Running and running and running

Well, just about a week left in the madness of running! I have successfully run at least 20 minutes every day this year to this point, and I am looking forward to taking January 1 off! Also, I am looking forward to drinking a big freakin' Mountain Dew as soon as midnight strikes and 2009 begins, claiming no pop in 2008! As I was running today in the 9 to 10 degree weather in the massive town of North English, Iowa I came to realize that my mustache froze over. When I got home it was still stiff, but by the time my mom took the photo, it was just water again. I love running, but I'm ready to not "have to" run anymore!

Home

I'm back in Iowa! I forgot how cold it is up here, well I didn't forget, but it's freakin' cold! I went out running today and it was in the single digits, which was rather warm compared to yesterday's high of -5! While I was running my mustache decided to freeze over. Quite fun, but it wasn't too terrible! I'm glad to be back in Iowa for a few weeks, as I will be back in Dallas on the 6th of January. Good time to reflect on things, and set some goals for the new year. Glad to be able to relax from Masters for a little while!

Live Rich For Less

I'm currently reading this book, haven't read the whole thing yet, but it's pretty good so far. Here is the review for it, not my review, but one off of the net.

You really can be rich in every way, every day.

So you want to own the home you love, make memories on wonderful vacations with family or friends, finance college educations, and help others too?

You can—starting here and now.

With lively humor, proven know-how, and practical principles for financial health, Living Rich for Less helps you stretch your dollars to realize the lifestyle of your dreams. Ellie Kay’s entertaining and enlightening examples show you simple steps to save, spend, and give smart, and her three main principles are undergirded by dozens of effective rules and hundreds of Cha-Ching Factor™ tips that keep or put money in your pocket.

Ellie knows what it’s like to be financially-strapped or struggling, wanting to be the Joneses but feeling as poor in spirit as in pocketbook. She went, within two and a half years, from being a new wife and mom with $40,000 in consumer debt and seven children (and college educations) to support, to being completely debt-free and within fifteen years able to pay cash for eleven different cars, give away three of those cars, buy two five-bedroom houses (moving from one to the other) and nicely furnish each, take wonderful vacations, dress her family in fine fashion; and support more than thirty non-profit organizations in more than a dozen different countries, giving away more than $100,000.

Isn’t that the kind of transformation to a rich life that you want?

Living Rich for Less helps anyone get there in our taxed-out, maxed-out times. Because financial security doesn’t mean just genuine prosperity, but being able to live luxuriously, give generously, and care for yourself as well as the others around you.

If you want to purchase it you can buy it at:

Amazon

ChristianBook.com

Family Christian

Chasing Daylight

I just read this book Chasing Daylight which is written by Erwin McManus. McManus is an amazing man of God. I want to work with him someday in some sort of arena. This book is awesome! It talks about seizing the power of every moment of our life, as stated on the cover. It talks about "The Jonathan Factor" which is a character trait in which entails many things to live a fuller life and take better advantage of divine opportunites in our lives. The Jonathan Factor is taken from the story in 1 Samuel 14 when Jonathan takes his armorbear and attacks the Philistines. Amazing story of faith and obedience to God. I loved this book and recommend it to anyone who is seeking a more Extreme life for Christ, and just a more exciting life in general!

Piecin' it together

As I'm on this walk to find out who I really am, I am beginning to piece things together. Sometime last week I really found a revelation about who I am. Here is one of my journal entries from that day:
This morning I realized a big part of me is someone who never backs down from challenges. I knew this, but didn't realize until this morning how long that this has been a part of me. Here is a few challenges I've gone after in my life:

• Elementary: Went whole year taking my lunch and not eating at school
• Elementary: Challenged my brother Seth to a game of one-on-one basketball on a hoop on the back of a door in the basement, declaring the loser had to drink from the toilet. I lost.
• Junior High: Proved it was possible to have silver hair and be white.
• JHigh: Challenged myself to no sex until marriage- still going- note this is before I came to really know Christ.
• High School: Set goal to get Academic All-State as a freshman in high school and achieved it as a senior.
• College/2008: Running 20 minutes every day, (almost achieved)
• MC: A few for myself which need to be kept quiet

This is my life and who I am. I need to embrace this trait a little bit more and step up to the challenges posed to me and take advantage of them!

