Saturday, May 9, 2009

Prayer Needed

This is my bro Marcus and his little girl, Zara Brazel. She is diagnosed with leukemia. Please take some time to lift her up in prayer. She is a brilliant, beautiful life that makes you smile.


Please keep praying for God's steadfast healing. Pray for the continual miracle of science as well as the doctors, nurses, assistants and all those that are administering to her.


I have no idea how tough this is on Marcus and Collette (Zara's mom). Please pray for their renewed strength, guided wisdom and healing hearts.


Please pray if you don't even know what to pray for. Thank you for your hearts in this.


Andy


"And my God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus." Philippians 4:19


"Is anyone among you suffering? Let him pray." James 5:13

Friday, May 8, 2009

The Gym, Vitamins and Truth

Tonight's blog is a late night check-in.  How are you all doing?  Is anybody reading???  If not, then I can journal away baby!  

Dude, it is late.  I can't sleep at all.  Ah well.  

By the way,  I came across this article written by Chuck Colson.  It's sweet.
___________________________________________________
FAITH
The choice we make as to the universe’s origin is the most important choice in life, everything else stems from it, it’s where truth begins. Few people have thought through the choices. But, most are influenced by their cultural prejudices as I found out a few weeks back at a charity dinner. 
At a dinner I sat down next to a man who said, “Just so you know I’m an atheist.” 
I said, “I’m happy to sit next to you because I’ve never met an atheist.” 
He said, “what do you mean?” 
I said, “An atheist is someone who has claimed that the existence of God can be disproved, so please, tell me, how have you disproved God.” 
He said, “Well, I’m an agnostic.” 
“When did you give up studying God? An agnostic is someone who thinks that God can never really be known, and you can only be an agnostic if you’ve tried to know him and exhausted the search. So though you appear to be a very educated person, you’ve made an unsupportable statement.” 
A few weeks later I was reading the editorial page of the state’s largest newspaper, and it was written by my the man I had conversed with at dinner—he was the publisher. He wrote about our dinner conversation and said, “Religion is indeed an important element of all or our lives and something we need to pursue. My own previous point of view proved to be unsupportable.” 
________________________________________________________

This article illustrates the logical (and non-combative) nature of Christianity.  Furthermore, it presents the reality that atheism and agnosticism are both forms of religions.  After the research I have done, I don't have the faith it requires to be an atheist or agnostic.  There is too much truth in Jesus Christ.   

Vitamins
Today, I didn't take my vitamins.  Courtney has got me taking Juice Plus (this is one of the infinite perks of doing life with her).  Aaaahhhh..... Where was I?  Juice Plus!  Man, I now know that this stuff works because without it... I feel like poo.  Them magic pills give me the energy to accept God's work!  Free Radicals can't get ME down!  (I don't even know what a free 'radical' is, but the stuff keeps me moving and grooving!)

Holler at my girl and try them out:  Beautiful Juice Plus Rep.  

Please Note:  If you bother her or email something weird, I will break your ankles.  

The Gym
I have been doing Cross-Fit Flood under Steve Tankersley (he supports my internship in so many ways).  Thank you, bro!  These crazy workouts are making me 20 years old again.  It's time to be able to dunk a basketball.  

If anyone ever wants to check out the Cross Fit, the gym is open on the third Saturday of the month @ 8 AM.  Check it out!  

Conclusion
There you have it.  A healthy diet of fruit & veggie supplements, navy seal regiments and Jesus Christ as God's descent.  Life is good.  This is living (2 Cor. 5:17).

Eyes to the SKY!


Andy Kelly

The proper motto is not "Be good, sweet maid, and let who can be clever," but "Be good sweet maid, and don't forget that this involves being as clever as you can." God is no fonder of intellectual slackers than any other slackers. ~    C.S. Lewis

Tuesday, April 28, 2009

a note of concern (and hopefully courage)

Please pardon the conversational hiatus from blogging.  As you will find, I can make it a 'to-do' instead of a privilege.  Honestly, I am overwhelmed.  With school, support, ministry, Africa, friends and loving a beautiful girl, I easily compartmentalize these blessings in my life as a lofty chore.  And the biggest bummer: my relationship with God suffers.  Busyness can even make my eternal best friend seem like business.    

