Policia. God used our availibility to touch many lives. When I get back I will post a full report. For now pray for safe travels and please excuse my spelling.

This is a picture of us at a school where they literally cancled class for our program!

Glory a Dios!

Cristo te Ama

2008-03-11T06:04:00.000-07:00

Jesus loves you! Here is a pic of me and one of the children from the orphanage we are staying at. God has been moving in a big way. During a service we attended there were several heings, and many salvations during our outreaches. Today we will be at the ministry center helping with a building project.

Colonias

2008-03-10T06:32:00.000-07:00

It's day 2 of the Chi Alpha mexico trip. Yesterday we spent half the day in the colonias where people are in great need. Today we will spend the whole day in several camps ministering to peoples physical and spiritual needs.

Mexico Update

2008-03-09T21:16:00.001-07:00

Two months ago Brandon Watkiss spoke at Chi Alpha, and told us that people have life changing experiences, and he called moments. These moments can happen when you least expect them. They change the way you live. I think I just had one of those moments after speaking at a church in Mexico. I will expand on this more soon. God bless.

Sausage With Gauc!

2008-03-09T11:30:00.000-07:00

This is the most delicious combonation that my tastebuds have ever encountered. In other news, the Chi Alpha mission team has arrived safely. I will try and keep everyone updated on here.

The Power of Balloon

2008-03-08T13:53:00.000-08:00

Look out Mexico we are coming, and we have balloon animals.

Medevil Weaponary

2008-03-05T17:18:00.001-08:00

Here is bass player Andrew using a drum mount as a medevil weapon.

Stirring it Up

2008-03-02T16:54:00.001-08:00

There was an awesome guest speaker at church from South Africa. He spoke about stirring the fire in your heart, and that we were anointed for a purpose, not just to be anointed.

Dino Nuggets

2008-02-29T13:47:00.000-08:00

These sound delicious. But I doubt they use real dinosaur.

God's Brain

2008-02-19T08:00:00.000-08:00

1 Corinthians 2 has some very interesting thoughts in the wisdom of God. When we receive the Holy Spirit (if you are in Christ you have the Spirit) we receive a spirit that has searched and knows the very mind of God. It is like the spirit was inside his brain! Next time we are faced with a big choice, don't you think we should ask someone who has been in the brain of God.

PS I know it has been a while since my last entery, but my power chord is broken, so I am out of commision until I get a new one.

Hastings got out of hand

2008-02-08T09:12:00.001-08:00

Matt got so out of hand we had to lock him in the closet!

Brian Regan

2008-02-07T18:35:00.000-08:00

Photographs were not permitted at the Brian Regan show, but this is where he stood when he told us a bunch of funny jokes. It was a great show.

Question: What does the love of God look like?

2008-02-06T14:19:00.001-08:00

I know it has been a while, and I totally have not hit my goal of blogging every day. Here is the sweet thing about goals, you can change them, at least when you set them for yourself. I am proud of my self for blogging as much as I do. However I do want to kick it up a notch as Emeril would say.

I heard a great interview while I was driving. I was listening to the Relevant Magazine podcast, and they interviewed Brian McLaren. I could probably write a whole blog about what I think about those two (Relevant, and McLaren) but I will just say that all things should be taken with a grain of salt. The bottom line is this McLaren said some pretty insightful things that challenged me and made me think.

He explained that in most cases the church has made the gospel about getting as many people in to heaven as possible. He used the term exit strategy a few times to describe this. In addition, he alluded to the fact that the church should be more concerned with the injustices that are going on all around us. I am not sure if he meant the latter is more important than the former, however I say you can't have one without the other.

John 13:35
By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another

There are some really obvious injustices occurring all over the world, like AIDS, Human Trafficing, and Famine, just to name a few. These are all important and we need to be part of the solution in some way. However, my question for you, and for God is this: What does God's love look like? or in other words what injustices, or needs occur around us, and more specifically on our college campuses? How do we show the love of God to our peers on the campus? What needs are there? How can we show compassion? or as Jesus himself put it, What makes us different?

Hanging out with some old friends

2008-02-01T12:19:00.000-08:00

I arrived in Connecticut last night, where I am visiting family. I used to work with this band that plays a lot of gigs in New England. So I decided to look them up. Turns out they are playing in the town I am staying. Check out Unspoken at www.itwasyou.com

Rogal Chapel - Chi Alpha

2008-01-30T17:01:00.000-08:00

So I haven't posted in a while...

I have been crazy busy with work and XA (thats a pic of the chapel where we have XA) God has been showing up in a big way and pouring out his spirit like He said he would in Joel 2:28-32. Can't wait to tell you how, check back soon to find out...

Bye Bye Verizon Advertising

2008-01-26T20:26:00.001-08:00

No more stupid verizon message! Yay!

