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IamFuel
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Name: Andy
Country: United States
State: Illinois
Metro: Peoria
Birthday: 11/9/1977
Gender: Male
Interests: I love the Kansas City Chiefs, the Kansas City Royals, the Chicago Cubs, the Nebraska Huskers (football), and the Minnesota Timberwolves.
I am inspired by the Bible, as well as the writings/teachings of Rob Bell, Erwin Raphael McManus, Andy Stanley, Dr. John Maxwell, and others.
Favorite websites include: relevantmagazine.com, mhbcmi.org, espn.com, and foxsports.com
Music: David Crowder Band, Sara Groves, Chris Tomlin, Dead Poetic, Foo Fighters, Coldplay, Copeland, Radiohead, Jack Johnson, United Live, Pedro the Lion, Anberlin, Emery, John Reuben, Mae, Matt Kearney, and Mutemath.
Old Skool Music: Petra, DcTalk, Prayer Chain, Poor Old Lu, Stryper, 7Mary3, Nirvana, Stone Temple Pilots, SoapBoxDerby, Counting Crows, Bush, Live, & old Pearl Jam.
Occupation: Other
Industry: Nonprofit
Message: message meEmail: email me
Website: visit my website
AIM:  fuelpastor
Member Since:
10/3/2005
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| So, we're leaving for Disney World this Thursday. Okay. Now before you think, Man, he's rich! I wish I was a youth pastor so I could afford to go to Disney World!
Let me just tell you that we WON this trip. (So, don't get all
spiteful on me or anything.) We won a raffle deal and get to go
to Disney World now. Cool!
My kids think it's like a real world. They can't wait to "meet" Woody and Buzz and Cinderella and Belle and all the other cartoon characters.
I have never been to Disney anything (except the store in the mall
which has no rollercoasters). So this is pretty exciting for
me. The best part is being able to video my kids faces as they
encounter the Magic Kingdom. Macy is 4 so she should remember a
lot of this trip, but Nolan will turn 3 while we are there, and Evan is
only 1, and the new baby is -5 months. So none of them will
remember it. But we'll make video memories and hope to go back in
another 10 years or so.
So, until post-vacation, this is Andy Brown signing off. You stay classy East Peoria!
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| I am having the time of my life right now. My kids are getting to
that age where I am enjoying them as kids rather than babies. At
least this is true for my two older ones, Macy and Nolan.
Macy is 4 and has been doing dance since she was 3. She is
involved in Tap Dance, Tumbling, Jazz Dance, and Ballet. (I know
it's a lot, but she enjoys them all right now!) She had her first
recital last May and was adorable.
But now, my son Nolan is getting to that age. He turns 3 in just
10 days. And so, he has started going to a Karate class at our
community center as well as the tumbling class his older sister is a
part of. I had no idea what to expect taking him to these classes
for the first time this past week, but he did such a good job. He
watches his teacher real closely for the first 30 minutes or so.
He participates in all the stretches and tries to do the kicks and
punches. But eventually his focus drifts and he starts shooting
imaginary lasers out of his wrist and flying around to defend the
galaxy from evil emperor Zurg the way Buzz Lightyear would.
It has always been special watching my daughter do her dance
routines. I love that. Especially since she enjoys it so
much. But seeing my son doing "boy things" and learning to pay
attention to a teacher is something very special.
I often wonder if he will grow up and love sports the way I do.
And if he will like the teams I like. Or maybe he'll become a
theater guy or a music guy. I don't know. But whatever path
he chooses, I'll do my best to encourage him and support him and take
an interest in what interests him because he's my boy. My pride
and joy!
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| I have been thinking a lot about Christmas with it being just five days
away. My kids are 4, 3, & 1. The two older ones are
learning about Santa Claus probably as much or more than they are about
Jesus. (I take responsibility for that.) But at this point,
Santa is as real to them as the tree in our house (that sounds weird as
I type it). And he is as magical as Disney World. They've
seen him from a distance at the mall while other kids sat on his
lap. They heard his sleighbells jingle as he "dropped off" a bag
of presents at a family Christmas party we had last Saturday.
They watch movies about him and sing songs about him and know him as a
jolly fat man who comes around once a year to give them toys.
The other day, I caught myself saying to my son Nolan, "You better be
good, or else Santa won't bring you any toys." He had been acting
up a little and I felt the need to control his behavior by offering a
gift he would soon receive. It was in that moment that I had an epiphany. You know,
one of those "What-the-heck" kind of moments. I had heard this
myth about "being good so you get presents" all my life, but as it
rolled off my tongue, my brow furrowed and I made one of those
faces. You know the type. Like you just got a whiff of some
awful "dirty diaper" stench, but there are no children in the room.
Isn't that so funny how we've been taught from childhood
that Santa gives good gifts if we're "good enough" and ignores us if
we've been naughty. Or worse yet, he punishes us by giving us
coal when all the other kids get toys. It's not that I believe in
Santa Claus anymore. (I gave that up months ago!) But I
still find that mentality lingering in the back of my mind with regards
to God.
I struggle with the lingering mentality of trying to be"good enough" so
that I'll get good blessings from Him. But as I read
the Bible, I see a different God than the one that is a jolly fat man
who brings presents to the good kids. God's Word teaches that He
gives good gifts to me because I am His child - not
because I'm good enough. He loves me because of who I am, not
what I
do.
