Truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth!

I read a devotional the other day talking about worship and what Jesus said about it. In John 4:23-24 Jesus says,

"It's who you are and the way you live that count before God. Your worship must engage your spirit in the pursuit of truth. That's the kind of people the Father is out looking for: those who are simply and honestly themselves before him in their worship. God is sheer being itself—Spirit. Those who worship him must do it out of their very being, their spirits, their true selves, in adoration."

It got me to thinking about how truthful we are with each other. Most of the time we feel like we have to put on a face or act a certain way when we are around this person or that person. I feel like this a lot of the time as a pastor. People come to me with their problems and worries and you name it and I feel as though I need to be the considerate, sheparding man of God that my calling lends itself to. However, there are times when I am disgusted with things. Things that I have no control over. Things that have built up...things that have come from our blind side. So here is my attempt at being honest and open for today:

I am...

frustrated with our church
frustrated with the youth group
isolated
deeply in love
waiting for something that I don't always have the faith for
wanting God to bring people around me that make me better
strongly in search of answers from God to the questions that are raging in my mind
thankful for music that touches my soul
hungry for change
feeling like a used car salesman
pressed and often times crushed it feels
wondering about the future
fearful of my flaws
passionately looking forward to a break
questioning things that happen and don't happen
debating my relevance in the face of decline and apapthy
trusting in God
waiting for Him to move
breathing spring and newness in
blessed because of God's unfailing love
awed by new life and fresh air
missing my friends
missing my family

thats about it...

still, I remain

Encourage!

Yesterday morning I preached in the morning service about encouragement. I told our people three things about encouragement:

1. Encouragement must be spoken.
2. Encouragement must be good news.
3. Encouragement isn't about you, it's about them.


So, who do you need to encourage today? I dare you to encourage 2 people this week. Watch out though, because when you start to encourage people, the enemy starts to discourage you! It's worth it though...


2 people! Do it!

What goes on?

Man life is just plain old busy. I hate having things on my mind that I know I need to do and haven't done yet. Those things just bug the sin out of me! Just thought I'd give an update on the lives of Sarah and Andy.


1. I have been staying very busy lately with the new(ish) service, nTune. I guess it's not that new anymore. It has been going well. Slowly but surely we are getting some people to come and I think it will be a very beneficial thing for Shiloh in the end.

2. My guitar playing has been a huge blessing. I am playing on both Wednesday and Sunday nights for the youth and nTune services. Then I am also doing the devo/ message. Needless to say by the time Wednesday night and Sunday night rolls around I am beat!

3. Spring is finally starting to sprung...but it is doing so s-l-o-w-l-y. Sarah and I were able to get out into the yard finally and do some much needed yard work. We are getting ready in a few weeks to plant our first and my first ever garden! I am surprisingly excited even though I have no green thumb or anything that closely resembles that (even though a lady at Zales told me I had Shrek hands)!

4. A very busy summer is staring me in the face. not all of it is busy, hard work. It starts in June. June 6-14 we are going to South Carolina for vacation. The following week is Jr. High Camp, I just have to take the kids down for that one. Then the week after that is Sr. High Camp and I am in charge of the activities all week! I really enjoy doing this though even though it would seem to be really crazy I really like doing it. Then there's a week off. Finally, we have our Missions Week were we'll be at the church all week and go around in the community and do different things. Then another week off and then family camp for a week where I'll again be doing the activities for the teens. It makes me tired just looking at it! But it will be a lot of fun.

5. April has been busy for me as well. On the 6th and 20th I had to/have to preach in the morning service, then do the worship and give the message at nTune that night. It makes for a full day. This past week we had our 3rd annual Chili cook-off. It was really fun and everyone had a great time.

6. We have had a lot of visitors lately. Ben and Amanda Capshaw came up a few weeks ago with Isaac. Then, a few Thursdays ago, Sarah's Mom Peggy came up for a night. Finally, this past weekend my Mom and Aunt Lana and Uncle Terry came up and we got to spend some good time with them. So it has been a really nice time to be able to spend with family and friends.

7. Sarah and I watch American Idol . We both really like Jason Castro, Brooke White and David Cook. After that it gets shady...she doesn't like Syeshia and I think she is probably the best girl singer left. She is just dead behind the eyes sometimes. I really don't like the young David...or KL Cook.

