Monday, December 26, 2005

Catching up...





Just some pics to catch up over Christmas...The first picture is of my grandparents dog Tiny. He is 17, blind, deaf, and a few months ago was ran over by a car...hes still movin' though! The second picture is of Peggiford (Mom) Sarah's mom had to be on here with a crazy face because I put my mom on here too! Third, that is the Jellison Family Christmas 2005 edition including the tradition of Carrom, my finger still hurts...the last one is a picture of our "brand new" tabel. That line is a CRACK that goes through the table! Needless to say that we are going to be recieving a new one soon...but my oh my, the work it took to get that one up the stairs!

Christmas was wonderful... God truly has given me a great family


Good Day.

Tuesday, December 20, 2005

Great news...


We found out yesterday that:

1. We are going to get a dog! A full bred Boston Terrier who is 1 year old and his name is Lex...he will look somewhat like this one.



2. We should be getting our furniture this week, so HOORAY!!!


I hope you have a great day and that you are in the Christmas spirit! It' hard to believe that it is Christmas already huh?


Good Day.

Monday, December 19, 2005

Busy Weekend!!!






What a whirlwind of a weekend! First, it was to Elwood for Christmas with Jack's girls and us boys...that was fun and I got whipped in poker...then Saturday (see pictures below) we had the Christian Christmas and that was awesome as always. Then Sunday we were back up here for church and a little "wrapping" of the kids! I love my life and I love my family! Merry Christmas and sorry mom, but I had to put that picture on here!

Friday, December 16, 2005

The 1st Christmas Weekend


This is the first Christmas weekend with Christmas tonight at Mom's with The Wallaces, Johnsons, Millers?, Jellisons and Bess'...that was a mouthful...then tomorrow is the Christian Family Christmas in Celina, Ohio! Fun stuff...always a good time of the year...the drive might be fun though but like the United States Postal Service, nothing will stop us from having Christmas!!!

Have a great weekend and be safe....I had to change the stupid sign today too!




Good Day.

Thursday, December 15, 2005

Christmas time is definitely here...



This Christmas is different than any other Christmas I've ever had...with being married and all, having to plan for more stuff and having a youth conference a couple days after Christmas is definitely making things crazy...but we are adjusting and getting used to being married. Still, sometimes these are the faces that you would see if you were around us for very long...


Good Day.

Wednesday, December 14, 2005

What's the difference?

I am studying world religions for the theme for January and a thought has creeped into my mind. Growing up in the conservative, Bible Belt of the Midwest, I have come to realize that I dont know much about "other" religions that I have not been around. While the Bible teaches us that we are to reject false teachings, it also tells us to be aware of them. Yet today I think that we really arent aware or educated enough to tell someone much more than the description of the hem of any other religion other than our own. Do you know what this makes us look like? Bigots and ignorant separatists. God did not call us to just be the light of the world...which shines a light hoping that someone somewhere sometime will come into the light and find Jesus...nor did he call us to just be salt which, other than seasoning, does nothing more than stall spoiling. We are to be leaven in the world...being a part, being relavent to the culture who we are trying to reach. Once we are relavent, then we can purposefully let God's grace flow through us to transform people of those religions that we know little to nothing about...



Good Day.

Monday, December 12, 2005

13 days until Christmas...

Well, I received an early Christmas present on Saturday with Indiana beating Kentucky by 26!!! This is the beginning of a busy end of December...there are only a few days without something to do...between now and January 1st here is a list of what I have to do...

  • 6 Christmas things...that is crazy huh?
  • the normal church stuff: 2 Young Adult meetings, 1 Youth meeting, 3 sundays, a Christmas party...etc etc etc
  • We are getting our furniture which means that we have to get rid of our other furniture
  • I have to finish getting the $ from people for LOGOS5 which is December 28-31
  • Prepare a sermon for January 1st
  • Finish buying presents...
  • Finish trying to help Sarah get the house put together
  • and much more...
Sounds like fun huh?


Good Day.

Saturday, December 10, 2005

big game...












I can't even remember the last time that Indiana beat Kentucky...seriously! So heres hoping that this ends a frustrating week in Jellytown...Go Hoosiers!!!

Thursday, December 08, 2005

Still...


It is still snowing...

Snowing in Plymouth


Boy, oh boy! It is coming down good today...hope things are good in your neck of the woods...





Good day.

Wednesday, December 07, 2005

Yes and God doesnt need you...

First off, Yes…I believe that Mother Theresa went to heaven. If we want to dissect the whole works saves thing it will come back to bite us in the butt. For most Christians I knew growing up lived life just like MT…they thought that you had to “do” stuff or not do stuff to be holy or without sin etc etc etc… the Bible says that faith without works is dead so works without faith are no good either…I believe that MT had faith that Jesus had forgiven her of her sins…enough said




Casting Crowns newest Cd was playing in my car yesterday and I heard a powerful song. The chorus goes…“its refreshing to know that you don’t need me and how amazing to find that you want me”. Sometimes we get a messed up view of who God is and how he feels about us…many times it felt as though God were Barney Fife, just waiting for me to do something that he could arrest me for. So today, know that God wants you to have the most abundant life in Him. Does that mean that everything will work out the way that you want it or that you will get everything you want? Of course not. Does that mean that we won’t lose loved ones? No. God has the best planned for us…the best in his eyes not ours…his ways not our ways…



Be blessed and bless others.