The well

2008-01-26T09:22:00.000-08:00

The well is so crazy, we have a seeing eye dog! This is arwin!

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Reaction to North Fayette Shooting

2008-01-24T09:40:00.001-08:00

I have been on the campus of Robert Morris University for a little over one year. In that time I experienced encountered situations, and events I wasn't ready for. This Wednesday was definitely one of those times. It was mid afternoon, I was at the church, and Pastor Wayne called me downstairs from where I was working in the church. He told me he was headed over to Robert Morris University, and that there was a shooting that occurred off campus. Two RMU students were killed in the shooting, one was in critical condition. The shooter was not an RMU student.

Seeing that is was a Wednesday evening, Chi Alpha was scheduled to occur at the chapel later that night. There was a speaker, Brandon Watkiss, scheduled to speak about the short term mission trip we are taking this spring. I called him to let him know what had occurred. We both agreed to be sensitive and flexible, but that he would still come and speak.

I began to pray.

As God moved upon my heart, I knew what I was supposed to say to the students that came to Chi Alpha. Something strange happened to me on the way to the campus that evening. I was on Beaver Grade Road, and just as I crossed over the Thorn Run Road intersection, this gripping fear came over me. I walked into the chapel and all I knew was i needed to pray, there were two students there, and they dropped what they were doing and prayed with me.

Brandon arrived a little later. He had never been to the campus before. However, when he pulled onto campus drive he described a wave of heaviness that came over him. Something else happened with Brandon that evening. As an evangelist, he speaks all over the place, and usually has the same message everywhere he goes. This evening God had something else in store, and gave Brandon something else to say. Before we did anything that evening, I asked the students to pray, pray for each other, pray for people effected, and pray for this campus. During that time the Lord showed something to Brandon. There was a spiritual collision that occurred on campus.

You see, we see things in the natural, but there are unseen things that occur in the supernatural. Ephesians 6:12 " For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places."

That evening the God challenged us. Know HIS Love, and Show HIS Love. 1 John 4:7-19 Sepaks of this love, it tells us that we show love, because of His love. Oh ya, and that fear I was feeling, here is what the Word says "true love casts our fear"

So here is the challenge this week, if you have God's love show it o someone this week, be there, listen, comfort, or whatever the love of God compels you to do.

Mexico 2008

2008-01-17T18:35:00.000-08:00

Last spring I took a group of 10 college students on the journey of a lifetime into the Sierra Madre Mountains of Mexico. It was my first mission trip ever, and I was planning the stinking thing! This years Chi Alpha spring break mission trip is turning out to be a great one, we have about 8-10 students going. We will be traveling to Nuevo Laredo, Mexico.

Mark Zuckerberg

2008-01-15T17:54:00.000-08:00

I watched the Mark Zuckerberg interview on 60 minutes the other night. Zuckerberg is the creator of Facebook. Apparently the privately owned company is estimated to be worth 15 billion dollars. Mark is only 23 years old. There are a lot of critics that think he is too young to be the CEO of a multi billion dollar coorparation, granted he is a little odd, but i think he is qualified to run it if he created the stinkin' thing!

State of the Chi Alpha address...

2008-01-14T09:56:00.000-08:00

I am super excited for XA this week. Our first meeting of the semester is going to be this Wednesday 1/16 at 9pm in The Rogal Family Chapel. You won't want to miss this, we will be discussing an opportunity to travel to Mexico on a spring break mission trip. Also, there are four small group bible studies happening this semester, and this will be your chance to hear more about them, and make this semester a season of growth.

And for no apparent reason here is a video of a dog snoring

If you cant see the video CLICK HERE

Jesus: Good Man, Prohet, God?

2008-01-11T09:10:00.001-08:00

I have hear a lot of different explanations about who Jesus was. A majority of the people that I get the chance to discuss this matter with agree that Jesus was a real person. In fact, so many people believe that this person exsisted time was split in two by him, B.C. (Before Christ) and A.D. (Ano Domini Latin: The Year of the Lord)

So most would conclude from historical records, and personal testimony that Jesus was a real person, not like Santa or the Easter Bunny. Then who was he? Some religions such as Islam believe he was a prophet, in other words one who is sent by God. Many scholars and intellects conclude he was a good person with good teachings. But who does Jesus say that he is?

For the answer to that question I find myself in the Gospel of John. In this book of the New Testament Jesus makes some pretty bold statements about himself.

I am the Bread of Life (6:35)
I am the Light of the World (8:12)
I am the Good Shepard (10:11)
I am the door. If anyone enters by me, he will be saved (10:9)
I am the resurrection and the life (11:25)
I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me (14:6)
I am the true vine (15:1)

As Josh McDowell so brilliantly entitles the second chapter of his book "More Than a Carpenter," Jesus was either a Liar, a Lunatic, or Lord. In other words Jesus was who he said he was, God, or he was crazy.

