Traded in the Old for the New!

Saying "good-bye" is so hard to do...

..new and old...together for the last time...

Say hello to the new CFA van!

On the road again...

CBC, Springfield, Missouri

CBC Chapel

Standing in front of Horton Hall

Zimmerman Hall

Dining Hall

Breakfast with Jordon & Brent before leaving!

The old CFA church van has been replaced with a much newer model!

Recently, we traded in our old 1993 Ford Van for a newer 2007 Ford Van. Everyone who has ever driven in the old model would be thrilled about this news! The old van rattled and roared...plus groaned when driving on the highway. It had simply seen its better days!

Now we are happy to have the new van when taking trips and picking up guests for church. I had the task of breaking in our new van when we took a road trip recently to Springfield, Missouri for College Days. What a huge difference 14 years will make between the two vans!

Our students spent time visiting Central Bible College, my alma mater where I graduated from in 1983. Once again, what a difference time will make on the grounds and facilities of the place I spent four years preparing for full-time ministry....26 years ago.

It was great to visit Jordon my son who is a Junior @ Evangel University and his roommate Brent. Plus, my mom is only 25 minutes away too. Great to be with you Mom...although it was too short a time together.

Preparing for our Hallelujah Night Outreach on Oct.31st. If you live in the area, come and join us @ CFA from 4 until 7:30 pm. Loads of fun and lots of candy!

Love to all!

'09 CFA Missions Convention

Brenda Smith (far left)

Brenda's display table

Learning more about Togo...

Registering for the banquet...

Kevin Beery's display table

Jeff Alexander's display table

Jason Morrison's display table

Banquet dinner...delicious!!

Chef Mike!

Morrison's with Helen and Malorie

Sara & Jeff Alexander (far right)

Jason & Andrea Morrison (middle right)

Kevin & Eric Beery (right side)

I love Missions Conventions!!

We have embraced the call of God to reach out to the ends of the earth and share the gospel with every creature. It is a high calling. It is a holy calling. And it is a honored calling!

We were happy to have several missionary guests with us this year:

• Brenda Smith - Togo, West Africa
• Jason & Andrea Morrison - Czech Republic
• Jeff & Sara Alexander - Indiana Chi Alpha Ministries
• Kevin Beery - Southeastern Europe

Each one warmed our hearts with their reports of ministry and testimonies of God's power and faithfulness. It is amazing to hear what He is doing in various parts of the world...today...not 10 years ago, but right now in our world!

We had three simple goals for this convention:

1. Raise the awareness of great missions needs today.
2. Raise a cash offering for the Asia's Little Ones project.
   
3. Raise our new missions budget for 2010.

One new feature to the schedule this year was our International Dessert bar on Wednesday night. All of the ministry groups were gathered into the fellowship hall @ 8 pm where we fellowshipped and enjoyed delicious recipes from around the world! Which one was your favorite?

Yesterday in the Morning Worship Service my son Devon played a sax duet with Missionary Kevin Beery. It was really amazing. Together they played "Amazing Grace" fueled on by the anointing of the Holy Spirit. Devon, I am so very proud of you for the way you used your instrument to glory the Lord. You have grown tremendously since starting in the 6th grade. Keep learning and keep progressing...the Lord is pleased with you!

Thanks to everyone who participated and helped us this year.

Love to all!

Extraordinary

Check out the new book by John Bevere: "EXTRAORDINARY - The Life You're Meant to Live."

About John's new book: Isn’t it true that we long to see the extraordinary, experience the extraordinary, do the extraordinary? Yet, so often we settle for mediocrity when greatness is within our grasp.

Why are we drawn to stories of heroic triumph over seemingly impossible circumstances? In our fascination with adventure movies, superheroes, and tales of incredible human feats, do we reveal an inherent desire for something larger and greater in life? Maybe what we think is a need to escape or be entertained is actually a God inspired longing…for the extraordinary.

Best-selling author John Bevere reveals how all of us were “meant for more,” extraordinarily created and intended for a life that is anything but ordinary. Here is the roadmap for your journey of transformation. You are marked for a life that far surpasses the usual definitions of success or fulfillment.

Isn’t it time to pursue your extraordinary life?