8. We are getting ready to lose our Seniors this year and boy is it going to hurt. They have been the backbone of the group and will be sorely missed.

9. I have to keep reminding myself that you don't have to get all of the ducks to have a good duck hunt. Meaning, I shouldn't look at who isn't at church and say (fill in the blank) should have been here. Rather, I should been thankful of who is there and be thankful for that.

10. I am so thankful for my wife. She has made me and is still making me a much better man every day. She just brings out the best in me and makes me want to do better. God has really blessed me with an amazing talented, somewhat off-beat, but always on beat with me kind-of-girl! I'm rockin' one leg, Jealous?! (inside joke)

It's Crean and Crimson time!

Dude...if you know me, one of my passions is Indiana University basketball. This has been one of the longest seasons I've ever had to deal with. High expectations ended with a bitter, bad taste in the mouths of IU fans. I was a little worried about who they would hire then news came that they hired Tom Crean from Marquette. At first, I was uncertain with the hire. Then, after hearing his presser today, I am IMPRESSED! He GETS IU and the traditions. I am psyched about next year even though it might be a hard year. He is a squeaky-clean, amazing family man that is something IU definitely needed! GO HOOSIERS!

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.

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!

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!

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.

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.

Update from Jellyland

Hey all...

What a busy, busy, busy time of the year. Here we are in the last week of February already! Yikes! I just wanted to update a few things for you, just in case you are wondering:


1. We started nTune, shiloh's new contemporary service last sunday night. It went well... and I know that God is going to move and use this service.

2. We are preparing for Easter which seems really early this year. Is Christmas in November too?!

3. I have continued to practice and play my guitar for worship. I don't know what the youth group and nTune would look like if God hadn't motivated me. He works in crazy ways I guess.

4. Ben and Amanda Capshaw are expecting a baby any time now. I am really excited for them. (This will be the only mention of babies in this post)

5. Somehow, the all-nighter spirits got together to play a nasty trick on me. Last Friday, a sponsor and myself took 13 teens to play lazer tag in Ft. Wayne. It was fun, but it started at 12:30am and got over around 3:30! This week is the disrict all-nighter and it goes from 7p-7a...so essentially from 5p-9a...I'm working 5 to 9 and what a way to do it!

6. I have been growing a beard in support of national beard growing month. I am ready to shave it, even though there isn't much there...sniff...sniff.

7. Indiana Basketball has been a mess lately. I am glad that there was some resolution...now we wait and see if it was enough. Go Hoosiers!

8. I am looking forward to the Big Ten Tournament (3/14) because I get to see my brother Kerry and go watch IU! I need a little break and I think that this will do until...

9. Myrtle Beach baby! I am looking with longing eyes at June 7-14th! I cannot wait to go to the beach!

10. I am ready for spring. I love winter and the cold but this is just overboard!

Hope this finds you well. Later

Boy am I glad today!

I STRONGLY DISLIKE the New England Patriots. I don't like their coach, the Quarterback, the players...Randy Moss and his stupid fish move or whatever it is, I don't like the media coverage of the "undefeated" team that never happened! I am so glad that they didn't win. This was the greatest Super Bowl game I've ever witnessed. It was almost better and more rewarding than last year...almost. I am thankful for Eli Manning and his humbleness in victory which would have been the same reaction if he'd have lost. And for Plaxico Burress's reaction and emotions after thanking God.

ntune-coming sundays @ 630pm (Feb. 24th)

Do you pray? I hope so...I would love for you to just throw up a prayer for this:


We are starting a new service at Shiloh!

What: nTune - a modern worship setting with relavent messages that speak to your life
When: Sundays @ 630 pm (Starting Feb. 24th)
Who: All who want to be a part of a community of believers that are seeking to daily look more like Jesus

We are going to have a "coffee house" set up with different drinks and a relaxed atmosphere.

Please pray that God will use this for His glory.

