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

The Jellison's wish you a Merry Christmas

Send your own ElfYourself eCards

Talk about a sucker punch!

I surrender all...today

I was listening to a song by Above the Golden State called "Sound of Your Name" and this line popped out at me:

The plans we made were bound to stumble Only you remain...

So often we make plans that we want to happen. So often those things never happen or what happens don't remotely resemble what we had in our minds. Things change...people change. I find it kind of funny to think back to when I was in college 5 years ago and what I had planned on my 5 year goal list. I don't have that but I bet it looked something like: I want to be a pastor...be married and have kids. Thats it...interesting huh? Never would I have imagined how much I've learned and finding the love of my life right beside me. The kid thing is...well...part of the story yet to be written.

As I was watching a sermon online today the pastor was talking about our passions and what would we do if we knew we wouldn't fail. It hit me that I don't do a lot of things and plan things that I know that I can't do. I plan things that I have control over and know that I have the ability to do. This isn't the Christian life. This is the life of most Christians who when you ask them how they are doing they reply with their latest sad story about this or that and let you know that they are"here" or that "the bills are getting paid". Did Christ die for that? So that we could pay the bills or just be here? Doesn't John 10:10 tell us that Christ came so that we could have an abundant life?

I am realizing lately that I have misunderstood the song I surrender all. For the longest time I thought it was about a moment in time where you announce or proclaim that you have given everything to Christ. While that might be part of it, it is much more of a daily process that too many of us forget. We need to surrender the small things...the things that we don't think are that big...the times when we decide against something that is God-sized and do something that is our-sized.

Mark Batterson said that he wanted to do less things in ministry and life that he could take credit for and do more things that only God could take credit for. That is what I want...that is what all Christians should want. A life that is God-sized, worthy of the calling that God has placed on our lives. Not a calling that requires you to be in the ministry or a missionary. Rather a calling to live out your life, no matter the field, for the GLORY of God. Still, too often we find ourselves just getting by and we don't reach for the God-sized things. We fail to surrender all...we only surrender some. Today and every day forward that simply is just not good enough.

The plans we make that are our-sized rather than being God-sized ARE bound to stumble and fail.

May we all reach for things that are beyond our reach and plans that only a God like our God could accomplish!

Perspective

Who is Jesus to you?

I watched a sermon online today and it was talking about perspective and how it affects us. Automatically things and songs began popping into my head about my perspective right now.

1. My Jesus by Todd Agnew talks about which Jesus do we follow. Is it the one who is seemingly after the America dream? Does he pretty blue eyes, curly brown hair and a clear complexion? Or is it the one who was battered and scarred for our sins?

The last few Christmas's I have been thinking a lot about why he came rather than about the baby in the manger. It was incredible that he came so weak and so powerless. I love to be reminded of the stories but often times, like in the movie "Talladega Nights" we sometimes stop and have warped pictures of who Jesus really is. In that movie Ricky Bobby prays to "baby Jesus" and they all go around the table saying how they like to see Jesus. That is what the American Church has done due to the consumerist culture that we live in. We turn Jesus into something specific that we need rather than him being all we need. We perceive him to be an avenue to get to where we want to go, rather than being "THE Way, The Truth and The Life"!

2. Chris Tomlin sings a song "God of this City" and it talks about how God is not done working...a line in the song goes "greater things have yet to come, greater things are still to be done in this city". Wherever you are right now...don't miss God moving...maybe it is in the small things or maybe you are too close to see what he is doing. Take the time this Christmas season to look around and notice God's hand moving...changing and shaping the world around you!

3. The video above has really hit me in the face. I need to give more relationally and be aware of those around me...everyday...those people that I miss and that need to be noticed!

Advent Conspiracy

Jellyland update 12.2.08

Hey...here's a top ten list of what's going...or has happened or is going to happen in the Jellison home



10. I am loving me some Swiss Miss hot chocolate right now! There is NO BETTER hot chocolate anywhere than Swiss Miss!

9. We had a great Thanksgiving week. We went down to Anderson on Wednesday and played some ball with the guys and Sarah went shopping with her friend from college. We went to Buffalo Wild Wings (like 20 ppl!) and then went back to mom's and got in the hot tub! Thursday Kerry and his girlfriend and her kids, and Peggy came over to Elwood for food and some Hold 'Em! Great times...I got to hang out with Ben too!

