CFA Egg Hunt on Easter Sunday

LARGEST EGG HUNT in Columbus! Sat., April 3rd

Make plans to attend our 8th Annual Easter Egg Hunt sponsored by Columbus First Assembly!

Date: Saturday, April 3rd
Time: Noon to 2 pm
Where: Columbus First Assembly
2100 Tenth Street
Columbus, Indiana 47201

There will be plenty of fun inflatables, tons of candy, lots of cool prizes, games, popcorn, food and an awesome speaker who juggles, rides a unicycle and loves kids! You don't want to miss this.

BUT you must be registered by going to our website: columbusfirstassembly.org and clicking on the banner at the top. This will direct you to register your children for the event!

Love to all.

First Sunday of March

Growth Group meeting in our home

Devon and the saxophone girls

It's been a month since I've blogged...better catch you up.

Our area had quite a bit of snow in the last month (mostly gone now)...but the kids got out of school for several days. It was such a welcome sight to see and feel the sun today and know that Spring is on the way!

We hosted the first meeting for our Growth Group. Wow...what a fantastic night we shared together! Our church is focused on growing relationships this year through seven different Growth Groups. By tonight all seven groups will have met for their first meeting...three more to go in this semester.

Last Sunday was 100% Day @ CFA. It was a great service plus a wonderful fellowship dinner for all of our workers serving in the many ministries of our church. I loved preaching the message "Next Man Up," which used the sports message that the Indianapolis Colts used in their run to the Super Bowl. One man goes down...the next man is up! Check it out.

Today was a powerful service at church...such a strong presence of the Lord from the beginning. Great worship experience...special celebration of communion...lots of guests...my son home from college...and a great time ministering the Word through the message, "Spiritual Earthquake." Two souls were added to the Lamb's Book of Life this morning! PTL!

Looking forward to another great month with Spring on the way...and Easter just around the corner.

We've opened up the registration process for our 8th Annual Easter Egg Hunt. Date for this community-wide event is Saturday, April 3rd. Visit our church website and click on the banner with the Egg Hunt listing to register your children and family.

Blessings and love to all!

New Pictures!

Andreasen family!

Family Prayer Service!

Grandma Andreasen & family

Grandma Andreasen & Tammy

Andreasen family!

Trenton being Trenton!

Zeiler family!

Ashlyn and her bucket band!

Ashlyn's Video of her Dad!

Personalize funny videos and birthday eCards at JibJab!

New Book: "Primal"

Author and Pastor, Mark Batterson

In Primal, Mark Batterson strips away every distraction and complication, focusing on the essence of Christianity, the Great Commandment. Batterson explores the foundational elements of loving God with all your heart, soul, strength, and mind.

And when you learn how to love God with everything you have, it'll drastically transform your life...and probably your world. So start 2010 with a bang - grab this new book and start your journey right away.

This book is an invitation to become part of a national and global movement. Why not rediscover the compassion, wonder, curiosity and energy that turned the world upside down two thousand years ago. Listen...you too can have primal Christianity!

You can locate this book from WaterBrook Multnomah:
http://waterbrookmultnomah.com/catalog.php?isbn=9781601421319

This book was provided for review by WaterBrook Multnomah.

Special Moments in December, 2009

Tammy, my award-winning sweetheart!!!

Annual Christmas Quiz...

John, Winner of the Quiz...and his prize!

Kristy and Candy...Tied for 2nd Place!

Intense ping-pong games...

Check out Eric's competitive form!!

Jonathan & Myric

Bride & Groom and part of the Andreasen Clan

December is one of the great months of the year. This one is no exception. Plus, it has been highlighted with several great moments thus far as well.

First of all, I am very proud of my awesome wife Tammy! On December 2nd she was presented with the Professional of the Year Award by the Arc of Bartholomew County. The Professional of the Year Award is presented to an individual employed in the field of serving individuals with developmental disabilities and whose work has resulted in improvement in supports and services for people with disabilities and their families. Tammy was honored for positively influencing the attitudes and thinking of other professionals as well as the general public.

