Christmas Party Fun!

Annual Christmas Quiz...

Guess who won?......Lori did!

Annual Scavenger Hunt

It would appear we took stock out in Lip Balm companies!!

Teams hard at work trying to win the game!

So who won?...I guess you'll just have to ask them!

Playing the last game...

What fun!

Tammy and I have hosted a Christmas Party for our Staff & Board for about the last 10 years. We invited them over last night for another memorable evening together!

We do it up right...cook an awesome meal (that's Tammy's part...not mine!), have a boatload of fun during the crazy games (that's my part...I love it!)...and present them with a custom-made decorative gift (that's Tammy's talent...not mine...but I really do help somewhere in the process, trust me!). Every year is a blast. We let our hair down...well, at least the ones that have hair...and enjoy this special night.

We were missing some of our leaders at the event but that didn't stop us from having a great time laughing, eating, playing, talking, did I mention eating?, searching for items during Pastor's Annual Scavenger Hunt, looking for answers on Pastor's Christmas Quiz or enjoying delicious desserts.

Hope you enjoyed some of the pictures from our Christmas Party...

Just 12 Days till Christmas...

Love to all.

Guess what?....they work!!

There's the break in the main water line!

Stream of living water??

Today brought about a test run for our new basement sump pumps...unexpectedly!!

OK, you all are wondering what took place that we were able to make sure the pumps actually worked. Well, it wasn't by design...it wasn't by strategy...and it wasn't by plan...it came as a result of an accident.

The workers were back this afternoon knocking out some concrete blocks from the wall to provide space for the new duct work. Then the main water line that came into our building was severed...that's right, cut in two!! Water poured into the basement and started going everywhere. I hear it got up to about 2 inches before the main water switch was turned off. Workers used our squeegees and starting pushing the water toward the pumps...feverishly; as well as outside to another drain. And the sump pumps WORKED! They worked great. Pumped that water up and out into the street where it funneled out into the street. It was rather an amazing sight to behold...we've never had this luxury before...we've just had to deal with the water damage. Thanks Lord for the features you have allowed us to add to our rebuild project.

I simply had to chuckle at their little escapade today. Guess it served as a good trial run for our new sump pump system. Brought back the memories from June...but it was nothing like the Flood of 2008. That was in a category all by itself...MAJOR DEVASTATION!

Glad to see our two electricians working today in the basement. They were running conduit and cables and wire all over the place. They work fast....very fast!

Made some decisions with my leaders Sunday that were needed for the rebuild. Trying to get plans arranged when bumps in the road come up. Happy about what is taking place in our church basement.

Good day at church on Sunday and a good study last night at our mid-week Bible Study.

Looking forward to my day off tomorrow. I'll be getting ready for the Christmas Party with my leaders on Friday night...it's always a blast!

We've already passed the 6 month mark since 6.07.08...THE DAY OF THE FLOOD! Half of the facilities are finished and half remains in our rebuilding project.

Please continue to pray for us. We still are in need of donations to help us rebuild DEBT FREE!

Here are the ways you can help make your contribution:

• Mailing Address: Columbus First Assembly, 2100 Tenth St., Columbus, IN 47201
• Website online giving: www.columbusfirstassembly.org
• Phone Number: (812) 376-7833
  

Thanks for staying in this race with us. We deeply appreciate it!

Blessings Beyond All Limits.

Happy 11th Birthday Ashlyn!!!

We celebrated Ashlyn's birthday tonight...even though her birthday is tomorrow!

After prayer meeting concluded we headed up to CEC (Chuck E Cheese for you novices!). Ashlyn had her friend Kaitlyn with her and they had a blast at the game center. Not sure how many tickets they won, but it was a lot. Of course, so many decisions at the ticket rewards counter...but finally they made their decisions and away we went. Finally got home late this evening...I'm tired from a long day!! (By the way, on my way back I filled up the van for $1.44 a gallon!! Never thought I'd see it that low again).

Some more progress on the church rebuild this week. Every new day is another day closer to our returning back to full capacity...whenever that is. But when we finally complete this entire flood reconstruction project we will have a nice facility with lots of nice upgrades. Hit another bump in the road this week in the basement. More decisions...more consults...more work...and of course, more money!!

I'll post some of the pictures to let you see what's been done.

We covet your prayers and we ask for your continued support. Believe with us that the Lord will touch the hearts of many churches and many people to assist with the funds needed to finish DEBT FREE!

Love to all!

The Last Month of 2008

It's hard to believe that we've arrived at December already. This year of 2008 has flown by way too quick...guess the flood waters had sometime to do with that!

Our family had a wonderful Thanksgiving holiday together. Jordon was home from Evangel University and was ready for some real home cooking. Mom prepared a mean turkey feast with all the trimmings. Wow, what an overflowing array of delicious dishes. We all got to top it off with pumpkin pie and whipped cream. We invited two young men from our church to join us and they got a taste of the Andreasen tradition. It was a relaxing day!

Sunday we experienced a celebration of God's goodness at church. We gathered in the sanctuary for the fifth Sunday in November. Fellowship was the focus of my message that day. Koinonia is that awesome interaction and communion of God's people as they build each other up in this awesome fellowship of God. It is one of the powerful components of any church. We need it and we must fight to stay together and remain unified. The enemy aims to isolate the believer and lock him outside of the deep fellowship that forms the nucleus of the church. The busyness and hectic pace that spins about in our culture today tears at the fabric of true fellowship and the building of Christian relationships. We mustn't let church be resolved to a simple service...we need to spend time with each other!

Work progresses on our rebuilding project. Concrete was poured today for the footer that will form the base for the steel beam that will be erected at the new stairwell opening. Plus, concrete was poured in the trough that was cut for the sump pump lines. The heating contractors moved forward with the start of installing the third furnace in the basement mechanical room. Drywall continues to go up in the basement classrooms. It is starting to take shape...

The architect and engineer worked together for the positioning of a new support beam in the basement. A new support column was needed after the floor was cut out for the large stairwell opening, and also other openings in the walls that are being made for new duct work.

The situation in the toddler wing that caused work to halt has been addressed. Plans are being given to correct the foundation deficiencies. We should have some real numbers to look at the middle of this week.

Christmas is just 24 days away...that's literally amazing. Since that day our world changed here in Columbus - June 7th 2008 - we have been engulfed with ministry, activity and reconstruction. We are soon to reach the 6-month mark!!

Keep praying for us. Keep believing with us that God will create a DEBT FREE MIRACLE. We have a long ways to go...but we serve a BIG GOD!

Love to all.