“In Extraordinary, John Bevere does a wonderful job of showing what God created us for and how that applies to all areas of our lives. As a professional athlete, I am constantly dealing with the balance of being extraordinary for God, as well as in my career. This book has shown me that there is no separation between our spiritual lives and our everyday lives. God has called us to live extraordinarily, every minute of every day. This book is a must read for those who are looking to live fully immersed in the greatness of Jesus!”
–Kurt Warner, NFL quarterback and two-time league MVP

“Extraordinary points us to that spot on the horizon–the place that could be ours to live. In his book, John gives us a glimpse of what God has for us in that place so that we will chase after it and allow God’s Spirit to take us there.”
–Chris Tomlin, lead worshiper, Passion City Church, Atlanta, and sixstepsrecords’ recording artist

“John Bevere shows from the Word that everyone who wants it can live a life with impact. This book hits hard with truth. No more boring, watered-down, weak spiritual life for the body of Christ. Let’s do it! We can all release God’s power and do the extraordinary!”
–Shaun Alexander, former NFL MVP

“In Extraordinary, John Bevere examines and inspires the heart to realize God has called us all to abundant life. Each of us knows we are meant for more. This book will help you leave mediocrity behind and enjoy the great adventures God has for you.”
–Tommy Barnett, pastor, Phoenix First Assembly and Dream Centers: Phoenix, Los Angeles, New York

Get a copy of your new book today! www.randomhouse.com

New Study Bible: The Transformation Study Bible

Acclaimed Pastor Brings Experience, Wisdom to Transformation Study Bible

Dallas/Fort Worth, TX—As pastors seek to make the Word of God more understandable in an age that is unfamiliar with the Bible, and as growing disciples seek to discover the truth of Scripture in a skeptical culture, there is a great need for guidance in both the preaching and study of God’s Word. Whether you’re a pastor, a seminary student, or a truth-seeking disciple, an understanding of the Bible can be made clear to you with the help of one of the most influential, in-depth, and practical Bible scholars in modern history.

For over thirty years, millions have come to rely on the timeless wisdom of Dr. Warren W. Wiersbe’s “Be” Commentary series. Dr. Wiersbe’s commentary and insights on Scripture have helped readers understand and apply God’s Word with the goal of life transformation. According to Dr. Wiersbe, “It isn’t enough for us simply to read assigned portions of the Bible each day, as helpful as that is. A truly transforming experience involves meditating on what we read (Ps. 1:2), studying it carefully in the light of other verses, and then obeying what God tells us to do (Josh. 1:8).” Now available for the first time, The Transformation Study Bible offers the full text of the highly readable New Living Translation with accompanying notes and commentary from the 50 books in Dr. Wiersbe’s “Be” series.

“The Transformation Study Bible will better enable readers to appreciate, appropriate, and apply the Word of God, which will result in ‘purity, joy, right values, hope, comfort, freedom, new life, peace, guidance, wisdom, integrity, encouragement, and effective prayer,’” states Wiersbe. In other words, if you want to be a new person, knowing and obeying the will of God and becoming more like Jesus Christ, there is perhaps no finer tool to encourage that process than The Transformation Study Bible.

One of the most anticipated and comprehensive study Bibles of the year, The Transformation Study Bible has been a lifetime in the making by a man who is widely known as a prolific and trusted writer and theologian. The former pastor of The Moody Church in Chicago, an internationally known Bible teacher, and someone who has given his life to a deep examination of the Word of God, Dr. Wiersbe lends his vast experience and scholarly insight to the most beloved and revered book of all time. This effort is to encourage believers of all levels to know and love the Bible and to experience the same transformation that has radically changed his life. The result is a Bible that is clear, understandable, and applicable to the lives of its readers.

Dr. Wiersbe writes, “The remedy for discouragement is the Word of God. When you feed your heart and mind with its truth, you regain your perspective and find renewed strength.” By providing a new set of tools for Bible students of all levels, David C Cook and Warren Wiersbe have partnered to provide an essential tool to help bring the “perspective” and “renewed strength” that comes from a life transforming study of God’s Word. This fantastic and long awaited resource will bring more clarity than ever before to the study of God’s Word.

The Transformation Study Bible with General Editor Warren Wiersbe

David C Cook September 1, 2009

ISBN-13: 978-1434765307/2100 pages/$24.99

www.davidccook.com

Cry Out America Prayer Rally

People gathered together at our City Hall in Columbus at Noon today to participate in the National Cry Out America Prayer Rally on 9.11.09.

It was an honor to coordinate such a united event on the steps and lawn of City Hall. A special word of appreciation goes out to Mayor Fred Armstrong for allowing us to assemble there.

