update January 27.09

Hey here's what happening in Jellyville:


10. I am finding it fascinating to see all these people, who I wouldn't otherwise stay in contact with, show up on Facebook. People that you wouldn't think you should or could ever see on there...and poof...there they are...asking to be your friend. My biggest pet peeve is being friends with someone I have no earthly intentions of ever talking to but would feel bad if I said no. So I usually just add them as friends and then delete them later! I know...I'm mean.

9. Sarah is doing rather well. She hasn't gotten sick as of yet (fingers crossed). She has felt bad and has stuck out her tongue a million times when I bring up food options. Her nose has turned into the SUPER SNIFFER...for real. She won't go near a Subway!

8. I am loving me some online preaching! I have talked about Perry Noble before but now I am really getting into Steven Furtick from Elevation church as well. Listening to them makes me want to go deeper and be a better communicator to those listening to me. Peggy, Sarah's Mom, has been to Elevation church and said she loved the preaching and didn't love the music (too loud for her post-39 year old ears! lol).

7. The whole baby thing isn't really real yet. It is some abstract thought that is just out there and not actually tangible in ways that I probably cannot even imagine will be felt in 7 short months!

6. We got our oven fixed after nearly 3 months without having one. I made Sarah some wicked good PB and Chocolate Oatmeal cookies. dude....

5. Here is what I am getting ready to begin reading...ie...books I just ordered:
So You Don't Want To Go To Church Anymore by Jake Colsen
Mad Church Disease: Overcoming the Burnout Epidemic by Anne Jackson
Tribes: We Need You To Lead Us by Seth Godin
Churched: One Kid's Journey Toward God Despite A Holy Mess by Matthew Paul Turner

4. Indiana Basketball is not doing well. They have lost 8 in a row and I have watched every minute of every game. I WILL NEVER become a band wagon fan. This season is separating those out for us. And yes, I did say US...

3. I have recently hooked my record player back up and love the nostalgia of listening to old music and hearing that popping and cracking...nothing quite like it is there?

2. We are in the planning stages of our 4th annual vacation trip to Myrtle Beach, South Carolina! Hurray!!!! Sarah will be 7 months pregnant though so it could be a long trip down having to stop every hour or so... :)

1. I am on a wicked streak in the world of Scrabble. I haven't lost a game, online or in person, since Christmas! I am unbeaten in 2009! I played two words yesterday against Sarah that got me 90 points combined! I know you don't care...but hey you are still reading this post...


later

For anyone involved in church leadership...

Take the time (like 60 seconds) to read this post by Steven Furtick. It is great and goes deep.

Retaining Encouragement.

Surprised by love

In our culture, few things ever truly surprise us. We have become a culture that is over-stimulated in many different and alarming ways. Still, sometimes things catch us off guard and really stand out and cause us to at least pause for a moment. That is what happened the other day to Sarah.

I love being a jokester. I've tied the occasional rubber band around the sprayer on the sink so that water comes shooting out onto the unsuspecting aqua seeker. I've played practical jokes and gotten many laughs out of it. The other day was a pretty good one. Sarah and I were getting ready for bed and I had finished first and went on to bed. Well, the covers were placed in such a perfect pattern of lumpiness that Sarah didn't see me. I know, a miracle but nonetheless,it happened. Well, she came in the bedroom and I really didn't know that she didn't see me so I was making a crazy face with some crazy eyes. That's when it happened. After setting the alarm and grabbing the remote, her eyes caught my eyes and after much laughter (on my part) and remote-throwing (her part) Sarah was genuinely surprised.

Erwin McManus tells a story in book "Soul Cravings" about some ducks that had taken up residence in his back yard. The couple had some ducklings and as the harsh world goes, the small birds began to come up missing. With the crows and cats and skunks being the hunters, McManus tells of a night where he was surprised.

One evening I woke up in the middle of the night...and found myself shouting, "Did you hear that quack?" Kim tried to calm me down and encouraged me to go back to sleep. As I lay there in bed, haunted by what I knew were the implications of the sounds I had heard, I found myself having an entirely different conversation. I know it was inside my head, but it was as if I could hear God screaming, "Do you know how you feel about that duckling? The anguish that you're feeling this very moment, that's how I feel for every human being that walks the face of this earth."