Good Day.

Tuesday, December 06, 2005

6 degrees, Christmas lights and heaven or hell

Man, I love the cold and everything that it brings...but this is cold. It is like in the single digits! I have a couple of things on my mind this morning...I woke up at about 6 and one of those crazy morning shows was on and they had a fire marshall on there talking about decorating safely this year...he said that you should check your lights and make sure that you use indoor/outdoor lights outside and not indoor lights outside...so here's my question...why would they put indoor/outdoor lights and not just multi-purpose lights on the box? Is there something other than indoor/outdoor use that I am not aware of? Just wondering...


Keith Drury in his column today asked a great question for us "Evangelical Holiness" people...Did Mother Theresa go to heaven or hell? It has made me thing about how I view salvation and how we view it as a church and denomination and how I was taught when I was young. Growing up this wouldnt have even been a question that came up. She was Roman Catholic and we didn't really believe that they went to heaven. So fancy me a few lines today about this. We are saved by Christ's life, death and resurrection. We have been given salvation by grace through faith...it is a gift. Jesus said that the only way to heaven and to the father is through Him. We believe in a thing called prevenient grace which is the grace that God extends to all so that we might come into contact with him and turn to him. So...did Mother Theresa go to heaven or hell...I will tell you tomorrow after some of you post something...
http://www.drurywriting.com/keith/mother.teresa.hell.htm

Good Day.

Monday, December 05, 2005

recent pics...





















That is Sarah and our 1st Christmas Tree!!! Yeah for the Jellison's!

The other picture is of some of my teens in a Madrigal Dinner at their high school last week.

Great times....great times

Good Monday Morning...

Yesterday was a busy and good day...I preached in the A.M. service and then gave the message to the youth in the P.M. So it was a busy day...but good.

The morning service was a rough one for me. The topic was about the church and how we needed to not be so worried about how the service is going or how the programs of the church are going as much as we need to focus on taking what we are all here for (to praise the one who forgave us of our sins) to the world outside of these walls. It was a hard, hard, hard sermon to preach. Half way through it was like preaching to a wall, not that the people were turning me off, rather that it was rough for me to get through what I felt like we needed to hear. Anyways, it is over and done with so what can ya do?



Good Day.

Friday, December 02, 2005

A December to remember...

I can hardly believe that it is December already...things are going really well...Monday, Sarah and I went and ordered our furniture...a RED sectional sofa with a chaise on the end...a large fluffy chair that I fell in love with in like .032 seconds with matching ottoman...and we got our black pub dining table that seats 8! God deserves all of the praise because He has blessed Sarah and I beyond anything we could ask for...people have asked us what we need and the answer is truly nothing! God is amazing and it is so great how he supplies every need.

In young adults this week, a couple of comments were made about me and what I meant to some people and it really caught me off guard. I guess our perception of how things are going and how they really are going sometimes is pretty far apart.




Good Day.

Tuesday, November 29, 2005

Back in the saddle...

Attitude is major in anything. I have heard the clichĂ© that “your attitude determines your altitude” and many others. There have been thousands of books about it but yet I still don’t think that we get it. Sunday morning was the first time that I had led the congregational singing since I was covered with complaints and suggestions about what “not” to do from now on. I had decided to not lead worship for a while. I just didn’t have a heart for it; it had been ripped out and thrown on the ground. So Sunday I proceeded to pick it up. What an amazing time of worship it was. It felt as though God had soothed over every sour and bitter morsel from the incident and turned them into an acceptable offering that I was able to give back to him. As we sang, I wasn’t thinking about someone not liking it, or complaining about it…I was only giving praise to the one who deserved it. I had energy and passion and strength and boldness and felt like a completely new person. Why? God had taken everything that had woven and knitted and sewed into what I thought my worship experience should be and changed it. He changed my worship attitude. It is all for Him. The songs, the music, the gathering, the people, the prayers, the offering and the sermon.


Here am I…all of me…take my life…its all for thee!


Good Day.

Friday, November 25, 2005

Thanks giving time

Here is my short list of things that I am thankful for:


  1. My salvation- without it, I couldn't know the depths of love that I know
  2. Sarah- My amazing wife and best friend and a cover stealer like no other
  3. My family- now both sides: I couldn't have asked for a more loving, supportive family than I already have.
  4. Momma- for going through the wars of life together
  5. My job- I truly am spoiled and blessed beyond measure here at Shiloh
  6. My friends- the Speds...Seth and Gwen...Dustin etc etc etc
  7. That IU is looking really good thus far
  8. That someone in a moment of pure genious thought of the idea of Hamburger and Rice
  9. That someone in another moment of pure genious thought of the idea of pizza
  10. Snow and the cold...it just refreshes me and I love being cold and cooled off
  11. New socks- I love the way they make you feel
  12. pull over fleeces from Foot Locker
  13. McRibs...McGriddles
  14. Peanuts and Red Hots
  15. Hot Chocolate
  16. my health
  17. worship music
  18. my car...for now
  19. sunglasses
  20. and last but not least...that you are reading this and laughing at me...