8. I got a new phone but...I lost my old phone and all the phone numbers! So...if you would call me or text me with your number that would be wonderful (if you want to :) ) ...it is amazing when I think about how few numbers that I have memorized because of the lack of needing to!

7. Sarah bought me Indiana Basketball tickets for my birthday to go to the December 6th game at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis...that is this saturday and I cannot wait!

6. Sarah and I went on a date yesterday to Pottery Schmottery in Elkhart and painted a piece of pottery and then they glaze it and magic... pics will follow when we get our pieces! then we went to chili's and had some great food....great date!

5. I am addicted to playing Scrabble...I cannot get enough of it!

4. We are going to put up the tree today...pray for us!

3. I had a nostalgic moment yesterday trying to find some christmas music and remembered listening to Kenny and Dolly's Christmas album...anyone still have that (EHM...mom?) with the song, "I'll be home with bells on" ? My dad ended up hating that song because we played it so much...good times!

2. We all have favorite Christmas songs...I like the one listed above and O Holy Night and The Chipmunks "Christmas Don't be Late" ...what about you? What's your favorite Christmas song(s)?

1. I am so thankful for the family that I have and the changes that have happened over the past year. I am so thankful for Sarah and her family and our friends...be thankful for whats around you now so that you won't miss it twice! Once now and then again later when you wish you had it back

Crazy Dog From The Soup.

My 300th Post!!!! Youth Group Thanksgiving Dinner

Last night we had our annual youth group thanksgiving dinner. It went off great and it was a great time of being together with each other! I am so thankful for this group of kids that I get to work with! Thank you to Sarah who did so much! I love you and Happy Thanksgiving to all and to all a great bite!

Catalyst One Day

Last Thursday I was able to attend the Catalyst One Day event at Granger Community Church with my good friends Bryan Donaugh and Ryan Van Matre. It was a challenging day that has given me confidence in many areas of my life. God really worked on my heart and challenged me. Steve Fee led worship and I got my pic taken with him! He is my FAVORITE worship leader out there today...he is amazing! Also, Craig Groeschel and Andy Stanley spoke amazing things into my life! Here are some pics:

Christ in Christmas- December newsletter article

We've all heard the old rant that goes something along the lines of "don't let people take Christ out of Christmas" and all the soapboxers talking about people and what they are turning Christmas into. It bothers me that people who represent the church are often times known for what they are against and what they do not allow rather than being known for what they are for and what they are all about! I'm going to let you in on a secret...there is only one person who can take Christ out of your Christmas: It's YOU!
There are a lot of things that pull us and demand our attention during this season and too often we let them become the focus. Plays, musicals, family get-togethers, traveling to all these things and many more things that are really good parts of this season and should be priorities high on your list. However, if they are ahead of remembering the real reason behind the Christmas holiday there is only one person responsible for that. So this Christmas take the time to stop often during the madness and remember the age old story of salvation and love and sacrifice that was born in a lowly manger. Take the time to realize that God loves you so much and you are worth the sacrifice of sending His only Son to earth. Take the time to share what you have realized and come to believe about Christ. That is what Christmas is all about. Christ will never be taken out of your Christmas unless you forget what Christmas is.

Brandon Heath -

This is my prayer today...

Vacation

Hey all...Vacation was great! Here is a few tidbits:

1. We slept in (mainly Sarah) every day and then woke up and ate breakfast for lunch.

2. We went to Caribou Coffee pretty much every day and played Scrabble and Ingenious and then read some while just relaxing

3. We went and watched Fireproof. It was better than what I expected and the message is one that every married couple or couple that is thinking about getting married should hear.

4. Lake Geneva is beautiful but there isn't alot to do for the average folk

5. Sarah was getting whipped by me in Scrabble at the beginning of the week but she turned the tables at the end.

6. We did a whole bunch of nothing and it was exactly what we needed! It was nice not to have a plan or something that NEEDED to be done.