The Day That Started Normal

Today will never be forgotten. It was ridiculous! I woke up this morning, didn't run, because I knew I'd have time this evening to do it, so I took the extra sleep. At 7:37am I posted on my Twitter I love my coffee in the morning! Excited for the unknown day ahead! Keyword here is unknown! Unknown is such an understatment. I pulled out of my parking space at 7:51 on my Jeep clock, I was pulling out a little late, but new I'd still make it on time to 8 am prayer at the MC building. I pulled out onto the street to leave our apartment complex, when the traffic was way backed up, I saw a couple guys walk up to their cars which were parked in front of me and get in them to leave. At this point I knew there had been a wreck. I knew that God wanted me to get out and go see if there was anything I could do. I got out walked over to the car and saw it was two of my friends who were in the car wreck. I stayed there for a while and just waited for them to make sure if there was anything I could do or just to see what was gonna' happen to them. Thankfully they are both fine, but they were in the car for a while and it seemed to take forever before the ambulances and firetrucks got there.

After this I went to prayer at 8:45, listened to sermons, found out about our talent show we had tonight which was a lot of fun, then I went to lunch got back for drama and was at drama for about an hour before the next surprise came.

At about 3 pm one of the guys got me and said hey I need you and a couple others to go do some stuff. I didn't know what we were doing, but the five of us went to Shane and Angel's house to move some boxes for them. They are moving in the next few days and the hot water heater in their current home started shooting water all over the garage where they had a bunch of boxes. We took the boxes and moved them to their storage. Shane and Angel are awesome they bought us an amazing dinner! I am very thankful for that!

While we were finishing up moving the stuff into storage for them we met Pennie. Pennie came over to us and asked us if we could help her pull out the ramp on here U-Haul. CJ and Tyler went over and helped her. I then went over to see what was up. We saw what Pennie was trying to do and she was trying to move a bunch of stuff by herself. Now mind you Pennie is about 45 years old, not a big woman by anymeans and definitely not able to handle all that she had. We then made her allow us to help her and then went on to take all of her stuff to her house and helped her move it in. Through the conversations we had with Pennie we found out a lot about her, about her Ex-Husband, her children, and life in general. It was an awesome feeling to be a blessing to her tonight. She needed it, and I'm glad God put us in place and used us to help her out! On a funny note, while we were helping Pennie I went and used her bathroom. As I was buckling up my pants my belt buckle fell off into the toilet. I had to roll back the sleeves and reach in to the water after it! What a joy!

Tonight was a lot of fun. When we got done we went straight to the building to be a part of our talent show. It was a total joke. In that I mean it was hilarious. My team was assigned to do a uman video to the song Sadie Hawkins Dance by Relient K, and in the video we had to include some sort of dance. So much fun!

As I was driving back home tonight I got a text from a friend here at Masters saying to keep her family in my prayers as her house burned down. Thankfully they are all safe, but what a scare.

So much happened today. I can't believe I made it through. I thank God for this day and all the blessings poured out in it! I hope tomorrow is a little bit more "normal"! I love it when we allow God to interrupt our day and take us places we never could have guessed!


Oh Yes I must give a shout out in this post to my awesome friend Leah!

Sinless

So as I gave my sermon this morning and listened to Ben McLennan, our MC USA director, speak before we started something came to me. Once we come to know Christ and follow after God it is possibly to not mess up and live Sinless. If we can go a moment sinless, can't we go another? If we live moment by moment and not worry so much about what's coming, but where we're at, then we can accomplish this. In Genesis 4:6-7 The Bible Says: 6 Then the LORD said to Cain, "Why are you angry? Why is your face downcast? 7 If you do what is right, will you not be accepted? But if you do not do what is right, sin is crouching at your door; it desires to have you, but you must master it."
We CAN master it! Go after it! Follow hard after God to get closer to him, and this will force the sins out. As in the Love chapter it says "when perfection comes the imperfect disappears". We can achieve this! God said it from the beginning! Thank God we can get closer to him and get rid of the sin in our lives! I challenge you to try and live by the moment and live the sinless life!

Sermon Time

My first sermon here at Masters is set for tomorrow! I'm planning on talking about Sin. Not necessarily a fun topic to talk about, but I like to talk about things that a lot of people won't. Here is the outline for my sermon. A lot of stuff may not seem clear as it is my speaking outline, but if you're curious about something on it just email me or post a comment. I'm excited to deliver it! The Title is Sin: What the Heck is that? My primary objective is to take sin, and help change our motives for not sinning, and of course to bring a little conviction to what sins people are committing! Here's my outline, take it, crucify it, tell me what ya think!