Have a great weekend.

Thursday, November 24, 2005

Honeymoon pics...hurray































What a wonderful time of growing together and so much fun...that dessert was pretty good too!!!

Good Day. Happy Thanksgiving.

Tuesday, November 22, 2005

Tuesday...smoozeday

I am a happy man...
my Hoosiers are looking GREAT...
I have a wonderful wife...
it is cold outside and supposed to snow a lot today...
we finally got all of our presents opened and the $ that was in the cards (I told Sarah I felt like a bank robber while counting the money, wow thanks you guys for making our wedding such a wonderful event)...
I love my job and wouldnt want to be anywhere else...
I was driving to work this morning and a song came on and the catch was that nothing I could do would ever make God not love me! What a thought and promise...

Who can separate us from the love of Christ? No one...not even ourselves!


Good Day.

I promise pictures soon...

Monday, November 21, 2005

Back home again...

It feels great to be home and back to work...Sarah and I missed the kids so much that we decided to drop in on them last night unexpectedly. I am so thankful for everything that God has given me and as I start out on this new path...I am woozy at all of the possibilities that are zooming around my head. I promise some pictures soon...but as I was doing my devo this morning I had a question pop in my head...what are the essentials for being a Christian? What I mean is, what are the things that a person must believe, must do, must not do to be a Christian? In the end, will it matter what our take on war was? What about our take on speaking in tongues? How we worship? Which translation we use? Whether we baptize by submersion or sprinkling? These are all things that cause strife and eventual splits in churches. I know that we shouldn't throw everything into one basket...and say "well, you believe what you believe and I'll believe what I believe". I am just saying that so many times we try to find the differences in how we believe compared to the next guy rather than finding a common ground and things that will bring us together as members of the body and family of Christ.

So what are the essentials...what makes someone a Christian...not a Wesleyan or Nazarene or Methodist or Baptist...but a Christian...

Please respond...I would really like to know what you all believe whether it is one or twenty things...


Good Day.

Tuesday, November 15, 2005

In Daytona Beach...

Just a quick update thus far:


-I am not too crazy about flying...it makes me sick and they like to go sideways for some reason.

- I LOVE being married to Sarah

- Our luggage got ripped and a pulling thingy got chopped off! So much for new luggage.

- Florida is beautiful

- We upgraded at Thrifty and got a Chrysler Sebring Convertible!!!

- Our flight got upgraded to first class with bigger seats for FREE

- We ordered room service at the Marriott and it was REALLY expensive

-When we got to the Marriott I walked in the wrong door which was for the Indianapolis Colts team who were staying in the Marriott with us...guess I fit right in

- I am like a big kid around the ocean...jumping, frolicking, making sand castles with Sarah, getting sun burnt...etc etc etc

MORE TO FOLLOW when we get back plus PICTURES!!!

Love from Florida....

Andy and Sarah

Friday, November 11, 2005

Only one day left!!!

This will PROBABLY be the last blog I write for a while...meaning a week or so...I will be on my honeymoon. Things are going good except that we mailed the marriage license to the minister and as of right now...it never got to him!!! Other than that, the church is looking great and things are coming together...God truly has blessed me with more than I could ever have imagined...Sarah is wonderful, I have an amazing family and a great job with a church family that supports me and is behind me. What more could a guy ask for? Well, since you asked...I really wanted a digital camera...and that is exactly what Sarah got for me for our wedding gift!!! Yeah for me...well I hope you enjoy your week while I am in sunny Florida dodging sharks and the likes. Pictures to follow.


Good Day.

Tuesday, November 08, 2005

A praise report!!!

A couple of weeks ago I posted about asking the congregation for funds to help the teens in the youth group go to LOGOS5 which is our area Wesleyan Youth Conference...well for two weeks...the money really didnt come in some but not much...then this past sunday over $1400 came in! God is amazing and always meets our needs...always...whether we see it happening or not...he will get r done...so...all praise goes to God...How great is our God? Pretty ridiculously great, thats how great!!!



Good Day.

I need some advice...

What are your two biggest pieces of advice for me from here...through Saturday at 1130am?

Monday, November 07, 2005

LATE engagement pic



It looks like the most beautiful girl in the world and Shrek!!! Just kidding...

Something to pray about...

It is finally here...the week of the wedding! Wow, I thought that it would never come...but it has and come and it will be over just as quick...as I was driving home from youth group last night I started praying hard...why hard you ask? Because it hit me that I was going to be a husband and married the next time I seen most of the teens. I want to be an example to them of how a husband should treat his wife. More importantly, I want to be a great husband for Sarah. I want to be there for her at every turn...to hold her up when she is down...to hold her when she is sad...I want to love her like Christ loved the church... with an all-out love that never waivers...never moves, and never ever fails. So today...right now...just say a prayer for me that I can be the husband that God has called me to be...because we all know that Sarah deserves that and much more...thanks...and I am serious about praying for me...I want to be a great husband and the husband that God wants not only a Christian to be but also a Pastor...5 days...5 days


Good Day.

