http://www.pittsburghexperiment.org/

The Pittsburgh Experiment, 106 Highcroft Circle, Eighty Four, PA (2026)

08/31/2026

Jim Valvano was a successful college coach and broadcaster. Valvano is also remembered for an inspirational and memorable speech delivered at the 1993 ESPY Awards while terminally ill with cancer. His speech is a passionate reminder that life is meant to be lived with purpose, joy, and relentless determination. He urges people to embrace three daily practices — laugh, think, and be moved to tears — because they keep the heart awake to what matters. Even while battling cancer, he insists that the human spirit is stronger than any illness, declaring that disease can touch the body but never the mind, heart, or soul.
At the center of his message is the line that became his legacy: “Don’t give up. Don’t ever give up.” He calls people to keep fighting for their dreams, their relationships, and their lives, no matter the obstacles. His speech ends with a challenge to live fully and persist boldly — because perseverance is the path to hope, impact, and meaning.

Perseverance isn’t flashy — it’s steady. It’s choosing, again today, to keep moving toward what matters even when the path feels slow or the progress feels small. Jimmy V’s words remind us that hope becomes strength when you refuse to quit.
Don’t ever give up. Not on the work you’re doing. Not on the people you’re serving. Not on the prayers you’re praying. Not on the quiet growth happening inside you.
Every step forward — even the ones no one sees — is shaping the future you’re building. Stay faithful. Stay steady. Keep going.

08/24/2026

I tend to look down the road, eager to see what comes next. But there are problems with that. Since I cannot predict the future, I often imagine what lies around the next turn—and I’m often wrong. Worse, when I focus too much on what’s ahead, I miss the blessing of the present.

In May 2001 I embarked on my second international trip, which was to London. I flew from Pittsburgh to Newark Airport to make my connection. About 1hour before departure I was called to the desk. There I was asked if I would be willing to be upgraded to 1st Class to which I quickly replied in the affirmative! I had never flown 1st Class and have not since. But it was awesome! For the first hour or so. But then my “look down the road” mind kicked in and stole my joy. I started thinking about the trip home at the end of my week, sitting back in economy. I thought about how tight and close the seats were. I thought about the difference in the food and service. My concerns about my return flight stole the joy of my current situation.

Don’t look past the present moment. That’s the whole message, and it’s harder than it sounds.

We rush toward the next thing—next meeting, next worry, next responsibility—and miss the only place we are sure of: now.
The present moment is where grace lives. It’s where people are. It’s where joy hides. It’s where God whispers.

When we hurry past “now,” we trade what’s real for what’s imaginary. The future isn’t here yet; the past is already gone. But this moment—this breath—is a gift placed in your hands.
So slow down. Notice what’s in front of you. Listen fully. Be where your feet are. Let this moment be enough.

You don’t have to fix tomorrow. You just have to be faithful today.

08/12/2026

Great time today with the guys at our South Hills Village Wednesday PX Lunch group. If you’re interested in joining us reach out for more information. We would love to see you.

08/10/2026

“Hope is the quiet courage to believe that what’s ahead can be better than what’s behind.

I mentioned that my wife and I have gotten hooked on watching the Great British Bakeoff. I’m not a baker (although I cooked pizza for a number of years.) But I am always interested in watching how ordinary people attempt to do great things, I’ve noticed that over the different seasons of the show, most of the successful contestants exhibited certain qualities:
• Choosing optimism — Being positive isn’t pretending everything is easy; it’s deciding that challenges won’t define the whole story. A hopeful attitude changes how you respond to bumps and bruises that come your way.
• Starting with gratitude — Most of the bakers who did well were just “happy to be there.” No pressure to win or perform but just enjoying the experience. Naming even one good thing a day steadies your perspective. Gratitude makes room for clarity and resilience.
• Looking for small wins — Momentum rarely arrives in big waves. It shows up in small, faithful steps that remind you you’re moving forward.
• Expecting God’s presence — A number of he bakers mentioned their faith. You don’t walk into the week alone. Confidence grows when you remember that strength, wisdom, and peace are available to you moment by moment.

08/05/2026

Last week I had a chance to visit one of our PX groups. I was made up of retirees who had known each other for decades. I believe two men had known each other for 60 years! While many PX groups are based on where folks work, there are a number of groups like this one that I refer to as "Friend Groups." Groups where people come together as friends with history. They spend time with each other on a regular basis, maybe for decades. Why then do they also meet together as a PX group?

It's being intentional. They share time with each other, but they specifically, and intentionally, ask each other two questions. What are you thankful for and for what could you do without? Two questions which we may never address when we are just hanging out. But two questions which can refocus us and get us on the right track. And it also leads us in how we can pray for each other.

Maybe you have a friend group with whom you are comfortable. But maybe you can gather monthly as a PX group to intentionally address those two questions. What are you thankful for and for what could you do without.

08/03/2026

Last Monday I changed the windshield wiper on my car because it had torn. It seemed simple enough. I should have known better. I watched a YouTube video which made it look easy. Then I read the instructions on the new wiper blade box. They were different than the YouTube video. So I took the old wiper off and it looked different than both the video and the instructions. That didn’t deter me from getting the new blade on. Or so I thought.

