Happy Birthday D!

Today is my son's 14th birthday. Fourteen years ago after a Wednesday night service I rushed Tammy to the hospital in St. Louis, Missouri. The problem at that time was that we lived about 75 minutes away in St. Elmo, Illinois. We made the trip fine but our third son didn't arrive until about 18 or 19 hours later. Talk about an experience...of course, much more so for my lovely wife Tammy than I.

Happy 14th Birthday Devon! We love you very much. You are God's gift to us. We recognize the many talents and abilities that God has placed in your life. Continue to trust him for each day and for your future. He has exciting plans for you.

Tonight we will go out to eat at the restaurant of Devon's choosing. Each child gets to pick the restaurant when their birthday arrives on the calendar. When they were younger we would take them out to Chuck E Cheese. However, that's not going to work for Devon on this birthday. You'll just have to ask him where we went...

I love my family!

Pastor Andreasen

Easter Weekend BAL

This past weekend was a "Beyond All Limits" weekend at our church. That's the theme for the church in 2008 and God granted us the reward to our prayers. In fact, I'm still recovering from Easter Weekend. There was a lot of work that went into those two events. My wife and I were involved in ministry preparation just about every day the week before Easter...and it was supposed to be Spring Break for the kids. Looks like we better schedule some time off with the family before they forget who we are!

We were literally overwhelmed with this year's response to the Easter Egg Hunt on Saturday. Let me give you a recap of the event:

• 8,400 eggs
• 700-750 attendees
• Overflowing parking lot...they were parking on the street after they couldn't get inside our parking lot!
• 50 workers
• 6 brand new bikes given away
• 50 businesses donated gifts and prizes
• "The Tale of Three Trees" puppet presentation was given in a "packed like sardines" fellowship hall....seriously!!
• Most important of all, and the reason for this outreach: 32 children and parents made decisions for Jesus Christ! Now that will make the angels in heaven shout, sing and even do a "heavenly stomp" number too!

On Easter Sunday I preached an illustrated message, "The Three Crosses" that included many multi-media additions (power point, video clips and taped testimonies), as well as a human video presentation by our young people, and a special song by one of the singers in our church. I am so proud of each one who contributed to the message. God blessed this team ministry on Easter Sunday and many responded to the altar call to make decisions to accept and follow Jesus Christ. Thank you Lord for using this weekend to touch and transform many lives, families and even our community all for the glory of God!

I'm looking forward to tomorrow - it's my one day off! Hoping to get my physical batteries charged up a bit. I'm dragging...

God bless you.

Pastor Andreasen

Invites

Everyone loves to receive an invitation. It speaks of affection, friendship, care and kindness. Don't you love to get an invitation to attend a special event? We all do! Lately, I've been busy handing out ticket invitations to our special church Easter Weekend activities. We've printed up thousands of these invitations and have seen our church family catch the vision for the impact this can make upon our community. Now everyone is passing out these glossy tickets...all over town.

We as a church have a goal of investing and inviting into strategic relationships within our community. Last night we witnessed this firsthand. We invited co-workers of several internationals from our congregation to a special fellowship dinner. It wasn't very flashy or glitzy, but it was prepared with lots of love and prayer. Many accepted this invitation to join us for a delicious meal and a simple program. It truly was a wonderful event! There were lots of Cummins employees from Nigeria and Ghana, and even one from Grenada. Do you know one thing I learned? My new friends wrote down that "rice" was their favorite food! Looks like I know what to have prepared at our next fellowship dinner.

But there was also other things that were taken to heart too. It doesn't cost to be a friend. It doesn't hurt to reach out to someone with a different nationality, different language or a different color of skin. This event was deeply enjoyable. It doesn't take much to establish a relationship. It isn't hard to show someone that you truly care about them. It justs takes one to be the initiator...the one who will send the invitation and prepare the time to get acquainted.

Let me encourage you to get on the "invite" band wagon!! You know what the Bible says about friends: "A man that hath friends must shew himself friendly" - Proverbs 18:24 (KJV). Go ahead and reach out to someone today or tomorrow. Why not invite them to church for Easter Sunday!

We have plenty of wonderful invite tickets for you to use. Get a good supply and let's IMPACT our community with the love of Jesus together!

Don't forget the Egg Hunt is this Saturday, March 22nd from Noon to 2 pm.

Our Easter Sunday Service, "The Three Crosses," is set for March 23rd @ 10:30 am.

Got to get back to my mission of passing out tickets....talk to you later.

Love,

Pastor Andreasen

Reflections

Today there are a myriad of reflections that comes to my mind. Much has happened since my last blog posting. Here is what I've been reflecting on...