Saturday, November 05, 2005

long night


I guess that it is a certainty when people get married that wierd stuff will happen to them...things that have never happened to them...and mine happened last night...I got food poisioning...from of all places...Little Caesar's!!! Talk about disheartening...I don't know if I will ever be able to eat there again after eating it once and seeing it twice. Hopefully there are no more surprises like this one next week!!! We are getting married in 1 week...7 days...168 hours...10,080 minutes...60,480 seconds!!! I am so excited to be able to be marrying my best friend and the most beautiful girl in the world...


Good Day.

Friday, November 04, 2005

Hope

Yesterday, I was watching Batman Begins, which is a really good movie, and it kept talking about hope. The city had been overrun with thugs and bad guys and many of the people had given up. Many of the cops, judges, and other people in power had given in to the powerful criminals. Then, along comes Batman and brings hope, people had something to be hopeful of...too often in the past 5-6 years have I heard about how our world is going to pot...how things are going downhill and that it "must be the end times". While I agree that the world is a place full of sin, I am sick and tired of people complaining about their surroundings and sitting and doing nothing about it. Someone just this week was talking to me about the whole using Jesus name in prayer in the military. I don't agree with it either...but if you are going to complain and grumble and give us the latest end time forecast...for goodness sake...do something productive. I believe that the church needs a restored sense of hope...the church needs a new "Batman" in the 21st century. We need to realize that one day...soon or not...every knee will bow and every tongue will confess that Jesus is Lord! AND, until that time...we must be dealers in hope and love rather than sour, spewing words that bring down every one around us... Jeremiah 29:11 says that the Lord has plans for us, plans to prosper us and to give us a HOPE and a future!!! Hows your hope doing?

We have the only living God among all of the religions of the world...may he restore any and all hope that you have lost on your journey of life.


Good Day.

Thursday, November 03, 2005

My first day off in a while...

Things have been hectic recently...Thursdays are my day off from going to the office...Sarah and I have had pre-marital counseling the past three thursdays, met with the food lady...met with the photographer...etc etc etc...so today was a good day...a much needed day.


God is amazing in how he gives us certain things in our lives to relieve stress...mine is definitely basketball...so right now..i I am relieved and not sure why I am putting so many dots in between my words.

Good Day.

Wednesday, November 02, 2005

Not to us!!!


Sometimes in the hustle and bustle of life...we truly forget what "it" is all about. God made us to praise him not just with our mouths, but more importantly with our lives. May your light shine in your world today!

This is a picture of the youth group a couple of weeks ago...

Tuesday, November 01, 2005

uggghhhhh!!!!


I was warned ahead of time about losing my mind with the wedding approaching. With that said, I think I have lost my brain. I keep forgetting things, spacing on ordinary stuff and most annoying...I keep starting things and then something else comes up and I forget to finish the other thing...

So with the wedding AND trying to get everything together for the youth conference that is in December but registration is due November 14th...(yeah that stinks)...I am trying to raise the money, get the permission slips in, register etc etc etc. You get the point...I feel I have contracted A.D.D. It will be over soon...but for now...UGGGGGHHHH!!!



Good Day.

Monday, October 31, 2005

Legalism

Growing up, there was no talk about doing "worldly" things as we called them. Yeah, I asked if we could go swimming or wear shorts but I never asked why we couldnt do some of the other things. Now, our culture has changed. We as Christians are becoming increasingly everyday more tolerant of things. I have had a discussion on another blog about clubbing, I have had an arguement about drinking and I have had a group discussion where there were people who said that they regularly are drinking, smoking and having pre-marital sex. So how do I feel about that? Ughh is how I feel. I am tired of trying to "convert" them to my way of thinking. Maybe I was brought up wrong and I am becoming like my father. I dont know...but one thing keeps coming up in my mind...are we, meaning the people who grew up with this kind of thinking, saying that someone is going to spend eternity in hell over something they drink or a way they move their body? I'm not prepared to say that...are you? I have heard that said though and I think that is why I am struggling with it as much as I am.

What do you think? Is someone who drinks going to hell because they drink? Smoking or clubbing?


Good Day.

Sunday, October 30, 2005

Grace

A lot has been discussed recently about doing this or not doing that around me...there has been discussions about clubbing, drinking, and pre-marital counseling. While I really dont agree with any or all of the above, as I was falling asleep last night, the Cd I was listening to had a song about grace. They were singing about how they couldn't get enough of his grace. How true is that...I am so thankful that God didn't give up on me when I really screwed up and in my heart, turned my back on him. No ones perfect and I hope that as I talk and discuss or even argue these points, that I never forget that I once was in need of God's grace. More to follow about the topics though...


Sarah and I are both sick so keep us in your prayers that we feel better and feel better fast!!!

Thursday, October 27, 2005

Look what I am doing to this generation!!!




WE were talking about putting on the armor of God and what better way to illustrate that than to make them wrap up a kid in duct tape where the armor should go? I think they should have paid us for the wax job that they got though!!!