Representatives from the following churches took part in the Cry Out America program:

• Crossroads Community Church
• Westside Community Church
• East Columbus Christian Church
• East Columbus United Methodist Church
• Columbus Free Methodist Church
• St. Peters Lutheran Church
  
• Petersville United Methodist Church
• First Lutheran Church
• Northview Assembly of God
• Columbus First Assembly
• Memorial Baptist Church
• Seventh Street Church of God

People from all over strolled into the area to hear what was going on. Workers took their lunch breaks to come and pray with us. City Hall workers watched us from their offices inside. Cars and trucks traveling into Columbus honked their horns as if to communicate to us...whether positively or negatively. This event of prayer and praise was having a powerful stamp upon our community and nation.

The name of Jesus was broadcast powerfully from humble hearts and broken vessels.

The pictures with our hands raised outwards was prayers of blessing to the community of Columbus and surrounding areas.

Thanks Lord for hearing us as we cried out to you according to your Word. We look to you to have mercy upon our nation and look with grace upon our people! Forgive us for we have sinned. Forgive us for our misplaced priorities. Forgive us for failing to seek you with all of our hearts. Change us O God and transform our lives and our communities!

May the Lord hear us all as we CRY OUT TO HIM in desperation!

Love to all.

A special thank you goes out to David Tayes for his help with transporting the equipment from CFA to City Hall. Also, appreciation goes out to Martha and Josh Kennedy for their help with set up and tear down. Special thanks goes to Allison, my administrative assistant, for taking these pictures today!

ATS Sunday!

Leisurely sitting at home working on the computer in our basement...

Enjoying a day off...even though I had to meet an appliance repairman at the church this morning. It appears that we have purchased a couple of new commercial appliances that have had their fair share of difficulties and malfunctions. Several of the ladies in our church who work in the kitchen passed along the news that the freezer wasn't freezing. What's a freezer good for if it can't freeze? Might second as a good frig back-up...but we need a good working freezer. Just another of the many details in this flood rebuilding project...and I thought we were finished!

Tomorrow we host "Cry Out America" at Noon on the steps of City Hall downtown. This is a national prayer rally designed to turn our attention heavenward and call upon the Lord on 9-11. This one day brought such devastation and tragedy back in 2001...a nation-wide movement is preparing to make a huge spiritual investment through prayer just eight years later to the day. We have about 10 local pastors involved in the program through prayers, readings and music. If you are in our area why not come and join us. If you live outside of Columbus find your own C.O.A. rally either at your local county courthouse or city hall: Visit this site - Awakening America.

This Sunday, Sept.13th we have scheduled our annual ALL TOGETHER SUNDAY. This is our back-to-church rally that is scheduled the Sunday after Labor Day. It's our call to everyone @ CFA to get back into the regular routine of worship attendance and service. This year we've planned to assemble our 1st CFA jigsaw puzzle. Everyone has been mailed a piece of the puzzle. Each member will bring their piece to put this great picture of CFA together. Unique and different...should be a lot of fun. Our special guest this year is Kim Tabor. Visit their website @ Tabor Ministries.

The Annual Church Picnic follows ATS @ Clifty Park. Activities start @ 3 pm and runs through around 7 pm. Grab your lawn chairs, picnic food, softball glove, basketball, frisbee, volleyball and of course your entire family for an absolutely great fellowship time!

Love to all.

Celebration Service!

Last Sunday night we hosted our first Celebration Service.

This service featured three churches that were connected to each other through the Flood of '08.

• 7th Street Church of God - flooded out completely after the waters of Haw Creek raged through their church facilities.
• Memorial Baptist Church - generously loaned us their facilities to use for both Sunday and mid-week services.
• Columbus First Assembly - our church was completely flooded out with close to a million dollar price tag on damages and restoration.
  

We met in CFA's church sanctuary to give joyful praise to God for bringing us through one of the most difficult years in our church history. We joined with these two congregations to express our appreciation and love for each other. We gathered to celebrate God's faithfulness and goodness. You might say that we were joined at the spiritual hip through the events that hit our community last summer!

It was a great service. Each church contributed to the success of the celebration service. There was unity. There was love...lots of it. There was joy. There was fellowship...great times around the table. There was favor...God's favor extended to three churches who trusted in Him to guide them through uncharted waters...literally!

A special thank you to each one who made this service special. Your participation and passion coupled with God's power and the Holy Spirit's presence was refreshingly exhilarating!

A DVD of the entire service was recorded live. If you would like a copy of this amazing service you can call our church office @ 812-376-7833 and request one.

