Author: revkevjr

Tonight I will be facilitating a conversation about bullying at PI-678 for our middle schoolers. Here are two videos I’ll be showing. The first one features author Frank Peretti talking about his past, and the second one is a music video inspired by his book No More Victims.

Today I ran to Kohls and bought a new suitcase to bring home all of the resources I got from Group for my team. I then went to Buffalo Wild Wings for lunch and spent some time journaling. I then went back to the Devil’s Backbone, but this time I hiked the entire trail. It is a stunningly beautiful piece of God’s artwork. Incredible! After a quick pit stop back at the hotel, I drove to Estes Park. When I arrived the weather changed suddenly from a decent day to very cold and rainy. I picked up a few souvenirs; however, I have only been to one place in all of my travels where finding a plate and a bell (two things we collect) are harder to find, and that was in Africa. I then headed back to Loveland and on the way stopped into Viestenz-Smith Mountain Park and engaged in a prayer experience. It was a wonderful time with the Lord. I then grabbed some dinner and headed back to my room where I ate and watched the MLB playoffs. Tomorrow I head home. Can’t wait to see my girls (including the one who calls me husband)!

Today I was hoping to sleep in, but found myself awake at 7:45 a.m. and unable to go back to bed. I was planning on climbing the Twin Sisters Peaks (which are 11,428 and 11,413 feet in elevation) tomorrow, but decided to go ahead and do it today. I started at 11 a.m. and after following the train for about a quarter of a mile it suddenly ended. It looked like some foot trails went off to the left, but it didn’t take long for them to blend in with all of the animal trails, and I knew it wasn’t the right way. However, I did stumbled upon the skeletal remains of an elk. I then backtracked, but still did not find the trail. I spotted some orange trail markers going up the hill through the woods, so I followed them, and gladly they led to the trail. It took just under two-and-a-half hours to reach the summit, and I only saw 8 other people coming down as I was going up. I did spot some chipmunks and squirrels and on a handful of occasions heard rattlesnakes shaking their rattles. I was hoping to see one, but no luck. I spent about a half hour on the top of the two summits. I chatted briefly with some park rangers who were doing work on a tower. There were several mules with them who bring them and their equipment up. They said it takes the mules about an hour-and-a-half to get up. Not unlike the commute from Long Island to NYC. lol! I then ate some trail mix, drank some water, and headed back down. Going down only took an hour-and-a-half, and the trail which had eluded me on the way up came out not far from my car. The driver’s seat of a car never felt more like a Lazy Boy! I also downed another bottle of water which I had in the car. I then drove into Estes and enjoyed an Elk burger and journaled before driving back to Loveland. Here’s the link to pics from the day.

Today we wrapped up our three days of brainstorming, planning, and leadership community-building at Group. We really accomplished a lot and it was a vigorous, exciting experience to be a part of creating the 2011 Simply Youth Ministry Conference. I was also able to have six of my youth ministry friends record leadership training videos for my adult youth leaders which I will be posting on our Adult Youth Leaders blog in the coming weeks. After The Summit, a handful of us spent the day driving through Estes Park and the Rocky Mountain National Park. The mountains were stunningly breathtaking and we saw several herds of elk, one of which we were able to walk within 10 feet of. Absolutely beautiful! We then had dinner together in the park before heading back to Loveland where we spent several hours around the fire at the Gilmour’s home talking about youth ministry. I even discovered that one of the women I worked with all week went to college with my childhood friend, Ryan Swain. So cool! Click here to see my pics from the past three days. Below are also two videos of the elk. Have your volume up and you will here them calling.

At Group having a great conversation about grafting. Read the Scriptures below, watch this video, and reflect on this reality of life in Christ.

Romans 11:11-24

11Again I ask: Did they stumble so as to fall beyond recovery? Not at all! Rather, because of their transgression, salvation has come to the Gentiles to make Israel envious. 12But if their transgression means riches for the world, and their loss means riches for the Gentiles, how much greater riches will their fullness bring!
13I am talking to you Gentiles. Inasmuch as I am the apostle to the Gentiles, I make much of my ministry 14in the hope that I may somehow arouse my own people to envy and save some of them. 15For if their rejection is the reconciliation of the world, what will their acceptance be but life from the dead? 16If the part of the dough offered as firstfruits is holy, then the whole batch is holy; if the root is holy, so are the branches.