But it is almost like for generations, somehow the church has sought
control that it was never intended to have. Let me be
clearer. It's not the "church" but rather organized religion has
done this. It has tried to control people to be good so that God
will bless them. It has put the emphasis on works and not
grace. As I understand grace, it is a gift that I don't deserve at
all that has been freely given. God blesses me because I am his child.
And I am his child because I have put my faith in Jesus as His Son and
my Savior.
So, I have to ask myself, Do I want
to join with organized religion in an attempt control my kids by
stressing good behavior? Or do I want to join with God in an
attempt to exemplify grace to my kids by stressing good gifts given in
spite of bad behavior? An emphasis on works might get the
good behavior, but would it be for the right reasons? I think not. I have to
believe, in my sometimes naive manner, that an emphasis on grace will
promote good behavior FOR THE RIGHT REASONS.
Just a thought.
This radom banter has been brought to you by the letter "V" and the number "6".
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| A friend of mine who I haven't seen in a long time found my Xanga blog
and reminded me that I haven't been very good about keeping this
updated. And he's right. (Sorry Kosey!) I think the
point of a blog is to record your interesting experiences and
thoughts. I guess I just don't have very many. And if I do
have them, I forget them before I sit down to my computer.
So, let's see...
I clipped my toenails this morning. They were getting long.
It snowed a lot yesterday. I tried driving up a steep incline
hill in our church van and started sliding backwards before I made it
even 30 feet.
I am currently watching Finding Nemo with my son, Nolan. These
Pixar animation movies are the ONLY children's movies I could watch
with my kids hundreds of times and not get tired of them.
Tonight we're going to see the Chronicles of Narnia. My
brother-in-law raved about it in the email he sent me this
morning. He went to the 12:01 am showing this morning (last
night, whatever.)
I feel pretty cool that Jeff mentioned me and my email in his
CastingInfluence podcast. (Thanks Jeff!) Even though it was
critical of the sound quality. I hate sounding like a grumpy,
ungrateful listener.
If anyone out there in blog land has some interesting experiences that
happened to them that they don't mind if I borrow as my own, just shoot
me an email. Much love. AJB>>>
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Maybe
you have already read the article by Paul Proctor giving his
interpretation of God's sovereignty in disaster (specifically the
tragedy at University Baptist Church in Waco, Texas). But in case
you haven't, I've posted the link. Just make sure that as you
read it, you take it with a grain of salt. http://www.newswithviews.com/PaulProctor/proctor82.htm
I, like
many of his readers I am sure, sent him an email sharing my views of
what he had to say. I thought I would post it here rather than
trying to restate it all. I would love to hear any comments from
anyone regarding what he had to say or my response. Thanks.
Mr.
Proctor,
I am sure
you are getting a large number of emails sent your way after your latest
article on the Kyle
Lake tragedy (and rightly
so). And I am aware that you probably
won’t even have opportunity to read this one out of all the emails you
get. However, I still feel compelled to
send this to you.
As I read
your article, I couldn’t help but feel frustrated with what I was reading. And I really don’t mean that I was angry,
because I wasn’t. But… I guess the best
way I can describe it is that I feel very sorry for you.
You seem to
have a completely backward view of Jesus Christ. Maybe, it has to do with how you were raised
and what you were taught. But that still
does not excuse it when you begin writing from a platform that supposedly
represents the Christian faith and – more importantly – Jesus Christ. Your view of Jesus seems to have everything
to do with JUDGMENT. And, I think I
understand some of that side of Jesus.
He did have harsh things to say (and so did Paul) regarding sin. However, as I think you would probably agree,
His harshest words were for the “religious” people who led others astray. The Pharisees and Saducees and Teachers of
the Law.
You on the
other hand, seem convinced that everybody needs to live under this same load of
guilt and condemnation. You seem
completely opposed to freedom in Jesus.
And I can’t help but wonder how you interpret Jesus’ words in John 10
when He says, “I am come that they might have life and that they might have it
more abundantly” (KJV since you seem to like that version). He came to fulfill life through His death and
subsequent resurrection. Not to weigh
mankind down with guilt and shame and continual repentance. He came to teach us how to walk in the light. How to live a fulfilled life. How to honor God by lining up with His truth.
When Jesus
gave His life up for mine, a Great Exchange took place. He took all of my sin and exchanged it for
all of His Righteousness. Now, when God
looks at me, He sees perfect righteousness.
My sins have been removed as far as the east is from the west. No longer do I live in guilt and shame, but
in freedom and joy and fulfillment. That
doesn’t give me a license to go on sinning.
But it gives me freedom to live according to the TRUTH.
That’s why
I feel sorry for you. From what I read,
it seems like you have probably never experienced the freedom for which Jesus
paid His life. I pity people who spend
their whole life pursuing Jesus, but feeling as if they will never measure up
because they live in condemnation for not being “good enough.”
The fact of
the matter is, that you do measure up if you align yourself with God’s Truth
through Jesus Christ. God sees you as faultless
and blameless if you are “under the blood.”
Keep in
mind the very words you spoke as you typed that article. The greatest judgment will be for those who,
claiming to be in the light, lead others astray. If you load God’s children with the guilt and
shame that Jesus took away from them, you just might find God surprising you pretty
soon. I’m not a prophet. I just call ‘em as I see ‘em.
God bless
you.
Andy
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