Monday, March 24, 2008

Goodbyes are not always good.

Time marches on. It always has, it is and it always will. There are certain moments in our lives when we want time to go quicker. We wish to be older or old enough at least. We get to that thing or age and it passes and we are still not old enough or now we are too young. People come and go and then we do it all again with new people. New relationships turn into old friendships. The excitement always wears off and time either brings you closer or you fade apart.
How weird is it to think about the past and how close you were with "fill in the blank" and how far you seem from them now? I think in every relationship we are either coming closer of fading apart. I don't think that there is a middle ground. It makes me sad thinking about the Seniors from the youth group this year. I have seen them mature and grow into great young adults. I just wish I could keep them around for another four years. That is something that is hard on Youth workers. You try and try to build relationships with these students and then eventually they are gone. Off into the world. Shiloh has pumped some pretty great teens through it's doors but I guess I am prejudice in thinking that this has to be one of the best groups to have been a part of this church. Seniors, you know who you are, I am really going to miss you. You all will do great things and see greater things. Never go anywhere without Jesus.

How are your relationships? Are you drifting apart from that life-long friend? Proverbs 17:17 says that "A friend loves at all times..." Do you need to make that phone call or visit to that person who meant so much to you not so long ago? Go ahead. Go right ahead. Make their day.

Monday, March 10, 2008

Congrats!


I want to send a special congrats to my brother from another mother today...Ben and Amanda Capshaw! As of 7:30 ish last night they are parents of a baby boy, Isaac. I am so happy for you both and know that you'll be great parents! Dude that is amazing!

Wednesday, March 05, 2008

Brackets and more brackets!

It is a national phenomenon. It sweeps the nation and has swept Jellyvision! It is time for the NCAA Bracket Challenge!

Think you know know who will win? Got it all figured out? Well then, sign up and lets see!

This is free and just for fun...

Here's the info:

This message is from andy jellison who is challenging you to play Men's Tournament Challenge on ESPN.com.

This game gives you the chance to win $10,000 by predicting the winner of the most games in the 63 game men's college basketball tournament. A correct selection in the first round counts as 10 points, and in each succesive round the point values are doubled. You can create up to ten entries, and best of all, it's FREE to play.

Get in the action now:
http://games.espn.go.com/tcmen/group?groupID=3221

Game Front:
http://games.espn.go.com/tcmen/frontpage

Group: Jellyvision
Password: indiana

Even if you are not a fan, sign up just for fun!

My Tivo

I was sitting here wondering this morning about what shows other people watch. Do you have a list of shows that you tape or Tivo? Here's mine:

Reality TV- I was a junkie and then Sarah joined in:
1. Survivor
2. Amazing Race
3. Big Brother
4. American Idol
5. The Apprentice


Other shows:
6. Lost
7. October Road
8. Psych
9. CSI
10. Dexter
11. Jericho
12. Heroes
13. Carpoolers
14. SNL
15. The Soup
16. Any IU game
17. Criminal Minds
18. The 4400
19. Men in Trees
20. Las Vegas

We aren't home much at night so we tape a lot and have stuff to watch whenever we can. How about you? What do you watch?

SPORTS ALERT!!! If you don't like sports, hit the back arrow NOW!

This quite possibly is the best time of the year. I have various reasons that I will list below. Why is it that almost all guys (75% or more) love sports? Is it the thrill of reliving the "glory" days that weren't so glorious for me (I played 1 year of football, 5 or so of baseball (I won a little league state title and was 2 games from going to the LL World Series!) and 4 years of basketball (I got cut my 10th grade year, I was too slow or something). I love sports. I love watching it and I love playing. My dream after I retire is to do one of two things, be a greeter at Wal-Mart or actually be retired and have season tickets to a Major League Baseball team and go to every home game. I know...I know pathetic. OH well...we all have our whims and wishes. Anyways...here goes:


1. Baseball season is just around the corner...I can smell the grass being cut now! AAACCHOOO!

2. I love the NBA and this has been a really competitive season so far.

3. Championship Week...I love the NCAA tournament but the week leading up to it is almost just as good.

4. The NCAA tournament. Is there better sports days in the year than the Thursday and Friday of the first weekend of the tournament? I think not!

It's the most wonderful time of the year! Go Hoosiers!

Tuesday, March 04, 2008

A great article as we get closer to Easter

This is an article that Sarah's mom, Peggy, wrote for her local paper. Great article.