This is what I had growing on my face until SOMEONE made me shave...oh the threats a woman will make to get her way...

17 days ....


It is a dream come true...

Etta James says it best, "At last, my love has come along...my lonely days are over...and life is like a song!"





God has blessed me with an amazing woman that never ceases to be more than I could have ever asked for.

The end

Finally, there is the third husband/pastor. This one is just a good ol' boy type pastor. He will tell you like it is and if you get your feet stepped on, then they were meant to get stepped on. At, times he was brash and unorthodox in his leading of the church but that never really seemed to matter because everyone still followed him. We will call this one "My family comes before others". While the other two failed in this respect, this one was great at it. He would protect his family, defend and ultimately had them very high on his priority list. Mistakes I see: This h/p was kind of blind to his kids growing up. He worked two jobs (as did 1 and 2) and so there was some time where they werent always guided in the right direction. However, sometimes when they would mess up he would defend them to a fault. What I want to take from this h/p: I want to always put my family before my church. I feel that when you make the decision to get married and then have children, you have to make your family your second proirity behind God. The Bible asks how a man can lead a church if his house isnt even in order so family should come before the congregation.

So this ends the husband/pastor series. I just wanted to get this out there and off my brain. There were other h/p's that affected my life but none more than these. I realize that I am different from all three of them in that I am a full-time pastor and they all had a job at time or another. I also realize that we are living in a different generation where the mindset about pastors and their responsibilities are changing.

So what do you think? Are my assumptions right about these three (if you know who I am talking about)?

Should a pastor put his family before the church?

Good Day.

Wednesday, October 26, 2005

#2 Husband/pastor...

The second husband/pastor is a breed that you don't see very often. While I think many people see the first type all of the time, this one is a sneaky one. This example came much later in life and confirmed what I had learned from #1. So lets call this one "The Dr. Jekyll/Mr. Hyde". The main thing that I see wrong with this h/p is that they seemed to be living two completely different lives. While at church, they were a loving, somewhat caring individual most of the time. The congregation really had no clue as to what this h/p was truly like and I still don't think they do. Then, he would go home and completely shut down from my mother at times and others be caring and loving in his own way. This one, at least in my opinion, needed some medical help for the huge mood swings he had almost weekly. It was/is hard to listen to this one preach because they live a different life at home. They are self-centered, self-driven and I question whether or not they truly cared about other people. Mistakes I see: Selfish, non-committed to the marriage relationship, and blows small things out of proportion. What I want to take from this h/p: Do not say one thing and do another with your wife. If we are to love our wives as Christ loved the church, separating everything (including emotions) from your spouse doesnt fall under loving someone in my book. I want my children to be able to go to the church that I Pastor and listen to me without thinking, "wow, I wish he would live that".


To be continued...

Good Day.

Tuesday, October 25, 2005

Examples in my life...

It is odd for me as I think about the examples of the male role models I have had in my life. Most of them were strong Christians and had a great witness for Christ. They were passionate about church and loved the congregation with all of their heart. I guess subconsicously I am only talking about the Pastor/husbands here so bear with me... there were three main examples that I was exposed to over the past 23 years...

First, the "I have a mistress and her name is the church type Husband/pastor". This example showed me great compassion and a relentless approach to loving others. This one was a great shepherd and knew his congregation well. He had compelling sermons that were usually deep (because he would spend multiple hours Saturday night studying) and thoughtful. However, I can't remember this h/p being a good husband or father. He was gone long hours, always had something to do and I can't ever remember him showing affection to my mother. I don't ever remember him bringing her flowers or cards or gifts for no reason. It seems to me that he had a greater love than his wife and family...the church. Mistakes I see: simple, he forgot to love his wife and children not because he didnt love them, but because they truly were priority number 2. What I want to take from this h/p: not to put on a show, but for others to know that I am so passionately in love with Sarah just as much as I love the body of Christ. I don't want my children to feel like I feel about this h/p and to have to just "deal" with it. More importantly, as Peggy (Sarah's mom) talked about in her letter in the Ossian paper...I want to " live and love extravagantly for their God, as well as for each other". I guess this is one reason I am a romantic. Conclusion: Paul wrote that we (husbands) are to love our wifes as Christ loved the church. Simply put, we are to love our bride with reckless abandonment. To put them in our hearts and love them enough to lay our lives (not just physical, but our wants and needs and desires) down for their sake.

To be continued...

Good Day.

Monday, October 24, 2005

What do you think?

Last week at pre-marital counseling, the Pastor was asking me about the youth group and the church. He had us take a True/ False test about different questions that had to do with marriage and the like. He prefaced it by saying, base your answers Biblically...sounded easy enough. Then we started taking the thing and more and more of my answers weren't exactly matching what the Bible said. For instance...can a divorced person remarry...I said yes but the Bible says no. I guess that during the first few questions...the whole "base your answer from the Bible" thing escaped my thinking. So I was wondering...do Christians take the Bible as seriously as we should? Or do we view it in the same light as a book from John Maxwell and read it only to "succeed in life"?