On a personal note, anyone who knows me, knows that I am not one for lofty arguments, or logical debates that explain people into converting to Christianity. Concluding who Jesus is, and accepting him as Lord and Savior, is something that has to happen supernaturally in your heart. I could never explain you into that, someone would just come along and explain you out of it. So don't take my word for it, look into it for yourself, seek out who God is.

Amazon.com: More Than a Carpenter: Books: Josh McDowell

Amazon.com: Mere Christianity: Books: C. S. Lewis

Robert Morris upsets Boston College - Pittsburgh Tribune-Review

2008-01-09T20:44:00.001-08:00

Big upset for the Colonials!

Robert Morris upsets Boston College - Pittsburgh Tribune-Review

Blogged with Flock

Unselfish Commitmment

2008-01-08T14:06:00.001-08:00

Since committing to the Lord February 10, 2002 I have seen some pretty phenomenal things occur. I have had the opportunity to see peoples lives transformed before my very eyes. All of these life changing things occurred becuase of unselfish decisions, whether by me or other people. I look back on the six years I have served the Lord, and the greatest times influence and effectiveness were times I looked at the bigger picture and realized I was doing something, and serving someone far bigger than myself.

This is the story of a man who had an eternal perspective and served faithfully, and selflessly. As a result he may have affected thousands, maybe millions of lives, and he will never be on the cover of any magazine, or on any television network. This is his story...

If you cant see the video CLICK HERE

The Great Debaters

2008-01-06T16:33:00.001-08:00

Went to see "The Great Debaters" last night before the Steeler Game. Lets just say it was better than the game. It was truly a great movie, Forest Whitaker and Denzel Washington were awesome.

Mexico 2007

2008-01-04T19:01:00.001-08:00

So just a word to the wise, don't watch this video unless you plan on going on the Mexico 2008 trip it is going to be sick!

Sign up for the information meeting on facebook!

Facebook | Chi Alpha Mission Trip Meeting

Boldness

2008-01-04T08:03:00.000-08:00

One afternoon, I pulled up to my house after a long morning pouring coffee, and making lattes for "the man" at Starbucks. As I pulled into the alley way behind my house I noticed there was a brand new, shiny, Lexus slowly creeping up the alley toward me. There was something about it that seemed out of place. Using my detective skills that I obtained from watching hours of Psyche and CSI, I deduced that the driver of this car did not live in the neighborhood.

As the car approached the gentleman rolled down the window, pointed to my house, and asked me if I lived there. The elderly gentleman driving the car said that he used to live in my house in 1945, and began to reflect from his car. He told me that he was in the living room doing homework, when Pearl Harbor was bombed. I invited him in, but he declined. The gentleman said he had been sick lately, and he wasn't up to it. He drove off, but I had this funny feeling inside of me like I should have prayed for him

Here is what I am getting at, that funny feeling, that is called the Holy Spirit. Don't get me wrong I am not living in guilt or anything, I am motivated not to miss another opportunity to pray and see God move.

I read this awesome blog this morning about praying and seeing God move --> Here

Chi Alpha Testimony

2008-01-02T09:45:00.000-08:00

Check out the testimony in this newsletter all you college students. It gives a great perspective on friends you think are unreachable. We have no idea what is going on in the lives of people around us.

Sorority Sister

The New Year, The New Blog, and The Best of 2007

2008-01-02T09:22:00.000-08:00

So here it goes, this is going to sound crazy to some of you. My new years resolution is to blog every day in 2008! I know that some youth, and college age pastors have said that through the ages, but I really mean it. It may not be ground breaking, or profound, but it will be everyday.

The best of 2007...
AG Frat House
XA Leaders Retreat
XA Small Group Studies (You guys rock)
My Lovely Girlfriend
Reach the U in Springfield, MO
"The Master Plan for Evangelism" By Robert Coleman (Great read, you brainiacs that love to read could knock it out in an evening)
The Well Ping Pong
The first two weeks of RMU fall semester (jam packed with crazy events and fun)
Seeing the high school students grow, and leaders emerge
The Tarahumara, Mexico, and Ernie Peacock
Freshman
Loving Jesus more every day
And there was so much more...

Plastic Sofa Covers (Revised Edition)

2007-08-07T18:45:00.000-07:00

I recently realized that humans make up some crazy rules and regulations. Have you ever gone to someone’s house, and you weren't allowed in the living room? Maybe it was your living room that you weren't allowed to set foot in. I am almost positive I am ripping off some very funny comedian when I make this statement, but isn't the point of a living room to spend time living in the darn thing. As if the floor was made of hot lava, and your feet would be consumed by fire if you step foot in it. Maybe your parents thought their 1992 lazy boy sofa would be worth something some day, that’s why they wrapped it with a plastic cover that strangely resembled saran wrap. They should have roped it off like a museum, and put up signs prohibiting flash photography.