Sin: What the heck is it that?

Intro:

o Sin is something we often do, it is a word we hear and think about things we are told not to do. We think about punishments, rules, and regulations.

o We think of the things God is “holding” back from us

o but really the reason we aren’t supposed to Sin isn’t that God doesn’t want us to do these things or that they aren’t enjoyable, because it will hurt our very relationship with God in the same way as if we sin against our friends.

o Three points:

§ What sin is:

§ Forgiveness:

§ Sins Holding us back:

1. Definition and a few scriptures.

· Sin Definition: estrangement from god

· Estrangement Definition: to turn away in feeling or affection; make unfriendly or hostile; alienate the affections of:

o Their quarrel estranged the two friends.

o Breaks them apart!

· First appearance: Genesis 4:6-7 (New International Version)

o 6 Then the LORD said to Cain, "Why are you angry? Why is your face downcast? 7 If you do what is right, will you not be accepted? But if you do not do what is right, sin is crouching at your door; it desires to have you, but you must master it."

o Something that can be mastered

· After the 10 Commandments: Exodus 20:18-20 (New International Version)

o 18 When the people saw the thunder and lightning and heard the trumpet and saw the mountain in smoke, they trembled with fear. They stayed at a distance 19 and said to Moses, "Speak to us yourself and we will listen. But do not have God speak to us or we will die." 20 Moses said to the people, "Do not be afraid. God has come to test you, so that the fear of God will be with you to keep you from sinning."

· All are equal: James 2:10 (New International Version)

o 10For whoever keeps the whole law and yet stumbles at just one point is guilty of breaking all of it.

2. Forgiveness: new covenant

· 1 John 3:4-6 (New International Version)

o 4Everyone who sins breaks the law; in fact, sin is lawlessness. 5But you know that he appeared so that he might take away our sins. And in him is no sin. 6No one who lives in him keeps on sinning. No one who continues to sin has either seen him or known him.

· Acts 10:43 (NIV) “All the prophets testify about him that everyone who believes in him receives forgiveness of sins through his name.”

3. Sins holding you back?

• Romans 13:1

o “Everyone must submit himself to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which God has established. The authorities that exist have been established by God.”

1. Speeding- breaking the laws of the land

2. Is marijuana bad? – laws of land and abusing the body

3. Stealing music- law of land and stealing (exodus 20:15)

4. Sins of Ommission: James 4:17 “anyone, then, who knows the good he ought to do and doesn’t do it, sins.”

• Proverbs 16:2- “All a man’s ways seem innocent to him, but motives are weighed by the Lord”

o I can justify anything to anyone, or especially to myself, but does that make it not a sin?

· Rock in shoe build up a callus. If we continue to sin it will build up a callus on our spirit and we won’t feel the conviction of our spirit telling us not to do things. It will build up that skin and separate us from the feeling. As it builds up it causes more movement of our foot from the shoe and leads to us losing all feeling.

Closing:

o Romans 3:23 “For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.”

o We all do it! God sent Jesus and the Holy Spirit to get closer to us.

o Step into God and follow the life of Christ closer and the sins will fall away, as we really seek who Jesus is.

o What is holding you back, from having a more intimate relationship with God?

o I ask you what do you need to set a side to build up that relationship?

o Do not look at it as what am I really enjoying that I have to quit ‘cuz the bible, God, or adam is saying to give up, look at it as what is holding you from getting closer to him.

o What small thing am I doing unconsciously that could hinder me from getting closer to Him?

o Prayer to bring forward the sins we don’t see, and the sins we know about and don’t put down.

Current Struggles

I always try to be as transparent as possible and let people know how I feel about something, or what I think about situations, so here is me being me! Currently I'm a little stressed! Not that I can't handle what's on my plate, but just feels like a lot right now. I know I'll make it and do great, 'cuz God won't put me in a situation he won't take me through!

My biggest struggle currently is figuring out who I really am, which I'm finding more and more about the real me everyday. I don't know if it all makes sense, but I don't always feel like I know me, and it's quite frustrating. I want to be consistent and be the person God wants me to be. I don't want to be the things that frustrate me in others, but don't want that to define me either.