Thank you Lord for the wonderful things you've performed through difficult circumstances and an unbelievable tragedy!

To God be all the glory great things HE HAS DONE!

Love to all.

Third Year...Roller-Coasters...Softball...and an Amazing Cruise!

Jordon packed and headed out for Evangel

CFA softball players

More pics from our awesome cruise...

Delicious chocolate anniversary cake!

Another busy but fulfilling weekend...

Jordon, our oldest son, packed up his Jeep and headed out to Springfield, Missouri to begin his Junior year. I missed the trip this year to travel with him and help him get moved in. Hard to believe this is his third year in college already...where did the time go?

Sunday was a great day @ CFA. Worship service was blessed of the Lord. I preached a message entitled "The Ups and Downs of Life" from Philippians Chapter 4. Used the roller-coaster theme as the illustration to tag this sermon. God always anoints His Word!

We met at one of the local parks for our monthly church softball game. Always a great time of fellowship and playing the great game of softball. You know what...we've got a lot of awesome talent @ CFA. Thanks Coach for your faithful help and support of our players!

Memories of our amazing vacation cruise to the Caribbean continue to linger. Thought I would share some more pictures with you. It was one of the most enjoyable vacations Tammy and I have shared together!

Treasure your mate...treasure your children! God is so good!

Just a cruising...

My bride on the top deck!

Mandatory US Coast Guard Boat Drills!

Beautiful sunsets!

Evening dinner with our friends the Jackson's

First port of call: Cozumel, Mexico

What's up with this guy?

Beautiful gardens flanked by the ship in the background!

Taking a transport boat from the ship to the Belizean port!

Belize dock

Costa Maya

Before dinner @ night

Remember the ping pong tourney...I finally won the 3rd one!

Towel art creations each evening

Starbucks in the Bahamas!

My sweetheart with Atlantis in the background

SeaWorld across from our hotel in Orlando

The famous trolley ride each morning in Orlando

Thought I would share a little more about our recent 25th Anniversary in Ministry cruise that we took before General Council. This was a gift from our CFA family...totally enjoyable!

We loved every minute of our 7 day cruise. So many activities...so many decks...so many shops...so many pools...so many shows...so many restaurants...so many elevators...so many workers...and around 3,600 passengers, not including the crew (that's more than twice the size of the city where I first pastored!).

Of course, there were things available on the ship that we chose not to participate in: bars, casinos and dancing. Many were up to the wee hours of the morning. They delivered a daily copy of the Carnival Capers, which was our ship's guide to all the fun. That's where I discovered the ping-pong tournament and free-throw contest. Plus, they also had putt-putt too!

It was our dream trip that we had looked forward to for so long. Thanks CFA for making it happen. We sincerely appreciated your action of love back in May of 2008 celebrating my 25 years in pastoral ministry.

Now it's back to work and back to running a different ship...the CFA ministry cruise liner!

Love to all.

Meeting Rick Warren in Orlando!

Great chance to connect with Rick Warren!

Fascinating Pastor and Renowned Author!

One of the speakers we heard at General Council this year was Rick Warren.

What a powerful and inspiring communicator. He spoke for about 2 hours and then answered questions. I learned that his book, "Purpose-Driven Life", was the 2nd most published book second only to the Bible. WOW! He had no idea that this book was going to have this much of an impact on not only the United States...but the world!

This book has opened up a highway of influential opportunities all around the world.

He has had the opportunity to pray for two incoming Presidents on their Inauguration Day. The last one made much more of a "media splash" than the first one. Something pretty cool...Billy Graham sent him the black hat that he used when he prayed for countless Presidential Inaugurations. It appears the hat has been passed!

Thank God for men to lead and teach others to achieve great things for God!

Side note: Would you believe that I didn't even have my digital camera on hand when Rick Warren spoke...a pastor from Orlando took these photos and emailed them to me. How cool is that? Thanks Pastor Gary Rice!

Trip to the Caribbean and Big O!

Arriving in Port Canaveral, Florida

Checking out the sites before setting sail...

Tammy and I before evening dinner...

With our friends, Joe & Tammy!

Tammy at one of our port stops

Me dwarfed by the mammoth vessel of the Carnival Glory!

Celebrating our 22nd Anniversary on the cruise!

53rd General Council in Orlando

We just returned from a fabulous 7 day cruise to the Caribbean and also attended the Assemblies of God General Council in Orlando, Florida. Wow, what a trip!