Thanks

Youth Pastor and Spouse Renewal Weekend 08

Hey. Just thought I would give you an update. For those of you who are close to us (not geographically) you know that the past month and a half has been a rough one for the Jellison's on the North side of Indiana. Things with family, dogs, and the church had taken a toll on Sarah and me. We were coming down to the nub of our emotions and needed a break. Boy did we get one! This past weekend could not have come at a better time. We definitely got renewed and refreshed just over the course of two and a half days. We got to hang out with Ben and Amanda (we really should move closer to each other) and with the rest of the Indiana North brotherhood. Then we were able to go to Level 13 for sunday morning worship (this is our districts church plant in Ft. Wayne). What an amazing weekend. Great times were had by all.

God can't do what?!

Things God won’t or can’t do


Have you ever felt down? Alone? Do you often feel like there is no one around that understands what you are going through? Do you feel as though you might as well be out on an island in the Pacific by yourself? Are there times when you feel so weak that you wonder if you’ll ever recover? Are there times when you feel that God has to be looking the other way when things are happening to you? Well if you answered yes to any or all of those questions have I got an article for you Introducing the Old and saint-trusted, Word of God Let me just list for you some of the exciting things you will hear:


God never faints or grows weary (Isa. 40:28)

God never forgets us (Romans 8:38-39)

God never remembers our sins once we’ve asked for forgiveness (Ps. 103:12)

God will never forsake us (Deut. 31:6)

God will never ask us to do something we can’t do through His strength (Phil. 4:13)

God never misses one time when we cry out to Him (Ps. 40:1)

Finally, God cannot forget our name (Isa. 43:1)


You see, we often get stuck in a rut mentally and we get these thoughts going through our head. We can’t do this or I could never do that or I am all alone and no one really knows how I feel. We start thinking them so often that we start to believe that they are the truth. However, we have God’s word and can know that he is moving, guiding, directing and planning for our good He has the best for us in mind. So don’t let those nagging thoughts become your reality. Get into the word, believe what it says.

An uplifting post...

Isaiah 40:28

"God has lost track of me.
He doesn't care what happens to me"?
Don't you know anything? Haven't you been listening?
God doesn't come and go. God lasts.
He's Creator of all you can see or imagine.
He doesn't get tired out, doesn't pause to catch his breath.
And he knows everything, inside and out.
He energizes those who get tired,
gives fresh strength to dropouts.
For even young people tire and drop out,
young folk in their prime stumble and fall.
But those who wait upon God get fresh strength.
They spread their wings and soar like eagles,
They run and don't get tired,
they walk and don't lag behind.
The Message

Major update

Man, I feel like I am still somewhere else. What has transpired since I last posted in the lives of Sarah and Andy? Well:


1. We traveled from Plymouth to Dunkirk to Elwood to Plymouth. From Plymouth to Bluffton to Portland to Bluffton to Elwood to Plymouth. All for Christmas events! wowsers...

2. We went to Orlando Florida for Setapart 07...the internation Wesleyan Youth Conference where over 7000 teens and adults had an amazing time of worship and challenge.

3. We were on a charter bus for 44 hours round trip. Those seats were small and hard. Plus, on the way home, I got sick and had a reversal of fortunes in the "smallest bathroom ever" on the charter bus on New Year's Eve.

4. I have had a cough for about 2 and 1/2 weeks and go to the doc and find out that I have acute broncitis.

5. The Colts lost...boo.

6. Mike Huckabee won in Iowa and came in 3rd in N.H.

7. I got a Wii for Christmas...and WE love it!

8. Sarah and I went to Chicago for her Christmas present last weekend ("Wicked" tickets and a night at the historic (old) Ambassodor East Hotel. Wicked was amazing.

9. I was leading worship yesterday morning and I was introing a song that I had sung a thousand times and I completely forgot how it went. Nothing. The crickets were the only thing making noise in my noggin'. Embarrassing.

10. Life moves on...it never stops and lets you catch up. I am thankful that God never fails at anything that he does. He never faints, he never grows weary.

I am a man!