Meanwhile, I hear a villainous voice:  
"Andy, you are attempting God's work! Keep moving!  Don't stop.  Are you good enough?  I guess not."  That is not me.  And that is not God. 

That is years of  being told that I can be something more, better or different.  This voice conflicts the 'now' beauty that God sees in me.  AND it fogs my own vision.  I become temporarily unable to see the beauty that God has placed around me (and in me).    

Thankfully, there is another voice.  It's Sweeter.  "Friend, can we go for a walk?  I want to spend some real time together.  I love your heart and I want to hear it."  Sometime Christ states,  "Son, you are doing an awesome job."   I love that voice.  Jesus even says that when I think I am doing a cruddy job.   God's freedom is an invitation that we all can experience. 

Freedom.  I had a great conversation about that tonight with my great friends, Brian Borton (dude is a stud).   

Galatians 5:1, 13 - It is for freedom that Christ set us free.  Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened by a yoke of slavery...You (we) were called to be free.  But do not use our freedom to indulge my sinful nature; rather, serve one another in love.  

1 Peter 2:16 - Live as a free people, but do not use your freedom as a cover-up for evil; live as servants of God

Freedom is opposed to the evil of not serving each other.  Indeed, slavery is strictly serving ourselves.  Yet, this ethos is linked to everything around us. "Get this self-help book!  Get yourself a bigger car.  Climb the corporate ladder.  Get skinny! You deserve a Golden Goddess or Prince Charming!!!"  This is the world we live in.  

Conversely, when you hear God's gift to serve each other without compulsion (2 Cor. 9:7), there is a something in our of souls that whispers so softly:  "truth"

We are also allowed to scream:  TRUTH!!!

And then there is the golden rule: a two-part position with one overarching statement: Love your God with all your heart, soul and strength AND love your neighbor as ourself.  According to Jesus, you cannot have one without the other.  They are 2 faces to the same coin.   Galatians and 1 Peter prove this by using servants of God and servants of your neighbor interchangeably.   

So how does this help my predicament (my busyness)? I need to reach out to God with the heart of service. Hearing Jesus' voice, it is no problem to continue the dialogue:  "God.  Is this activity glorifying you?  How can this work serve you?  May I use my study or work as a form of worship?  God I want this to be a response to the blessings you have given me.  God allow these efforts to serve others.  Use me to serve you!  And... please give me rest in you. I love you with all that I got. Thank you for loving me with more. Amen."   Just talking with God gives me rest.  

Family, please keep praying for my unbelief.  It feels like taking concrete out of my heart.  It hurts. Pray for my strength.  

I love you all.

Andy

We are all faced with a series of great opportunities brilliantly disguised as unsolvable problems. ~ Howard Hendricks

Wednesday, March 4, 2009

My Old Man!

Check out the video of my Dad coaching high school basketball in Clearwater, Florida.  He gives his hearts to his troops.  In turn, they give their hearts to the battle.  
I am proud of my Dad and his ministry.  

As he once told me: 
We are only visiting this planet.  Therefore, keep walking with the Lord and roll with the mission. 

I love you all.

-Andy 

Hebrews 11:1
Faith is confidence that we hope for will actually happen; it gives us assurance about things we cannot see.  

~Faith is trust in, reliance on, or confidence in a person I have reason to believe is worthy of trust. The HEART cannot embrace what the mind thinks is nonsense.  David Clark

Saturday, February 14, 2009

Rest for a New Start

Today is Sabbath, a resting day for me.  Can you believe that God told us to rest?  It IS rad!  He knows that I need it.  He knows that you need it.  

Look it up - Exodus 20:8-11.  We must remember to rest.  This command is not some fundamental decree that we follow just because God says so.  There is a simple truth in it: Valuing life. 

Clarity comes from being still.  Example:  Surfing.

True, surfers love the ocean for its awesome rides.  But they also enjoy the lulls between each set.  To be in still glass with your comrades surrounding you...It gives a sense of patience that can only be God.  When you are out there, you know that there is something bigger than you. 

My brothers and sisters: Let us all reflect on the trials of the last wave and celebrate our life, God's gift.  From this rest, we are prepared for the next wave God gives us.  