Growing up in an uber-conservative household, I was never taught to take the Bible literally...thats just what we did. The fall out was that we didn't wear shorts, didn't have cable. Mom didn't wear pants or cut her hair or wear jewelry...make-up...we didn't go to the public pool...or bowling...or anywhere to eat that served alcohol! You get my point. However, in the same passage where it talked about women not wearing clothes that men wore it talked about building a fence around your roof so that no one would fall off. To the best of my knowledge, we never had a fence on the top of our roof...ever! So do we just pick and choose what we decide to be holy and relavent for today?

Was the Bible meant to be taken literally word for word? Was it meant to be symbolic of things to come? Or was it to be used like some Christians use it today...a "dummies guide on how to have a great life"?

Good day.

a magical land...

Today, I feel as though I am in a magical land. Everything seems larger than life and I love it! Yeah, everything isn't working out with everything but I have renewed assurance that Christ is in control and will provide not only for myself but for the youth group as well when we least expect it! Sometimes it is hard to trust in God when we don't actually see anything being done. I guess that is why Jesus said that those who believe and haven't seen will be blessed many times over. So, I hope your trust and faith in Christ is getting bigger rather than smaller today.


Good Day.

Friday, October 21, 2005

A collection of this week's garbage...


Here are some things I have decided or seen over the past week:
1. I have discovered over the past week something very interesting...I have been to two different "coffee shops" and gotten their version of Hot Chocolate. I was very disappointed at both...one was too "coffeey" and the other had a cherry flare. I have decided one thing for Andy Jellison as it regards to hot chocolate...it is SWISS MISS or bust!!!


2. Yesterday, Sarah and I stopped at this apple orchard place on U.S. 31 and while picking up some cider for the woman of my dreams...down from the upstairs walks a baby DEER!!! It had been bottle fed since birth and was friendly and Sarah and I got to pet it. Wierd huh?


3. I have found out this week that I really am getting married!!! It is really hitting home that this thing is finally going to happen and I can't wait.

4. I love being a youth pastor. There is nothing like it in the world...it is refreshing and amazing to be able to be in the lives of these kids when they are most impressionable! May God help me to make the right impression.

5. I love wings...I have been on a wings-kick for about 2 weeks now and I cannot get enough of those little burgers!!!



Thats all...Sarah and I are going to Lafayette this weekend for the wedding of her brother! So heres to hoping you have an awesome weekend of fun or rest or both depending on what you need!!!

Good Day.

Wednesday, October 19, 2005

Too many questions

At church, we are trying to raise money by having the congregation sponsor a teen to go to our youth conference in December. It seems to me that some people...no names or hints to be given...are asking me "havent the youth done some fundraising already"? I realize that if we have 10 kids that need financial help and want to go and it costs us $185 to send each one that is a LOT of money. It is kind of like they are trying to justifying their reasons NOT to give. I am just frustrated with the whole situation and trying to get it done before the wedding. What will we do if the church doesnt respond? I guess they cant go...wait and see I guess. Pray this weekend that my congregation responds and I am overwhelmed with sponsors and we have MORE money than we have kids that can go!!! Please pray for this weekend...I appreciate it....

Good Day.

Tuesday, October 18, 2005

Finally....


After trying my best to make a teen in the youth group puke...it happened at our last overnighter...what did it? A blended up McDonald's big kids meal...double cheeseburger, fries, and chocolate milk!!! This picture was take right before he hurled!!!


I can die a happy youth pastor!!!

25 days!!!!!!!!!!


I can hardly wait!!!

Monday, October 17, 2005

Hurray!!!


26 days until we get to walk down the aisle!!! Sarah and I were taking a strole down memory lane last night and I wouldn't want to be on any other road with any other person!!!








For you married folk...if you could give me a Top 5 list of things that make a marriage stronger or better reply...I would like to know what you think...

Sin

I was thinking today about sin and how we view sin and the things that we call sin. My first question is: do protestants have a scale of the different sins? What I mean is, do we think that some sins are greater or worse than others? I think most of you would say no to that question. However, what is your answer to this question: Which of these two things do we condemn the person for doing more...lying or having homosexual tendancies? What about...having pre-marital sex or gossiping? Drinking alcohol or over eating? Do we have a "sin scale" where we view some sins as being greater than others?

Now I realize that there are some of those things that do more physical damage than others and there are different issues with each one of them. Still, should we crack down on homosexuality more harshly than people in our church gossiping or complaining about anything and everything that they don't like? We say we don't have a sin scale...but are fooling ourselves?

What do you think?



Good Day.

Friday, October 14, 2005

Ouch!!!


I have an urgent prayer request...pray for my Mom so that she doesnt get rabies!!! She was bitten by a mouse the other day! How strange and wierdly talented...I cant say that I know too many people that have been bitten by a mouse.



Love you Mom!