Dude...I just finished Donald Miller’s book, “To Own a Dragon: Reflections on growing up without a father”. What an eye opening book! Last May when we were at MB, South Carolina, Peggy (Sarah’s Mom) suggested that I read “Wild at Heart” by John Eldredge and so I just recently started reading it hardcore (in the bathroom mind you). Surpisingly enough, the Miller book mentions the other book in the course of the discussion. It was all about men and how they somehow feel less of a man or no man at all when they don’t have their fathers affirmation. It is amazing to me at how deep this issue is in my life. Going in, I thought that I would just read it because I love Miller and maybe it will give me some pointers for when I have kids (none on the way, so don’t ask!). Boy oh boy was I wrong. In “To own a dragon”, Miller talks about how he felt like a burden to his father and that is a reason why his father never gave him the affirmation that he was indeed, a man. A theme that kept popping up was that he didnt know if he had what it took. He didn’t know if he had what it took to get this girl or get that job or get this grade or...you get the drift. Sometimes, I admit, that I struggle with this. Do I have what it takes to be better, to be a great husband, to be a great future father? Do I have what it takes for my boss or future bosses to like me? Can I do anything more than what I am doing right now? Could I do what “he’s” doing? Can I be a better leader? Can I ever play the guitar like “him”? Is my situation as good as someone elses? And it goes on and on.
Another thing that I struggle with is criticism. I know that it comes with the job, but I am still not very good at taking it. I try not to give it out too much and encourage more. I was reading this morning in “Wild at Heart” this passage in which Eldredge was just talking about D-day and how the men that successfully got up to the cliffs where stunned and shell shocked and how that resembles the men of today and more specifically in the church.

“They thought that becoming a Christian would somehow end their troubles, or at least reduce them considerably. No one ever told them they were being moved to front lines, and they seem genuinely shocked at the fact that they’ve been shot at.”

Being in leadership in any place in life is hard. Being in leadership in a church is magnified. Like that quote says, you’d think that leading a group of people that are supposed to be trying to be more like Jesus that you’d get fired at less often. I think, until recently, I was in a state of shock because I was so surprised that I was being shot at by those that were supposed to be on my side! I questioned whether or not I had what it took to be a pastor, a man that leads God’s people.
My conclusion: I am being shot at and I do have what it takes to stand against the forces, either man or the evil schemes of the enemy. Whether from in front of me or those that are supposed to be beside me. I can stand...I am a man. But more importantly, I am a man after God’s heart!

Christmas '07 ramblings

Hey there...just some quite random thoughts on Chrsitmas...Rudolph and the little drummer boy



1. This year is like every other year since Sarah and I have been married...8 different Christmas events to attend...wowsers! Christmas is getting expensive for us.

2. I was listening to Rudolph the RNR the other day and realized that Rudy is unlike a lot of us. Those other reindeer laughed and poked fun at and made him the butt of all their jokes. Then, one foggy Christmas Eve, Santa came to say, "Rudy with your nose so bright won't you guide my sleigh tonight". Here's the kicker, "THEN HOW THE REINDEER LOVED HIM"...how many of us would have just forgiven and stepped up to the plate like Rudy did? Americans, Christians and leaders seem to like to make a list and check it twice to remember all the times that other people have hurt us. We need to be careful that we don't let those nasty reindeer in our lives keep us from living up to what God has called us to do. (P.S. Why didn't Santa stop the ridicule? Does God give us the opportunity to be forgiving or just help us to forgive?)

3. The little drummer boy struck me the other day. Just one line though, because we had to turn it because this is Sarah's least favorite song. "I have no gift to bring...Barrummmbbumm bum". We think so little of ourselves sometimes. We start to question who we are and what God was doing when he made us the way we are. We begin looking at others and think how much our lives would be better if we just were like them or had this ability. Well, we all have our own strengths and if you don't USE your's that doesn't mean that you don't have one. It means that you are sitting on an unwrapped gift that Jesus deserves and longs for you to use! You have no gift to bring? Bahumbug! We all do...find yours and use it....

4. This Christmas I have kept coming back to the nearness of Christ. That he was here. That he had a purpose and that was to come and then die and then rise from the dead and come back some day. God's spirit has been shown to me in this season by re-realizing that Jesus REALLY did come to Earth. It isn't like Santa Claus or a national, cultural tradition. It is HISTORY! Jesus did come...he has come and he will come!

5. Cherish all that you have. Family, friends, enemies... :)

Merry Christmas to all...and to all a good night