Family Vacation

I got the chance to spend a week in Carolina Beach, North Carolina with my favorite people in the whole world. It was a great time away!

On UnChristian

I went to the Jubilee Conference in Pittsburgh a year ago and David Kinnaman taught a seminar on his book UnChristian, co-authored with Gabe Lyons who wasn't there. The two-room meeting area was packed; people were spilling out into the hallway...standing room only. The topic that attracted so many was on what a new generation really thinks about Christianity and why it matters. The people in the room were mostly college age students but there were others there ranging from ages 23 to 50. It was interesting to me to see such a powerful topic attract such a broad spectrum of people. UnChristian focuses on what the generation ranging from 18 - 29 year olds think about Christianity. The book comes from the Barna Research Group and has some group statistics and facts behind the study. We are living in a Post-Christian culture and this book is essential to understanding this worldview. Some of the research found that this generation looks at Christians as being "hypocritical", "too political", and "anti homosexual" just to name a few. The book is challenging because it covers such a wide spectrum of topics that many have including myself may have to rethink some things in how we live out our faith. It is difficult to hear but crucial to understand what a generation thinks about the Christian faith. And it is blatantly clear that this group is absent from most churches on Sundays.

When I was in Chicago I worked on a church that was overshadowed by a large

multi-million dollar Community Center that was a beauty of architectural ingenuity. A scrolling marquee was placed on top of the spire for the community to see, blocking out the steeple from the little church. It reminded me of what the Church used to be and should be today. I don't think that most Christians realize the ground we are losing in the culture due to the things mentioned in the book UnChristian. This little church was once the center for the community and now is clearly not. The little church is trying to rethink and rebuild the ways in which it reaches the community. I believe that the there is a movement taking place, guided by the Spirit, that is getting the Church to rethink and engage the culture in more relevant and Christ-like ways. This is a great book for those who are Christ followers and those who are "outsiders" as Kinnaman says. It is worth your time and energy to read this book in my opinion.

Here is a YouTube video interview with David Kinnaman:

Chicago : (1)

Here are a bunch of photos from my missions trip to Chicago. On June 14-20 my senior high youth group took a short-term missions trip to the south side of Chicago.We worked in partnership with a group called Mission Encounter and stayed at a church called the Lighthouse Community Church of the Nazarene. We had two group in action for the week. Group one spent the week at the Agape Community Center hanging out with little kids from ages kindergarten through sixth grade. Group two spent their time doing various tasks like working at the Lighthouse church, the Children's Hunger Fund, and a little church called Ingleside. Both groups had the opportunity one night to serve at a women and children's shelter to serve dinner. Chicago is a beautiful city! The people we worked with were incredible and ministered to our group as well. Thanks again to my interns and Sharon for a great week. Some of these pictures are from Ian Maravalli one of the interns who is a gifted photographer, so thanks Ian for your pictures. Peace.

Group shot at the Navy Pier

Gino's East - incredible deep dish pizza

Bridge on Michigan Ave.

Statue on Michigan Ave.

Subway

Hancock building

Sears Tower in the distance

The Chicago Bean in Millennium Park

Incredible shot of Chicago from Ian

Shot of Chicago from the Ferris Wheel at Navy Pier

Shot from the lawn at Millennium Park

Swings on the Navy Pier

Chicago : (2)

Packaging beans at the Children's Hunger Fund warehouse

We package over four thousand bags of beans

Group 2 at the Children's Hunger Fund Warehouse

CHF Warehouse

Lexi & Jeff packaging beans

Kenny, Hope, D-Mac, Eric, & Lauren

Hunger Paks - CHF ships these to those in need

Chicago : (3)

Ziggy puts mud on the drywall at Ingleside

D-Mac, Jimmy, Jeff, & EO put DryLok on the wall

Austin enjoys his work

I love this shot: D-Mac sweeps while a community man watches him.

Lexi, Lauren, & Hope sand down the wall

Pastor Mike Evans with his son Aaron

Multi-million Community Center across the street from the Ingleside Church in much need of repairs. I think this is a great picture of the Church.

Phil getting tagged at the Agape Center

Chicago : (4)

Kids playing at the Agape Center

Ian takes an artsy picture at Agape

Alex runs with a little kid at Agape

Meredith, Melanie, and Sharon at Agape

Eric repairs a ceiling at Lighthouse

Lauren & Kenny removing carpet at Lighthouse

Chicago : (5)

Ian Maravalli doin' work

Portillo's - amazing food!

Neighborhood kids hanging out

Shawn, D-Mac, Austin, & Sharon cooked up some good food at the shelter

Mr. Gyros & Ice Cream - Great Gyros

Jackie with a little girl at the shelter

Sharon hooks up the kids with ice cream

How we roll

Kenny & Eric represent Pittsburgh in Chicago

Students hanging out at the Lighthouse Church

On the road

Driving - nice shot by Ian

Let's Go Pens!

The Incredible Pittsburgh Penguins!

Chicago: MLUPC Style

Well I am off again with my youth group on another wild goose chase. This time we are off to the great city of Chicago to work with a group called Mission Encounter to work with a children's ministry, homeless shelter, and some construction projects. My friends Chris and John put this little logo together for us. If you want, you can check out and follow and prayer for us by going to this link: MLUPC Youth Ministry Chicago. Chicago here we come!

Coldplay: Life in Technicolor ii

Coldplay: Politik