• Yesterday we closed on the home that we sold! Praise the Lord! Can I get a witness? If you've ever juggled two home payments plus the utilities all at once then you know the feeling and freedom that my wife and I are feeling right now. Do you know who bought our home? A new pastor that is moving into Columbus. God was always in control of the situation, but I have to admit...there were times that God and I (maybe just me to God!) had our conversations. We are just very happy and thankful for what the Lord has done and we give Him all the praise.
• Yesterday we also closed on the refinancing of our church mortgage loan! Again, I'm just amazed at the details that the Lord has worked out with this loan. The end result is that we will have a huge savings over the previous monthly payment. Plus, I have incorporated into the vision plan for 2008 this focus point: Vigorously diminish the debt! Once again, thank you Jesus for helping us to do that!
• Next, I am amazed at the quick turn-around of the weather. Last blog it was basically a blizzard (we finally ended up with 10 inches of snow here in Columbus!)...today the weather will be approaching 50 degrees with most of the snow already melted or in the process of being obliterated from the landscaping scene. Literally amazing...
• EASTER WEEKEND is fast approaching. People are stepping up with all the work that needs to be done for both weekend events: my Easter Sunday Illustrated Sermon, plus the Egg Hunt preparations for the Saturday before Easter. Shawn and Sonda have done an unbelievable job of getting prize sponsors for this event...plus rallying the troops here @ CFA. Pastor Joel and Brad have helped me tremendously in putting together the multi-media pieces to my illustrated message, "The Three Crosses." Plus, there are many other folks who are involved to make this Easter Sunday a powerful and eternity-driven day. This is something that is really stretching me in my preaching ministry, but I firmly believe that God will use this all for His glory and honor in a wonderful and powerful way.
• Lastly, today marks the beginning of my 6th Year serving as pastor of Columbus First Assembly. Today was the day back in 2003 that we unloaded the trucks and vehicles of all our stuff into the church parsonage...you know what, that really seems like ages ago. But I reflect on God's faithfulness and goodness over these past five years. I am eager to continue the journey into 2008 where we have declared this to be the year to go "BEYOND ALL LIMITS!!" We as a church are really focused on 5 pivotal points in moving us from where we've been to where God wants us to be. Again, praise God for the vision plan that has united us and channeled our efforts as one body working together all for the glory of God!

Well, that's my musings for today. May the Lord direct your steps as you seek Him! He is not far from any one of us. Reach out to Him and you will find that He's been waiting on you.

Beyond All Limits,

Pastor Andreasen

Let it snow?

Can you believe it? It's snowing again. I was beginning to believe that Spring was on it's way...but a new round of wintry weather is in the mix for the next day or so. My wife even said that they are releasing students from area schools two hours early too! I'm sure all the kids will love it! Can you say snowman or snowball?

If you are from CFA please be advised that I have cancelled the activities for our church tonight. I don't want our people out on the slippery roads - already many have slid off the road....including me. You should have seen my boys when I had to use the escape route of going off the side to avoid the bumper of the car in front of me.

Looks like a good night to relax at home with the family. I might even have to fire up the fireplace.

Next week we will be closing on our home at Silver Fox Drive. The times have been changed as to what day and what hour we actually will be closing, but then again, the end is in sight. Thank you Jesus for selling our home!

Looking forward to another great weekend. Stay warm with you and yours!

Marching On

I'm sitting here in my office after a busy day of services yesterday. First, there was prayer time for my prayer team @ 8:45 am. Then I started a new membership class @ 9:30 am with a morning service that followed @ 10:30 am. I'm awed at the presence of God. God was present in a real and special way. The Holy Spirit ministered through every part of the service. Hearts were melted at the altars as we responded to the call of God to be fishers of men. Later that day we gathered again for an evening service. What a great and full day!

We've turned the corner into the month of March and we're marching on. Last Friday my son drove home from Missouri. He's currently on spring break from his studies at Evangel University. I'm happy to see him adjusting so well to the college life in his freshman year. His mom and I are very proud of him. Jordon drove home along with his grandmother and two young ladies from our church. That must have been an eventful trip.

Looking ahead I am eager for Spring weather. We had a taste of it this weekend with temps into the 60's and lots of sunshine. March is the month for moving on. I'm also looking forward to Easter Weekend with our churchs' ministry and outreach events. If you live close to Columbus let me invite you to attend these special events. You can find more information on our website: www.columbusfirstassembly.org

Let me leave you with our theme for the year: BEYOND ALL LIMITS! We are believing to journey into the unlimited measures of our omnipotent God. Here are two powerful verses for you to think about:

"Now glory be to God, who by his mighty power at work within us is able to do far more than we would ever dare to ask or even dream of--infinitely beyond our highest prayers, desires, thoughts, or hopes. May he be given glory forever and ever through endless ages because of his master plan of salvation for the Church through Jesus Christ." Eph. 3:20-21 (TLB)

Well, I've got to sign off now.

Abundant blessings in Christ,

Pastor Andreasen