Life is Good. 

Andy 

"To pass from estrangement from God to be a child of God is the basic fact of conversion.  That altered relationship with God gives you an altered relationship with yourself, with others, with nature, with the universe."  ~E. Stanley Jones 

Saturday, January 31, 2009

6 Months finished and a Lifetime to go

TRIALS  
The economy is something scary right now.  Many view America as an unbreakable fortress.  Yet, our country is experiencing an economic depression with unemployment reaching 10%.  This quaking economy is affecting other nations: our country coughs, the world catches its cold.  Unstable times such as these reminds me of the instability of this world.  

Dude, if the recession deepens, how will I react?  Is there another way to see the forest from the trees?  

I am learning that there is always an invitation in every challenge.  Always.  One sunday, I was struck by a beautiful picture:  Sharing, living together, and real communion that is threaded in something greater than mere survival.  In these dark times, there is an opportunity to join together in humble love. 

Isn't that picture awesome!  It has been done before. Check out Acts 4:23-35.  To be "in one heart and one mind...There were no people in need among them."  Incredible.  Let's do this.    

What Flood is Doing! 
As many of you support my graduate internship at Flood, know that we are all part of home that is supporting God's growing kingdom.  
  1. Flood recently donated $25,000 to Children of the Nations to build a school and home for Northern Uganda orphans.  They also just gave $1,000 to following non-profits (Floresta, Big Brothers Big Sisters, C.A.P.S., Invisible Children, Amor Ministries and Soul Care).
  2. Flood purchased a $10,000 well in a Malawian Kodoku village to provide clean drinking water for 2000 people.
  3. Flood baptized 42 people in 2008!  
  4. Flood gave $40,000 to a brand new Flood church in Malawi.  
  5. Flood supports 12 missionaries in the world.
  6. Flood gave $6,500 of sports equipment to the Kearny High School.
We are all partnered in this! 

SUPPORT - Again, thank you for supporting my ministry.  I am here because of you.  Here are a few notes to assist you in this:
  • There is an opportunity to give online through our church website!!!  Just go to Flood's Website, www.DIVEintoFLOOD.com/give for instructions.  After you create an account, there are several options.  You are able to support me by choosing Grad Intern #2. 
  • If you are choosing not to pay online and attend flood, please do not give my support into the offering buckets on Sunday's.  Please send your support check to the Flood offices:  3878 Ruffin Rd. Suite B, San Diego, CA 92123.  Please put my name in the memo line!
  • All giving is tax deductible!  Claim it! 
Until next time...

In humble appreciation,  

-Andrew Patrick Kelly

"Faith is opposed to sight, it is not opposed to reason." ~Dallas Willard. 

PS - NEW ADDRESS - I HAVE MOVED.
I have moved in with the Hearn's.  They are an awesome family with godly priorities.  Send me a note sometime!
5951 Cloudview Place
San Diego, CA 92120

Monday, December 22, 2008

A Side Note to my Forever Family and Friends

Take some time to ready 2 Samuel 22:31-37.

This is the transitional and transformational climax of King David's song of praise.  He is defeated, gathers his strength in God and prevails victorious. I feel like this is the aspect of life that we seldom turn but always require.   I love it. 

Holy snapper turtles, it has been a journey.  I know that it appears to many that I have partaken in a silent disappearing act from a certain stage in life. Humbly, I submit to that, but not without stating the following: 

We are all meant for purpose.  I have given my life to Christ.  By doing so, I am in His battle, his plan, his narrative.  It is the most fearful and wonderful thing I have encountered.  Many people say that his is "good for me."  I believe that is Good for everyone.  I know it.

That being said: you, my forever family friends, fill my prayers.  As God stands behind me strong, loving and perfect.  I desire to do so for you.  I am not strong all of the time nor am I by any means perfect, but my goal is to stand behind you with His love.  It many not always be seen, but please trust that it is genuine.  

I love you.

Andy

"We cover our deep ignorance with words, but we are ashamed to wonder, we are afraid to whisper 'mystery.'" ~A.W. Tozer

"The humblest sweeping maid sweeping to the Glory of God is therefore just as significant as the greatest preacher in the world." ~Martin Luther