My wife is the Autism Coordinator Assistant for BCSC and has worked in this position for the past 3 years. These comments were included by the staff and students that Tammy works with and was included in the presentation of the award:

• She was described as "an amazing individual. She truly implements person-centered supports to achieve the most inclusive outcome possible for all BCSC students she works with."
  
• "The students call her Mrs. A and smile every single time they see her."
• "Tammy can think and act on the spot like nobody you have ever seen...the hours spent on planning are endless, but she NEVER complains...her ability to remain calm in all situations is invaluable."
• "Tammy's professionalism rises above all issues...she inspires me to want to be better at my job and to be a better person!"

As you probably have already guessed, I married "up" when I married Tammy back in August of 1987. She is one of a kind and I am so happy to be her husband...even after 22+ years!! I love you babe!

December is also the month Tammy and I host my "Staff & Board Christmas Party." This past Friday night we welcomed all of our staff members and their spouses, plus our board members and their wives too! What a wonderful night we enjoyed together! There was awesome food, lots of laughter, great times of fellowship, loads of fun with my annual Christmas games, plus the Annual Pastor's Scavenger Hunt (you gotta ask who won this year!)...and Tammy's custom-created gift for every member too.

Since we've recently finished our basement off it was also great to enjoy some competitive ping pong games as well (and no, I wasn't on the winning doubles team either...you'll have to ask who won that too!). I'm blessed to have some great leaders working with me. Only 12 more months until we host the next Christmas Party...

Lastly, we just returned from attending our nephew's wedding in Lincoln, Illinois. This is the first wedding on the Andreasen side for one of the grandkids. Jonathan is the oldest Andreasen child and he married Myric this past Saturday @ 4 pm. My mother was escorted down to the front pew for her first "grandmother's seating"...many more will follow, I'm sure!

Another special moment was to sit next to one of "my boys" in church this morning. No, I'm not referring to Devon...even though it was a special joy to sit with him and my family today. As a pastor it is a rarity to be sitting in the congregation instead of preaching behind the pulpit. I miss only a few Sunday's every year. But one of "my boys" is Ethan Jones who is attending college there in Lincoln and attends Faith Assembly where my brother pastors. Ethan was 7 years old when I left the pastorate in St. Elmo, Illinois (now he is 20 years old!). He and my oldest son Jordon were buddies there growing up when we lived and served in that community. Great to see him and learn that he is adjusting well to the college life.

There are several more "special moments" to finish out this month and this year of 2009. Hope to share many of them with you!

Love to all!

December...already?!?!

Today turns the calendar page for the final month of 2009. It's hard to believe that it's already December 1st!

Thanksgiving brought our oldest son home from college. He was ready for a good break and we were ready to see him. It was a great week with Jordon. Since we've been working on our basement Jordon slept upstairs. He didn't mind...he was just glad to be at home! My wife cooked an awesome meal for Thanksgiving. You can see the picture before everyone dug into the turkey, dressing, mashed potatoes, rolls....hmmmm, hmmm, good! Relaxing time with family and friends!

My second oldest son was recently in a wedding for a friend. It was his first time to serve as a groomsman. Trenton looked sharp in his tux! It's exciting to share these experiences with your children.

Our church van recently was loaded down with teenagers as they took off for Youth Convention. Great to have the CFA logo and name put on our new van!

I've attached a couple of pictures from our new World Missions wall off of our church lobby. This has been a project in the works for several years. Appreciation goes to Jeff, Ted and Dave for finishing this good-looking oak display for us. Missions is a major thrust here @ CFA!

This past Sunday I preached a message on the ten lepers entitled, "Thanksgiving: Nine or One?" It was a message that stirred the slumbering heart towards gratitude and praise. I hope you will stop to listen to it!

Have a great start to your December. Jesus is the REAL REASON for this amazing season!!

Love to all.