This is a really random and bad post. I don't really understand all of this right now either, but this is what is on my mind.

Thankful for the Rain

Today was a storm! It rained for the most of the day, and I ran in it tonight. During the run I was thinking about the past week or so, and how rough it has been. It has been the hardest week of Masters so far. A lot has been going on, and it has hit me hard. I have complained, and struggled, and well not given my best through it all. During the run I remembered the song Frontline sings about being thankful for the rain, and struggles we go through. I realize that this rough patch is only going to build me up bigger than ever before. I realize that I am only going through this because something big is coming, and I need to be prepared for it. I realize that the storm will keep coming, but my perspective needs to be fixed, and I will succeed and thrive bigger than before. Are you going through a tough time? Are you feeling sorry for yourself like me? I challenge you to lift it up to God, and choose to have a better attitude about what is going on!

Me, Myself, and I AM

I have recently been going through a new book called me myself & I AM. It is a recently released book of questions. I call it a journal book. It has a bunch of questions that help you realize who you are, and who God is to you, and to grow your relationship with him by asking questions you may not normally think about. Also, this book is a great conversation starter, as you can pick it up and flip it to any page and ask a question to the people around you. I haven't exactly done that, but am planning on leaving the book sit out on my coffee table to be a conversation starter with my roommates. I think this book is great, and highly recommend you check it out. It can be purchased at any of the following online book stores:
Amazon
Christian Book
Family Christian

Another Good One

Today was yet another amazing day at MC. We officially got into our building this morning for prayer, and man was it an awesome hour of prayer. We really pressed into God with prayers of our situations, for our dreams, for our families, and friends. Music today was phenomenal with Phillip from Frontline for General Music. We stepped out and shared a little bit of our hearts, and this really challenged me to share things that hit deep in me. This evening we had our first service at the building and it was wonderful. Frontline brought some amazing worship, and Pastor Z brought Gods word in a beautiful way. I loved today, one of the best so far, and I really am growing every day here at MC and loving every part of it!

Selling Adam

Well for my Ministry Development Institute today, I have to give a little two minute talk as I am presenting myself to a Church board on why they should hire me as their Youth Pastor. A few things are required including our personal life mission statement, and our life verse. Here is my outline for the talk:

· Introduction: My name is Adam Kolosik. I am from North English, Iowa. I am a hard working kid that will never step down from a challenge.

o I am determined, disciplined, and honestly a little strange. I may not be the exact typical youth pastor, but I do not want to be normal or average.

o I dream big, and know that God will help me achieve these big dreams.

· Personal Mission Statement: To live such a way that I don’t have to tell people about Christ, but they see and feel it from my actions. To live the Extreme life of a true disciple of Jesus Christ.

o I will live the life of love and the passionate lifestyle Christ called us to live. I will lay it all down for him.

o Life Scripture: Colossians 3:23- Whatever you do work at it with all your heart as if working for the Lord not for men.

o I want to work harder than anyone else, and to remember that my work and everything I do is an act of worship to the Lord my God.

· Ministry Mission Statement: To raise up a new generation of leaders. To teach teenagers to lay down their lives to Christ, and to teach them to be our world’s leaders of tomorrow.

o To instill a Godly passion in them to strive and achieve excellence in whatever they choose to do.

o In leaders of tomorrow I do not just mean the future politicians, or CEO’s, but the musicians, artists, and the scientists as well.

o To take my life scripture and help teach teens to work as hard as they can in all things. And to not only do this through words of speaking, but to set the example in the way I live.

· Conclusion: Why do I think you should hire me as your Youth Pastor?

o I promise not be just another Youth Pastor.

o I will lay it all down to grow this ministry and not only that, but to grow the Kingdom of Heaven.

o I may not fit your mold or be exactly what you want, but I am willing to give you everything I have to be the best I can be, but not only to be the best I can be, but to be the best that God can help me to be.

What do you think? I think it displays me pretty well, but I need to keep practicing the delivery, as that is the important part now. I hope it communicates my heart and describes me better to others. This was a challenge to write, but I like it.

Time Flies

I cannot believe I have been here in Dallas a month already, but at the same time I cannot believe it's only been a month. I have known these awesome men and women of God for only a little over a month, but yesterday when we sent Devante home I got a little teary eyed. Devante had to go home to take care of some things back there, and I pray that it all goes smoothly whatever it be. But it hurt, bad, having to see him leave. It's so ridiculous how close I've come to these awesome people in such a little time, but they are all pretty amazing. Isn't it awesome how God puts the perfect people into your life at the perfect time. I love it.