When was the last time that you were surprised by love? The last time that you just couldn't believe how much that you were loved? Think about the woman that the Pharasees brought to Jesus. Caught in sin. Living with guilt and pain and rejection. Jesus showed her love. She was definitely surprised by love.


So often, we just go on about our daily lives trying to keep our emotions at bay. Not letting people see us for anything other than being strong and in control. However, we all know that there are times that we are just sinking and sinking hard. There are times when the waves are crashing and we are unable to move. Maybe you've lost a job. Maybe you have just been stuck in a rut and can't seem to find footing to get out. Maybe you've been living with the guilt and shame of unconfessed sin. Come to Jesus. Let yourself be surprised by His unconditional love. There are no rules or prerequisites. You don't have to be perfect and have it all together to be loved by Him. You want hope? He is Hope. You need love? He is love. You need wisdom? He is the author of wisdom. You need a helping hand that loves without asking questions? He is reaching out. Don't let love pass you by. Be surprised today by Christ's love.

Jesus loves me this I know
For the Bible tells me so
Little ones to Him belong
They are weak, but He is strong

Yes Jesus Loves Me
Yes Jesus Loves Me
Yes Jesus Loves Me
The Bible tells me so!

Big news...

Here's an update from the Jellison's of the North!


10. I am painfully watching every game, every minute of IU's abysmal season. They have lost 7 straight and I don't know if they will win many more games this year. Still, I love IU and won't stop watching no matter how bad or to who they lose. Go IU fight fight fight!

9. This winter has been bad so far. With really low temps and now a ton of snow, it is a bit much for Sarah. I don't mind it but I have to handle her and she doesn't handle snow well...at ALL!

8. Please pray for my Uncle Terry, he has MS and has had some recent troubles. He has always been there for my mom and me and we love him very much. Also Aunt Lana could use our prayers, she is going through a lot with that whole situation.

7. Another prayer issue. My Grandma Jellison found out that she has breast cancer. She is in her upper 80's so I am not sure what she will let them do! She is a stubborn Jellison and it was definitely passed on.

6. We are looking forward to our districts Youth Pastor and Spouse Renewal weekend here in a few weekends. This event has always been an amazing time for us and for us to build relationships with the youth pastors in the district.

5. We are planning our annual Super Bowl party for Feb. 1! Looking forward to it again even though the Colts are no longer in the playoffs...sniff sniff


4. Christmas this year was really good. I saved all my Christmas money and bought something I really wanted. An Xbox 360! I love it and am so glad that I saved up for it instead of getting things and asking for things I really didnt seriously want but needed something to tell people. You know what I mean?


3. I love watching sermons online and have watched NewSpring Community Church's service for the past three months or so. I love it and wish I would have started it sooner! Sarah says that I am having a bromance with Perry Noble because I talk about him so much to her. Oh well...


2. American Idol started last night and I am pumped. I love that show and love rooting for normal people to have the opportunity to be believed in and invested in! Who cares if most of them never make something huge of themselves. It is a great thing to see people grow in self-confidence.


1. The biggest news of all...wait for it...SARAH IS PREGNANT!!!! We found out on Christmas day at my moms in an amazing display of pure excitement and joy as my wonderful wife came running out of the bathroom and shouted "Merry Christmas everyone, I'm Pregnant!" We are so excited and blessed. Please keep us in your prayers as we learn on the go and try to be the best parents we can be. Sarah is 8 weeks today. :)

Who cares what you're not?

After reading this post by Craig Groeschel, I got to thinking about how much we do this, not just with our churches but with ourselves. A lot of us gauge who we are by what we are not. So often we find ourselves building us up by tearing someone else down.

This is what gossip is all about. You see, it takes the spotlight and pressure off of the person gossiping and puts it on whoever or whatever action it is that "we have an issue over" or we say "that's just my opinion". Seriously. I need to work on a lot of things...I am far from perfect but I am finding it harder and harder when people in the church are meaner and more bitter and just plain nasty to the people inside of the church. We are generally nicer to people that we don't even know than to the people that we are supposed to love! How are we treating our families? What have you said to them that you haven't ever or wouldn't ever say to some stranger at Wal-Mart?

Seriously. Don't be defined by what you are not. Be nice...be kind...love others. Simple stuff...but seemingly hard for most of us.

My verse for 2009

"However, as it is written:
No eye has seen,
no ear has heard,
no mind has conceived
what God has prepared for those who love him"

I Corinthians 2:9