7. We celebrated my 27th birthday on Sunday and then our 3rd anniversary on Wednesday...we always have a blast together no matter what we are doing

8. We couldn't figure out how to spell that big long word from the movie Mary Poppin's ...how do you spell it?

9. Wisconsin has some weird street lights...they are on the sides rather than being overhead. Also, the streets in Lake Geneva had crazy angles and you had to pay to park...keep your cheese I'll take my basketball

10. I love doing anything and nothing as long as I'm with Sarah...

Target Lady from SNL

I love this skit!

Brooke Fraser - Shadowfeet

To all those who think that the world is ending...this song is for you. Listen to the chorus when everything is through we are found in Him! Be encouraged, God is still close by

Weekly update

Hey...just wanted to update before we ...


1. Go on vacation! We are going to Lake Geneva, Wisconsin. So excited to be able to get away for a while. This is an anniversary trip disguised to look like a vacation or something... oh well...Pics to follow...

2. My birthday is coming up this sunday...and I cannot wait for my birthday present from Sarah (IU tickets to a game at Lucas Oil Stadium December 6th!).

3. Our anniversary is a week from tomorrow. 3 years already...I'm amazed at the love that God has given Sarah and I and cannot wait to see what tomorrow, let alone the rest of our lives, will bring! I love you Sarah!

4. I'm looking forward to Thanksgiving and Christmas so we can see the family. It is really hard when you don't live close to your family and you are in the ministry to see family that often. We miss them.

5. I'm trying to learn the piano...but it isn't nearly as easy teaching piano to yourself as it was guitar...ugh

6. I love it when you hear an old song that you haven't heard and it brings back some awesome memory that you had forgot about. Here's to old songs!

7. Do grown-ups (over 22) still make Christmas and birthday lists? Do you? I don't...but if I did I would put a new mp3 player on it...one that you can charge with a cpu rather than buying batteries all the time

8. What is up with the weather? I thought I saw snow on the ground last week and now it is in the 70's? C'mon...one or the other...don't play with me!

9. Does it seem to anyone else that time is just flying by? I cannot believe that it is November and that I'll be 27 next week! Wow...

10. IU's first exhibition game is this Friday against...Anderson University...yeah the Anderson University from Anderson, Indiana...where I grew up and graduated High School! Go IU!

Have a great rest of the week and a great week while I'm on vacation drinking lemonade

Halloween and A Walk in the Park

Meredith Andrews - You're Not Alone

Mind games

Sarah and I love watching reality tv. More truthfully, I loved it before we got married and now she likes it (i don't know if she really likes it or just watches it with me). Anyway...last night there was a challenge that required the contestants to have their hands and feet bound while holding a weight that would take them down to the floor of the ocean (12 feet where they were) and then back up. The last person to let go of their weight would win the challenge. It became quickly apparent that this was more of a mental challenge than a physical one.

It got me thinking, most of life is a mental challenge. I've had a really challenging week mentally. There are battles that wage that no one around knows is going on. Things that we are all thinking but never speak out loud. How much do we think and never ever say? Think about that...what do you think the ratio to thoughts thought vs thoughts spoken really is? We've become a somewhat transparent society in which people are who they are and can dress, act, date and live any which way they want to. Our actions aren't hard to read. But what about our thoughts?
The great baseball player and now Aflac spokesperson Yogi Berra once was quoted as saying, "90% of this game is half mental". Our minds wage wars that really never come out in our every day-walking around-going from here to there lives. Still, it affects us and it goes to the core. We deal with these things that even our closest friends and family members never now about or ever will. These things change us and change our attitudes and reactions and color our perspective on life. Yet they go unsaid. They go unspoken and seem to linger until those quiet moments in life. All that to say this:

Even though some of the largest battles that we will face never have words or letters behind them, God knows. He simply just knows and He cares.

Ezekiel 11:5
Then the Spirit of the Lord came upon me, and he told me to say, “This is what the Lord says to the people of Israel: I know what you are saying, for I know every thought that comes into your minds.

You are not alone in your battles. The ones that people can see. The addictions that people can see. The disagreements that people can see. Almost more comforting is knowing that we are not alone in the deeper battles that no one sees. Those fears and scars that only you and God know about. You're not alone. Listen to the song I posted above and just remember that you are NOT alone in your battles spoken or not!