Museums, zoos, and aquarium also have some rules I have noticed, and at times, I am ashamed to say, disobeyed. Do not touch, do not feed the animals, or my personal favorite, do not tap on glass. I think seeing signs exhibiting these statements evoke the desire to disobey them. There is just something about a large tank of fish that excites my finger, and causes me to loose control. I confess I am probably responsible for trauma to captive sea dwelling creatures all over the world.

There is something that all of these rules have in common, that is they all have a purpose or a spirit. The spirit of the law is what the law is indented to make happen, or keep from happening. Obviously people who keep their living rooms sacred would like to keep the space clean and presentable. I don't know if this is true or not, probably not, but a tap on the glass to a fish is the equivalent to an earthquake for us. Thus the spirit of this rule is don't freak out the fish.

Well a couple of hundred years before Jesus came on the scene, there were these rule makers known as the Pharisees. There were many people who wished to do away with the law of God, and they were entrusted to uphold, and protect it. They came up with a plan that they would make up a bunch of rules on top of God's law in order to protect themselves from breaking God's law. In a way they thought they would first have to break their rules before they could break God's laws. Kind of like a plastic cover on a couch. Unfortunately, they became corrupt, and began to let their laws take priority over God's laws. The Pharisees missed the spirit of God's law all together.

When Jesus came he completely blew these guys out of the water. By stating it is not enough to obey they Law, but you must obey it in your heart. Basically you must desire to keep the law for it's original purpose.

Matthew 6:21-22 (Jesus Speaking)
21"You have heard that it was said to the people long ago, 'Do not murder, and anyone who murders will be subject to judgment.' 22But I tell you that anyone who is angry with his brother[b]will be subject to judgment. Again, anyone who says to his brother, 'Raca,' is answerable to the Sanhedrin. But anyone who says, 'You fool!' will be in danger of the fire of hell.

Mark 7:6
6He (Jesus) replied, "Isaiah was right when he prophesied about you hypocrites; as it is written:
" 'These people honor me with their lips,
but their hearts are far from me.

Have you ever felt like you are just going through the motions? Sometimes we can create these leagalistic rules in our life to convince ourselves that we are right with God: go to church, read your bible, pray, don't swear, go to Chi Alpha. These are all things that we need to be doing, especially going to Chi Alpha (hehe). However, these things should be by products of a genuine faith within our hearts. The spirit of God is able to transform the way you think, it transformed mine, and still transforms me daily...

WWBGD

2007-07-12T18:28:00.000-07:00

My new outlook on life is WWBGD. From here on out this will be the litmus test for my life’s decisions. What would Bear Grylls do? Who is Bear Grylls, you ask? Well I am glad you inquired.

Mr. Grylls may be the most manly man on the face of the earth. He eats live scorpions, jumps out of planes, kills rabbits with pieces of wood, heck the dude even climbed Mt. Everest. Bear is the host of the television show Man V. Wild. Host isn't even the word for it, host doesn't event do it justice, he is more like your guide.

The premise of the whole show is this, Bear is dropped off in one of the world's most gnarly dangerous places, and usually he parachutes in. He usually only carries a water bottle, knife, and a flint. He spends about a week navigating treacherous terrain displaying his survival skills, showing the audience what to eat, what not to eat, how to build fire, how to kill animals, how to turn your underwear into a shelter to sleep in, and much more.

I remember once when I was in the boy scouts, and we took this five-mile hike, and I barely made it, I really thought I was a goner. I guess that is why I never made eagle.

This guy goes to desperate measures to survive in the wilderness. It got me thinking, I would consider the world around us to be in some pretty desperate times. Are we going to desperate measures to reach out to them?

The Midwest: Home of the Bass Pro Shop, and Sonic Burgers

2007-06-28T08:15:00.000-07:00

This past weekend, five college/career agers, myself included, embarked on a monumental journey into the region of America know as "The Midwest" The mission: travel to Springfield, MO attend Reach the U at Central Bible College, while consuming as many sonic burgers, and cherry limeades as possible.

Lets just say sonic burger didn't stand a chance against us. As for the Reach the U conference, it rocked our worlds. Quite frankly, I didn't know what to expect. The teachings in the group growth track were simple, yet profound, and ruined my whole way of looking at the campus of Robert Morris University.

Our only complaint was this: not enough teaching sessions, too much free time (insert sarcastic tone). It was flippin jam packed, in a completely good way. If the schedule had not been so full, students and campus pastors would have been overwhelmed with choices of what to do first in Springfield. Upon our arrival I asked a cafeteria attendant if there was anything to do in Springfield. Three words: Bass Pro Shop. Unfortunately I never made it to the BPS in our 120 seconds we had between sessions due to the fact there was a Starbucks across the street from it, and my minivan always found its way into the Sstarbucks parking lot...