The Bible

I was getting ready for our Young Adult meeting Wednseday night and as I was preparing my devo I read one of the questions: "The Bible isnt about humanities attempt to have a relationship with God, it is all about God's attempt to have a relationship with us. How does this change your view of God?" Well, seeing that I had never looked at it like that before, it was an amazing insight to someone who feels dry and wondering where God is!!! God is amazing...he created us and we all mess up, he STILL sends his son to die for our sins, even when are hearts are prone to wonder He still is trying to get in touch with us! What a wonderful thought...it isnt a cosmic game of hide and seek like I had thought growing up. It isnt a whack-a-mole either...God isnt waiting for us to mess up and pop our heads through the hole to hit us!!! He is right beside us, waiting, prodding, holding...and most importantly...loving us!

How great is our God? One day...all will see just how great he is!


Good Day.

Thursday, October 13, 2005

Busy

So today Sarah and I have our first pre-marital counseling session...then we have to meet with the food lady and then we are meeting with the photographer. Busy day...busy day... but they are necessary evils.


Have a great day...and remember, God is bigger than the air we breathe, and the world we see.

Wednesday, October 12, 2005

I miss ED


There are a million and a half shows on T.V. now and what am I missing on TV? One show...Ed...it has been off the air for like a year now and i am starting to miss it more. Why are there so many stinkin' crime shows? We need a show that just has that "down home feel" and people with real problems. So this is me lamenting Ed....

Is God closer than you think

I am beginning, well, actually looking at the book "God is closer than you think" and thinking to myself, "I should really read this". Well, I havent started yet. Still, I was wondering if we really do think that God is closer than we think. As a Pastor, it seems sometimes that God is really far away. There appears to be a cloud over my brain and it is like pulling teeth to take the personal time that I need to take as a minister. As a Pastor, I am always giving and very rarely getting fed. I have said in previous blogs that it is hard for me sometimes to worship without thinking about the next thing and the service moving smoothly. The question behind all of this is how does a person who is always around the church and working with people in the church not become numb sometimes? Is God closer than I feel? Lets hope so because sometimes it feels as though he is on the other end of eternity. You know what I mean? I realize Christians cant go by their feelings or we would all be insecure little ooopma loompas worrying about everything and no Willy Wonka (God) to give us a better life.

What do you think? Do you ever have "numb" periods in your faith?

Tuesday, October 11, 2005

Have you ever wished...


I sat in my office today and did what needed to get done. I got most of my sermon and planned some things, sent out a letter for LOGOS5 (the Wesleyans Youth Conference in Grand Rapids). So it was a busy day...but I couldnt help but keep wishing it was November and Sarah and I were getting married!


I know you shouldnt wish away time and all of that...but I cant WAIT for our wedding...



I tried last night to make "homemade" wings...didnt go so well...they were fatty and too spicy...and messy and did I mention fatty? Never again...

I have my monthly 2 hour and 30 minute mind numbing L.B.A. meeting....mmmm tasty!!!

Good Day.

Monday, October 10, 2005

abortion

Sarah and I were talking a few weeks ago about abortion. This discussion started from our last youth group overnighter's discussion panel. The question was is it ever alright for a Christian to have an abortion? At first the answer is of course no. That is the knee jerk reaction. I agree with never having an abortion and going with adoption or other options. I realize that there are many couples that cannot have children and would give a great home to a child. Still, there is one circumstance that I would not even have to consider NOT having an abortion. That circumstance is if it was threatening Sarah's life. In my mind, there is not even a question as to what to do. I would choose Sarah. End of story. Period. Sarah however, said that she didn't know and said that she doesn't think we should play God. I dont see it like that. We wouldn't be playing God, I would just be choosing my wife, my soulmate, my best friend and that is it.

What do you think? What would you do? If you were in the situation would you have an abortion or would you let happen whatever happens?

Just wondering...

Good Day

Friday, October 07, 2005

The world's UGLIEST DOG for three years running


Is it really even a dog? It kind of looks like a baby Gremlin!!!

Seriously, this dog has won the ugliest dog in the world contest for three years running. I would go out on a limb and say that as long as it lives it has that title in my book at least!

Surreal but nice

Doesnt life just fly by? It seems like only yesterday I was starting college and trying to meet Mrs. Jellison at IWU. Then, it seems like yesterday that I got my first staff position at Shiloh...I have been here for over a year now. Finally, it seems like yesterday (February actually) that I proposed to Sarah. I can remember counting the days and it was in the hundred range. Now, only 36 days...5 weeks and 1 day...I am amazed and so excited about life with Sarah and everything that means. I know that everything isnt going to be perfect or story book...but I am head over heels in love with that girl and I dont care who knows it!!! She is caring, heartfelt about everything she does, she truly does care about helping others (not just because shes a nurse!) , she is thoughtful, charismatic, and vibrant. Every time she walks into a room, it just gets brighter. Everyone loves her, but not nearly as much as me. AND on top of that and much more that you really dont have the time to read...she is absolutely BEAUTIFUL!!! God couldn't have given me someone with a better all around package than her. So publically I want to say, "I am marrying the most wonderful, beautiful and amazing woman in the world!!!"

Good Day.

Thursday, October 06, 2005

There is nothing like ...


Having someone measuring your body that you really dont know...today I get fitted for my tux!

At least I get to go see Sarah! Anywho...the cold weather is pulling in and I am excited about that!!! Bring on the snow




Good Day.