17If some of the branches have been broken off, and you, though a wild olive shoot, have been grafted in among the others and now share in the nourishing sap from the olive root, 18do not boast over those branches. If you do, consider this: You do not support the root, but the root supports you. 19You will say then, “Branches were broken off so that I could be grafted in.” 20Granted. But they were broken off because of unbelief, and you stand by faith. Do not be arrogant, but be afraid. 21For if God did not spare the natural branches, he will not spare you either.

22Consider therefore the kindness and sternness of God: sternness to those who fell, but kindness to you, provided that you continue in his kindness. Otherwise, you also will be cut off. 23And if they do not persist in unbelief, they will be grafted in, for God is able to graft them in again. 24After all, if you were cut out of an olive tree that is wild by nature, and contrary to nature were grafted into a cultivated olive tree, how much more readily will these, the natural branches, be grafted into their own olive tree!

John 15:1-17

The Vine and the Branches

1″I am the true vine, and my Father is the gardener. 2He cuts off every branch in me that bears no fruit, while every branch that does bear fruit he prunes[a] so that it will be even more fruitful. 3You are already clean because of the word I have spoken to you. 4Remain in me, and I will remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me.
5″I am the vine; you are the branches. If a man remains in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing. 6If anyone does not remain in me, he is like a branch that is thrown away and withers; such branches are picked up, thrown into the fire and burned. 7If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be given you. 8This is to my Father’s glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples.

9″As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Now remain in my love. 10If you obey my commands, you will remain in my love, just as I have obeyed my Father’s commands and remain in his love. 11I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete. 12My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you. 13Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends. 14You are my friends if you do what I command. 15I no longer call you servants, because a servant does not know his master’s business. Instead, I have called you friends, for everything that I learned from my Father I have made known to you. 16You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you to go and bear fruit—fruit that will last. Then the Father will give you whatever you ask in my name. 17This is my command: Love each other.

This morning my phone started vibrating at 5:30 a.m. I didn’t want to wake my roommates, so I didn’t answer it. But, I figured it was Natalia calling me at 7:30 a.m. EST to remind me it was her birthday, so I sent her a text. After that I was unable to get back to sleep, so at 6 a.m. I got out of bed, got ready, and hit the treadmill and ran 3 miles. Felt so good! After a shower I had a banana and coffee for breakfast, read my Bible, and at 8:30 a.m. headed over to Group for our meetings. Michael and Lisa Gungor were here and led us in worship. After some teaching we engaged in some vigorous discussions on the care team, discussing how we are going to help conference attenders feel loved and cared for before, during, and after the conference. For lunch we took box lunches and drove about 15 minutes to a beautiful little park. I was able to have a great conversation with my friend Duffy Robbins. He’s such a great blessing! After lunch I dropped off the people who rode with me then headed back out to a ridge I had seen called The Devil’s Backbone and hiked up to it, taking some pictures. Then it was back for the afternoon session. Before dinner I went back out and took some pictures of the canyon we had driven through as well. Then we had a tasty dinner followed by a great night of fellowship and dessert at the home of Group founders Thom and Joani Schultz. It was a wonderful day!

Today (I’m in Colorado and it’s still October 5th) was Natalia’s 9th birthday! So proud of my big little girl. Bummed that I was out of town on her birthday, but so glad we got to celebrate before I left.

Today was my first day in Loveland, Colorado for a few days of meetings at Group. About 75 youth workers from across the country have gathered together to talk about youth ministry and to plan the 2011 Simply Youth Ministry Conference which will be happening in Chicago March 4-7, 2011. We had a wonderful time with Doug Fields, Rick Lawrence, Thom & Joani Schultz, Stephanie Caro, Andy Brazelton, Kami Gilmour, Scott Firestone, and many others. This evening we had a great dinner and time of fellowship at the Gilmour’s house including a time of worship with Shane and Shane.

Meet Wednesday Nights 7:30-9:00 p.m. All students gather together for a brief time of worship then get into small groups by grade to study the Bible and discuss matters of life and faith.

On Friday night we had the joy of going into Manhattan to celebrate Natalia’s 9th birthday. Her birthday is actually on Tuesday, but I will be out of town, so we decided to celebrate early as a family. Natalia’s friend Angelia also joined us. We went for a very nice dinner at the Rockefeller Cafe in Rockefeller Center then went across the street to American Girl where Natalia got her first American Girl Doll, Lanie. She also bought the matching outfit for herself. We had a wonderful time together and it was lots of fun!