These last two weeks were awesome...especially after a 13 month long journey of rebuilding our church worship center after the Flood of '08. You would have thought I wanted anywhere but where there was water, but this cruise to the Caribbean was amazing. Tammy and I had such a wonderful time...relaxing and refreshing! We even took this journey with some of our ministry friends. There was so much to do and so much food to try out...we're talking tons of food here.

We ported at four popular vacation locations....

1. Cozumel, Mexico
2. Belize, Central America
3. Costa Maya, Mexico
4. Nassau, Bahamas

Each city had its own rich traditions and tourist attractions. Shopping at each port city brought great opportunities for some great deals (it's just in my Andreasen blood!).

I even entered the Carnival Glory's ping-pong tournaments. We played out on deck 12 under a partially covered deck 13. One day the wind was just blowing ridiculously and we still had to play each match in that weather. Ask me how I did and I'll pass along the inside scoop...

The 53rd General Council in Orlando was packed full of business, elections, leadership conference, luncheons and dinners, speakers, services, reports, exhibition booths, National Fine Arts Festival, college reunions, meeting and catching up with friends, trolley rides to the motel and convention center (an average of about 30 minutes each way), etc. etc. We were extremely busy...but enjoying this once every two years opportunity for ministers, delegates and friends.

I'll write more later but wanted to post something quickly to share a few memorable pictures and thoughts from our trip.

Guess who I got to meet? Check back soon for the picture that captured my rare opportunity in shaking hands with a nationally known Christian pastor, best-selling author and world leader.

It's great to be home.

Love to all!

Carpet Job Complete!

The amazing dream team carpet crew!!

The last piece of the flood rebuild puzzle has been filled in. It was rather late in coming...but the job is done nonetheless.

If you've been a follower of my blog you know the troubles I have endured with our carpet company. From the beginning and all the way through to the end I have had nothing but difficulties, delays and disappointments. Well, this past week the carpet guys were here and finished the job!

Something to note...it took a team from Columbus, Ohio to get in here and do what had to be done. We had defective carpet that was delivered to our church (months ago) and then it was installed. There were bubble-like areas all over the place where the glue never adhered to the carpet. So a large portion of the carpet had to be demoed out and removed. Some areas were already glued down...but they got r done...what a messy job!

This hard-working crew that worked about three 12-hour days finished up the last piece of our rebuild project. How do I spell r-e-l-i-e-f?? Carpet---DONE! With this last carpet project completed I can now rest a little easier with the tasks on the check list completed and behind me!! Thank you Jesus!!

Now I'm looking forward to traveling with my wife to Orlando, Florida and embarking on a 7-day cruise. I hope to sit back and unwind a little after 13 long months of renovation and restoration on our church facilities after the Flood of 2008. The cruise is something that we've wanted to do for a long time but always put it off. Well, tomorrow morning we fly out of Indianapolis and head down to Orlando, then on to Port Canaveral. Following this relaxing getaway, we will be participating in our national church's biennial business schedule called the General Council.

Next time I post a new blog you should be hearing and seeing a little bit more of our trip to Florida.

Love to all.

Give Me Your Eyes

Take me out to the ballgame...NOT!

Oh, what a day! It was July 4th up at Victory Field in Indianapolis.

The event was sold out. It was supposed to be the busiest day of the Indians baseball schedule. Volunteers were positioned at every station in the ballpark. My group, representing Columbus East Band Boosters, was lined up to work in the Rowdies South pavilion.

We started out in the rain...a good steady rain...as we made our way up Interstate 65. We arrived at the ballpark...in the rain. We set up...with rain still falling. We saw the gates opened up...in the rain. Fans arrived with all the gear...amazing. Families came...with babies and toddlers and children of all ages. They waited...and waited...and waited...and waited!

There was hopes that the rain would stop and the game could be played...albeit with a delayed start time. That didn't happen. Little by little the fans left...with their umbrella's and jackets (it got pretty cold!)...and coolers...and kids!

Then they shut our booth down. I think it was around 7:30 or 8 pm. We cleaned up...counted our money...and discovered an error. We were short $50. Later, we learned they gave us $50 less than what they thought they gave us at the start.

Guess what we sold all day in the rain?? A grand, spanking total of $76!!! It should have been at least $5,000 or maybe even closer to $8,000. WOW...what a day. Could have been at home with the wife and family...but duty called.

Lesson learned: Into every life and scheduled activity the potential for rain exists. Make the best of every opportunity and keep a good attitude. You never know who is watching!