Every night when I shut my eyes and try to go to sleep, but I think of the amazing things that I have done throughout that day. A lot of the things I can hardly believe I have done, but I know that I have not done these things by my own strength, but through the power Christ gives me. I give everything I am to him, and he creates some masterpieces out of it. I may not have done the best of things so far, but I am getting there, and constantly growing closer to Him. What has God done through you today? Are you giving it all to him? We may be able to do great things in life on our own, but how much greater are these things when you give them to the Lord.

"Commit to the Lord whatever you do, and you will succeed." -Proverbs 16:3

Slacking!

I've been slacking on this blogging thing lately! So busy with MC! but I'm lovin' it! We had our second scripture test the other day and I passed, which was exciting to be able to be handed a paper and write down 60 bible verses. I've also been able to share them a little with people I meet in different conversations, which is not only helping me be a better witness, but building my faith in God and understanding of his word. I love it here, and maybe in a few days or so I'll get some more stuff about what's been going on up here. Relevant Church kickoff Sunday the 19th!!!!

A Learning Experience

MC really challenges me. I love it here as I have learned so much already. I'm loving Restore the best. Restore is our street evangelism program in which we go to neighborhoods and want to restore them from the problems they currently have. Last week at Restore I walked past a pimped out SUV with a 20 something guy in the drivers seat. A teenage boy got out of the backseat of the car with a unique grin on his face. I happened to look through the windshield and see a girl sitting in the back. I may be quick to judge, which I try not to do, but I think the man driving was a Pimp, the girl in the backseat was a hooker, and the boy getting out just made a deal. This situation saddens me. First all the little kids running right next to these cars could see it, sad that this woman has turned to sex for money, sad that the Pimp makes his money off of taking advantage of poor women and horny kids, and sad that this kid in the back has turned to sex for some sort of fulfillment. These situations make me happy to help at restore and to show the little kids that they don't need that junk that is around them. To show love to them, that maybe no one else does and that they can be whatever they want to be. 'cuz what little kid dreams of being a pimp or hooker. I want these kids to achieve these dreams and to teach them to dream even when their situation may not be the best.

Go Big or Go Home

This has been a motto for myself for sometime now, and I'm really just beginning to understand what it means. I have always dreamed big, but mostly I have never thought my dreams are possible. I have had many dreams that have come and gone, but now I will dream and I will achieve, not on my own will, but by the power of God as he says in Philippians 4:13 "For I can do all things through Christ, who gives me strength."

When I was a sophomore in high school I dreamed of being an Iowa State Basketball player, and well that didn't happen. I focused more on football and the girlfriend, and let the dream fall away.

At the beginning of my freshman year at Iowa State I dreamed of becoming a rich engineer that has everything, monetary wise, and has no worries about finances. That fell away as I realized the focus of my heart at that point did not match up with the rest of the way I want to live my life.

When I was a child I wanted to be a G.I. Joe, but that fell away as I realize how real war is and that not everyone is the hero and how hard it would be. So I gave up on this one, 'cuz I thought it was too hard and the next cool thing came a long.

My senior year in high school I came up with a dream. This dream is absolutely unattainable by man alone. I mainly just want to help people, and help them to know my best friend Jesus. I want to help them walk with him and have the best life they can, not an easy life, but a better life than they have. My dream is to lead or start the Largest Youth Group/Outreach in the World. I don't want the biggest to have glory to Adam, but I want the biggest, because I want to impact that many people's lives. I want to build up my Lord's Kingdom and the next generation of leaders. I know that if through God I can attain this than anyone can attain anything through him. I don't know where or any idea how to get to this dream, but I will not give up. This dream has been dwelling in me for nearly two year now, and I am establishing it now. Tear it down if you want, but it's my dream not yours. You may say it's not possible, but I already know that I personally cannot achieve it.

Go Big or Go Home. Dream big enough that if man alone can obtain it, than it is not nearly big enough of a dream. This is how I will live from now on, by faith in Christ who strengthens me. Be Extreme and step out and dream! What is your dream? You may need to write it down and let a few people know it to really speak it into truth. Email me and I will pray for your dream as I hope people will do for mine!