A few days later my wife and I were driving home from the dentist when the sky opened up and it began to pour. Time to check out my new windshield wiper. It worked great. Until it didn’t. After about 1 minute the blade came off the arm and flapped uselessly on the windshield. I limped the car to a place where we could pull it over to try to reattach it. Based on my lack of ability to install it correctly initially, standing there on the side of the road in the rain, I wasn’t exactly exuding confidence. That lack of confidence was well earned. We had to stop two more times before we finally got home. I think I finally have it attached correctly. We shall see.

Because life is full of storms and currents—stress, disappointment, temptation, uncertainty, we need to anchor, or secure ourselves so we don’t fly off and lose our moorings. Anchors don’t remove the waves and storms of life; they keep us from being swept away by them. What are some things that anchor us?

Community — the Anchor of Shared Strength

We stay grounded when we walk with others who encourage, challenge, and pray for us. Isolation weakens; community stabilizes.

Purpose — the Anchor that Keeps Us Oriented

Knowing why we’re here keeps us from drifting. Purpose gives direction, especially when life feels confusing or heavy.

Practices that Shape Us — the Anchors We Build Daily

Habits like prayer, meditation, serving, and gratitude form quiet anchors that hold us steady over time.

Hope — the Anchor that Pulls Us Forward

Hope is not wishful thinking; it’s confidence in God’s future. Hope keeps us from being tossed by fear or discouragement.

Faith - When everything shifts, God’s unchanging nature is the one anchor that doesn’t. His faithfulness, goodness, and truth give a foundation that circumstances can’t shake.

Life is tough. Make sure you are anchored and attached to something secure so you don’t fly off in stormy weather.

07/27/2026

“Be the Yeast”

My wife and I have started to watch the Great British Bake Off on Netflix recently. What's not to like about people making desserts that make you salivate and crave more sugar! I actually find it interesting to watch the process of creating their cakes cookies and whatever else they're called on to make. I note that in many instances the recipe needs yeast in order to make the dough rise. In one episode, a baker forgot to introduce yeast into the recipe and his bake literally came out flat.

We ca be a lot like yeast hidden in dough—tiny, ordinary, almost invisible, yet powerful enough to make the whole loaf rise. That’s a picture of what faithful people can be in a world that feels heavy, divided, or discouraged.

We don’t need a platform to make a difference. We don’t need a spotlight. We don’t need to be loud. We just need to be present, like yeast quietly doing its work.

Small faithfulness — showing kindness, listening well, praying for others
Steady hope — believing God is still at work even when we can’t see it
Hidden influence — trusting that God multiplies what we offer
Quiet courage — choosing love when frustration would be easier

Yeast doesn’t rise instantly. It takes time. It takes warmth. It takes patience. But eventually, the dough changes. It expands. It becomes something new.

So today, be the yeast.

Speak life into someone who’s discouraged. Offer grace where others offer judgment. Bring peace into a tense moment. Show compassion in a place that’s forgotten it.

You may feel small, but God delights in using the small. You may feel hidden, but hidden things often have the greatest power. You may feel ordinary, but ordinary faithfulness is how the world is quietly transformed.

Keep showing up. Keep trusting. Keep rising. The dough around you is changing—more than you know.

07/06/2026

I am not very musical, but I love listening to music. My wife, on the other hand, is a fantastic musician, and I get the benefit of hearing her sing, play guitar and piano, and practice throughout the week for when she plays at church. I often find myself whistling tunes I have heard her practicing, even when I am not quite sure what they are. This week was a little different. Cyndi had been practicing piano music she planned to play at church on Sunday, but what I heard all week was only one half of the duet she would perform. I could not recognize any of the songs because I did not realize I was not hearing the whole thing.
Yesterday morning, as I sat in church and listened to Cyndi and Rebecca play beautiful piano duets, I realized why I had struggled to recognize the music all week: I had been hearing only half of each song. Once both parts were played together, the full composition came to life. It made all the difference to hear the music the way it was meant to be played, with both parts working together in harmony.
That experience made me think about how I understand many things in this world. How often do I believe I have a clear read on someone or something when I am really seeing only half the picture? When I examine a situation with incomplete information, I may make decisions, form opinions, or judge people without realizing how much I am missing. When I do that, I make a serious mistake. I am not seeing the full composition; I am hearing only one part.
I do not know if you have ever been guilty of this, but I know I have. Hearing that duet played the way it was meant to be played reminded me to be careful about drawing conclusions too quickly. I want to commit myself to listening more fully, seeing more completely, and refusing to make decisions based on only half the composition.

06/25/2026

What a beautiful evening "at the old ball game." PX held its 5th annual Family Night at the Ballpark enjoying some great company, weather, and a Pirate win! We even got to share with Zeke and James as they celebrated their first ever Bucco game. They actully lasted longer than some of our older folks!

It was a great time to laugh with old friends and make some new ones!

06/24/2026

Looking for a way to give back to those in our community who need it most? Join us at our quarterly outreach!

Thanks to all who came out to serve those in need tonight through the work of Arms. Your service is appreciated.

The Pittsburgh Experiment

08/31/2026

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