Wednesday, October 05, 2005

This is my sign for the month













ever feel like this?

Spiritual Battles

We had a youth board meeting last night and we started talking about the spiritual battles that the teens face. Then, in our staff meeting today it came up again. So...I thought I would make it the trifecta and talk about it here. A lot of people really dont like talking about Angels and Demons. It scares them and is not something they want to dwell on. Still, as Christians we MUST face this head on and call some things in our lives as they are: a battle for our souls. This is what the Bible says about it..."For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms" (Eph. 6:12). Daily and weekly my teens are confronted with wrong choices and options that they really should not do. It is not just temptation that we should be realizing. It is that those things are INTENTIONAL. It is the enemy who puts those things in our lives and not just some random act. Still, we go about our lives as Christians passively and almost being nieve about "the dark side". Then, when one of our kids mess up and choose the wrong thing we automatically say they are rebelling. Well, maybe the "good side" wasnt doing the job. Maybe the church isnt doing its job. Yes, the church does not have the immediate treasures and the flash bulb excitement that the world and sin has in it. So should we give up and just say, "well thats just the way it is", or "they are just kids, they'll grow out of it"? The correct answer is no but what is the REAL answer? What do we say and do when teens and people in the church mess up? We need to start calling it what it is...a battle every day to live a Christ-like life. The enemy isnt going to take it easy on us or take a vacation from trying to trip us up but yet dont we try to take "vacations" and breaks from church and all that comes with it? Just wondering...

Fight the GOD fight

Good Day.

Tuesday, October 04, 2005

The most wonderful time of the year













The baseball playoffs start today...the NFL is in full swing...NBA training camps are under way and Indiana University Basketball is not far behind...and oh yeah, theres a wedding coming up.

Monday, October 03, 2005

forgiving

Last night at youth group I talked about surviving problems. The first two points really didnt do much damage. However, the third point really affected some of the teens. I had received an email from my aunt this week and thought I would use it in my sermon. I had Sarah tape a picture of Jesus up on this board and put some white pieces of paper over it so that the kids wouldn't know it was there. Then I had two kids, that had been hurt by someone that week draw the face of the person and put it on the board. I had them throw rocks at the pictures they had drawn and finally take the rocks and just scratch over their pictures. The second kid scratched all of the papers until it was just Jesus and his facial expression was unforgetable. To make a longer story short...Jesus said that what we do to the least of the people in our lives, the ones we like the least that treat us the worst...we've done it to him. Just something to think about...

Good Day.

Friday, September 30, 2005

the problem with...

Having been at a church for over a year as a full time pastor, I have learned that there is one thing that the older generation (meaning 55+) really have gotten set in their way. What am I talking about? Worship of course. Last Sunday I sang 5 "newer" songs that the reason people didnt like because they didnt know them. Well, as it later hit me...it was really just another excuse for them to be stubborn and for everyone else to say" well that's just the way it is". 3 of the songs were in the CHURCH'S computer, which means that they are not new. Another song we had sang less than a month ago which leaves only 1 song that was NEW. So it comes down to them simply not LIKING the songs we sang.

Isnt it about time for us, not to call them on their opinions (which is why we love the music we love), but rather on their inability to "worship" in any other style they dont like? If it was in any other area, we would call it as we see it, sin. It comes down to both groups being stubborn and selfish. Still, I dont here many people going up to their Senior Pastors and telling him that they didnt like worship this morning because it was all hymns. Do you? Am I just taking my criticism too personal? Maybe. Are the elders of the church given a free pass to be stubborn and judgemental about the music? I think so.

The biggest thing here is who we are worshipping not how we are worshipping him. Worship leaders shouldn't have to pick songs for the congregation. They need to choose songs to worship God. I'm done, I promise.


Good Day.

Thursday, September 29, 2005

DBMD ...oh joy

Lets hope they were all dead :)



Today is my yearly trek to Marion for my District Board of Ministerial Development meeting. It should be interesting to see what they want to talk about because I have been one of them for a year now and dont know what they will be asking me...anywho...it should be interesting to say the least...

Wednesday, September 28, 2005

44 Days!!!

44 Days until DOD!!!

Puking and dislocated fingers


With all that happened Sunday morning, I forgot to tell you about our overnighter. It was really fun and painful at times. First, we went on a scavenger hunt in Plymouth. I had the kids going around to 20 different stores. The only bad thing was that the cops stopped some of the kids because their had been a gang fight and the kids were running around in groups...didnt look good.

Then, we did a Happy Shake...we got a Happy Meal with Chocolate Milk and blended them up. One of our kids tried eating/ drinking/ shoving it in your mouth with fingers and he puked!!! Thats awesome!

Then, we had a dodgeball tournament. A pretty athletic girl was trying to dodge the ball and went to the ground and popped her finger out of joint!!!

Other than those things, the night went really well. Until I tried showing the Goonies, which by the way is rated PG, and had in the first 10 minutes: 2 sexual conotations, 5 or 6 curse words and some uses of Gods name the wrong way! Boy was I embarrassed. I hadnt seen the movie in like 6 or 7 years! Oh well, life goes on.

Good Day.