A View From The Cross-Road

by: Peggy Barnell

The Shadow of the Cross


I have heard medical professionals explain the physical pain that a person would experience during death by crucifixion. Blow-by-blow account given as to how the body's systems would gradually fail and eventually bring death. When I consider that level of suffering, I can't help but reflect on the significance of Easter and the sacrificial death of Jesus Christ.

Thanks to my early years in Sunday School, I was always aware of the history of Easter. But it wasn't until much later in my adult life that I began to have some comprehension of what that event encompassed. The non-descript awareness that Jesus died on a cross for the sins of mankind gave way to a gradual awakening that it was much more personal than that. I began to recognize that Jesus gave His life not only for murderers and rapists and thieves, He gave His life for my sin.
When that revelation began to dawn in my head and heart, as the prophet Isaiah described, I felt as though

"I was undone" - overwhelmed to think that every selfish act, every ugly, spite-filled, lustful, greedy thought or deed of my own had sent Christ to the cross just as surely as the sins of all those "evil people" of the world.

Though I know it's a done deal, when I contemplate Jesus' death, there is some innate sense of justice within me that wants to stop Him from enduring the suffering - wants Him not to take on my sin as His own. In those deeply reflective moments I struggle with the urge to cry out and plead: Please, don't - don't do that for me! It's just so... unfair... I know how unworthy I am of that kind of sacrifice, that kind of love.

A friend shared his like-minded, sympathetic fantasy. He imagines that he is there at the cross - he removes the nails from the hands and feet of Jesus and by doing so, eases His pain and brings Him comfort.
As sweet and comforting as that scenario is to consider, it completely defeats the purpose of the sacrifice. The fact that Jesus willingly took our deserved sins upon His undeserving self is the intrinsic point of the matter.

Last Sunday one of the worship team members at my church stood and played his guitar just a bit downstage from the cross that is erected on the platform. Though I feel sure it was unintentional on his part, from my viewpoint in the crowd of worshipers, it seemed as though he was standing in the shadow of the cross. Occasionally he would extend his arms out to his side, face turned heavenward as he sang praise with abandon to God. As I watched him sing and worship with the cross behind him, it occurred to me that it's exactly what the cross does for those who recognize it's significance. It casts a loving shadow over us. It re-centers our lives - the way we think and process and love and view the world around us.

And to live in such a manner, dear friends, is exactly what Jesus asks of us in return.

John 15: 12 My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you. Greater love has one one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends.


Monday, March 03, 2008

Pressure and Trust


I don't think in my adult life (circa 2004, since graduating college and being in the real world) have I ever needed a vacation more than right now. I hate it when people pressure me but most of all, I hate it when I pressure myself. I often times put undue pressure on myself without even realizing it until I am sitting in my office chair on a Monday morning. There is pressure from work, pressures at home, pressures it seems that are rising as quick as gas after eating at buffalo wild wings. I hate the fact that when we are young and have no responsibilities that we don't relish it enough. I was talking with my brother this morning and just thinking about how nice it was just to be together and hanging out without a pressure in the world. What this all boils down to is two things I want to talk about:


1. When I get pressured or feel like I am the only person doing anything, I either get short with people or I shut down and don't talk with people. I often don't like to give other people things to do that I need done because I don't trust them or am worried that it will cause more problems than help for me. So this translates into people putting my wife in the middle. They think that I am unapproachable. And I am starting to wonder if that is the case? Am I unapproachable when there is something I don't like or agree with on the table? I really don't know. As a Pastor, I guess I feel like I always have to have an answer, whether right or wrong, all the time. That grades on me because sometimes I really don't have an answer or know what the best thing to do is.

2. Trust. God and I have been conversations about this. I was preaching on this very thing a couple of weeks ago in the morning worship service and as I was preparing, I thought about Phil. 4:13: I can do everything through him who gives me strength, and it hit me that we often take this to mean that we can do whatever it is that we are doing and God will give us strength. However, I think that it is saying that we can do anything when Christ is at work through us. I sometimes get so busy with ministry and doing stuff, that I forget that God is the one that makes things happen. You could have the worst preparation and things fall apart for an event but if God has been called upon and he enters the scene it is going to be breathtaking. God is giving me more opportunities to trust Him and I am trying my best to do just that.


I hope this finds you well and joyful in Jesus.