The National : About Today (from the film Warrior)

Mumford & Sons : Awake My Soul

Buechner on Life

"Listen to your life. See it for the fathomless mystery that it is. In the boredom and pain of it no less than in the excitement and gladness: touch, taste, smell your way to the holy and hidden heart of it because in the last analysis all moments are key moments, and life itself is grace."  

- Frederick Buechner, Listening to Your Life, p.2

Hammock: Dark Beyond the Blue

Sr. High Laurelville 2011

MLUPC Sr. High youth group attended the Laurelville retreat hosted by the Pittsburgh Kids Foundation the first weekend in December of 2011. Its a great time for kids to get away from the hectic pace of life and focus on their faith. Many students over the years have made commitments to follow Christ as well as many have decided to recommit their lives. Its a great retreat that has been going on for 48 years. It is a great to part of something like this. Keep the faith.

Pearl Jam : Release

My Dad

Dad 

March 13, 1951 - November 12, 2011

Dr. Alvin Plantinga on Evil

Middle School Laurelville 2011

Breathe Project

Breathe Project

October 8th Seminars: Understanding Youth Culture & CTI

Youth Training Seminar: Youth Culture & College Transition Initiative

October 8th a network of youth pastors and pastors from the South Hills of Pittsburgh, came together with the Christian Coalition Outreach, Geneva College, and other youth ministry network groups to host a seminar for  local youth pastors, workers and pastors at MLUPC. Walt Mueller, founder and president, of The Center for Parent and Youth Understanding spoke during one seminar. Derek Melleby of the College Transition Initiative spoke to another group of people. It was an amazing time to come together as the body of Christ and think about how we are doing ministry for a few hours. I would love to see more events like this available to youth pastors to stay sharp and keep focused on the culture and how to become better equipped to be a witness for the Church, to families and students. Thanks to everyone involved, it truly was a great day of ministry. “Men of Issachar, who understood the times and knew what Israel should do” - 1 Chronicles 12:32

Walt Mueller speaking at MLUPC on Oct. 8, 2011

Being Formed More & More

"The mass of men lead lives of quiet desperation. What is called resignation is confirmed desperation. A stereotyped but unconscious despair is concealed even under what are called the games and amusements of mankind."

- Henry David Thoreau

"I have learned now that while those who speak about one’s miseries usually hurt, those who keep silence hurt more.”

- C.S. Lewis

"I shall work on coming into a far more intimate relation with Christianity; up to now I have in a way been standing altogether outside it, fighting for its truth. I have borne the cross of Christ in a quite external way, like Simon of Cyrene."

- Soren Kierkeegard

"To him who overcomes and does my will to the end, I will give authority over the nations - 'He will rule them with an iron scepter; he will dash them to pieces like pottery' - just as I have received authority from my Father. I will also give him the morning star. He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches." 

- Revelation 2:26-29

"People don't read the Bible, they read you." - Corrie ten Boom


"All that is gold does not glitter, not all those who wander are lost. 
The old that is strong does not wither, deep roots are not reached by frost." 
- J.R.R. Tolkien 

Hear & Examine

{From the  weekly MLUPC Pastor e-Letter.}

Dear MLUPC Friends and Members,

I trust this email finds you doing well. I pray that you continue to stand firm in your faith because of God’s great love, for He alone is our hope.

At Geneva College I had the privilege and opportunity to earn degrees in youth ministry and in philosophy. For most folks philosophy class is like a toothache or a painfully boring subject to endure. However for me, it was philosophy that opened up a world of examination and wonder that drew me closer to God day by day in college and eventually led me into youth ministry. I had the privilege and opportunity to study under two incredible men of faith, who happened to be my philosophy professors: the late great Dr. Byron Bitar and Dr. Bob Frazier. I remember my first day in class and the robust question was cast out like a deep-sea fisherman before hungry and aspiring minds, “What does it mean to be a Christian?” Young in my faith and thirsty for something more out of life, I decided and committed right there in class, that I wanted to understand and know what it meant to be a Christian. How about you today, what does it mean to be a Christian in 2011?

The son of a Lutheran pastor, the 19^th-century German philosopher Friedrich Nietzsche was famous for his harsh and constant critique of the Christian faith and Church.  His most famous and enduring quote comes from his book entitled ‘The Gay Science’, from section 125, in which Nietzsche calls God a “madman” and says, “God is dead. God remains dead. And we have killed him.” This philosophy of God and religion continues to linger today like a bad stench. A cover of Time magazine couched the concern as a question, “Is God Dead?” The world continues to wrestle and critique the Christian faith and Church.  Many are seeking more from the Church than what is presented to them. I believe the Christian faith must hear the words around us in the culture, examine our hearts and then respond in and through Christ. Nietzsche called those in the Church “rabble, the herd, a passionless bunch, or a religion of the spiritually ill.” Dr. Bitar and Dr. Frazier challenged the philosophy majors to prove Nietzsche wrong. Prove to the world that Jesus is alive. Prove to the world that the Church is the vehicle in which Christ has called the broken sinner to participate in something magnificent, redemptive and beautiful! How about you today, are you ready to prove Nietzsche wrong by living out a faith that shines with the love, grace and truth of Jesus Christ? Now is the time my friend.

Sunday we will continue to look at the words of Christ spoken to the Seven Churches in the Book of Revelation, in our series called “What Christ Thinks of the Church.”  We will hear words spoken by Christ in Revelation 2:18-29 and examine our own hearts. See you Sunday for a time of worship and praise. Pray for Pastor Tim while he is away for rest and that the Spirit will guide him.  May you show the world what it means to be a Christian. May you prove Nietzsche wrong. May you shine with the love of Christ!

For the Kingdom,

Ben Kendrew

MLUPC Youth Director

9/11 Memorial

Text HOPE to 80088 to support the National 9/11 Memorial

with a $10 donation to National September 11 Memorial .

Please check out this website: www.911memorial.org

College Transition Initiative for Students & Parents

Saturday, October 8th, 2011

{9:00am - 2:00pm}

Mt. Lebanon United Presybterian Church

255 Washington Road

Pittsburgh, PA 15216

Speakers: Walt Mueller & Derek Melleby of the

 Center for Parent and Youth Understanding

Register at: www.ccojubilee.org/youth

See you there!