tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-340143442010-01-06T08:13:57.041-05:00Andy the Country Parsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04626211146214748400andyfbcdenmark@bellsouth.netBlogger374125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34014344.post-90747759658222436392010-01-06T08:09:00.002-05:002010-01-06T08:13:57.224-05:00

Since I'm so very difficult to buy for, I thought I'd give everyone a lot of advance warning for gift ideas for Christmas or my birthday!

Andy the Country Parsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04626211146214748400andyfbcdenmark@bellsouth.net0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34014344.post-45145371116000579552010-01-03T19:12:00.002-05:002010-01-03T20:03:32.311-05:00

Are you dealing with some "major" problem? Sometimes gaining a new perspective helps. I used this video clip as part of our "Crazy Love" emphasis.Reminds me of Job 9:8-10:8 He alone stretches out the heavens and treads on the waves of the sea. 9 He is the Maker of the Bear and Orion, the Pleiades and the constellations of the south. 10 He performs wonders that cannot be fathomed,

Andy the Country Parsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04626211146214748400andyfbcdenmark@bellsouth.net0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34014344.post-31562297522849442492010-01-01T19:25:00.002-05:002010-01-01T19:26:12.782-05:00

Andy the Country Parsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04626211146214748400andyfbcdenmark@bellsouth.net0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34014344.post-91157251832640954772009-12-25T11:10:00.004-05:002009-12-25T11:19:46.570-05:00

The picture was made using a photo I took at last year's Christmas concert by our adult choir (i.e. the angels in the clouds!) Also, here is one of my favorite Christmas songs , Michael W. Smith's "Anthem for Christmas" (the words follow). The first minute and a half is instrumental, so if you're rushed, go to the 1:20 mark in video for the words! Have a great Christmas celebration of our

Andy the Country Parsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04626211146214748400andyfbcdenmark@bellsouth.net0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34014344.post-84932059302226465572009-12-23T08:30:00.001-05:002009-12-23T08:32:20.468-05:00

It would be hard to improve on this reminder of what all Christ-followers need to be celebrating tomorrow (and every day of our lives!)!Happy Christ's Birthday Everyone!!!

Andy the Country Parsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04626211146214748400andyfbcdenmark@bellsouth.net0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34014344.post-61817591808950650052009-12-15T10:11:00.002-05:002009-12-15T10:40:26.534-05:00

One of CBS's breakout hits is the situation comedy "The Big Bang Theory" about four super intelligent, super-nerdy, geeks trying to live in a non-geeky world. The centerpiece of the ensemble is Sheldon who is too smart for his own good, having 2 Ph.D's and a complete lack of empathy regardless of the subject. Here, he responds to his neighbor's (Penny: a non-brilliant waitress/actress want-to-be)

Andy the Country Parsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04626211146214748400andyfbcdenmark@bellsouth.net0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34014344.post-30966198293383469772009-12-06T05:29:00.003-05:002009-12-06T05:49:31.038-05:00

Part of the Advent Conspiracy (see www.adventconspiracy.org) is to spend less on gifts you buy (in order to save more to help the poor), and to give creative gifts to those you care about including gifts you make. Here's a "handmade" gift I wouldn't mind having...it serves no real purpose except to showcase someone's creativity.

Andy the Country Parsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04626211146214748400andyfbcdenmark@bellsouth.net0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34014344.post-85343755938488975252009-12-01T08:42:00.011-05:002009-12-01T09:51:13.281-05:00

The "shhhhhh" is FOR us to BE QUIET, NOT for Jesus!!!!(Note: click on the picture to go to an online Advent devotional site to help you give the gift of silence/solitutde to Jesus this December!) I know it's hard to believe, but there have been a couple of embarrassing times in my life where I was "shushed" by a librarian. My most embarrassing time of "shushing" came when I was a teen-ager at the

Andy the Country Parsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04626211146214748400andyfbcdenmark@bellsouth.net0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34014344.post-34324020097244549872009-11-30T11:08:00.002-05:002009-11-30T11:27:58.460-05:00

I just got off the phone with a good friend who was in a Monday funk. I thought this might make everyone feel a little better...unless of course, you are an extreme tree-hugger. Hey, I like trees...ask me about redwoods sometime, but this is...well, pretty sad. So no matter how bad your day is going, be thankful you're not grief-stricken over a conifer! OH, the really good parts begin around 25

Andy the Country Parsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04626211146214748400andyfbcdenmark@bellsouth.net0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34014344.post-49870340095586706052009-11-28T09:03:00.001-05:002009-11-28T09:10:57.126-05:00

YOU keep us waiting.You, the God of all time,Want us to waitFor the right time in which to discoverWho we are, where we are to go,Who will be with us,and what we must do.So thank you … for the waiting time.John Bell, quoted in The Westminster Collection of Christian Prayers, compiled by Dorothy M. Stewart

Andy the Country Parsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04626211146214748400andyfbcdenmark@bellsouth.net0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34014344.post-20851522986375348462009-11-28T08:15:00.003-05:002009-11-28T08:22:26.718-05:00

Just read a pretty good AND convicting article about "The Advent of Humility" at http://www.ctlibrary.com/ct/2008/december/20.51.htmlI never like being convicted alone, so join me! What greater gift can we give to Christ this year than our worship, which really won't happen if we're focused on ourselves. Join the "conspiracy!" (http://www.adventconspiracy.org/)

Andy the Country Parsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04626211146214748400andyfbcdenmark@bellsouth.net0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34014344.post-43835024128096686122009-11-24T08:07:00.002-05:002009-11-24T08:14:45.150-05:00

For Clemson fans, if you haven't already read it. This is an excellent article on Dabo Swinney's family life.http://www.thestate.com/morris/story/1038734.htmlRegardless of what happens this Saturday against USC (though we are feeling pretty good going into the game), I am proud of our Clemson team, its coaching staff, and, of course of our head coach who is not only a great coach on the field,

Andy the Country Parsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04626211146214748400andyfbcdenmark@bellsouth.net0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34014344.post-8068421216893544712009-11-09T09:52:00.003-05:002009-11-09T09:57:59.570-05:00

Monday morning's headline in the Rock Hill Herald (I'm visiting friends in Clover, SC), gave me an indication of a great vacation! GO TIGERS!

Andy the Country Parsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04626211146214748400andyfbcdenmark@bellsouth.net0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34014344.post-76812414691569136852009-11-09T09:43:00.003-05:002009-11-09T09:52:25.436-05:00

Wednesday (the 11th) is Veterans Day! Don't forget to find a veteran and to thank him or her for his or her service to our country. We wouldn't be a country without the sacrifices made over the past 200 plus years to gain and maintain our freedom!We had a great Veterans Day service at church yesterday. One of the highlights was a drama depicting a mom (and her sister) receiving the horrible news

Andy the Country Parsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04626211146214748400andyfbcdenmark@bellsouth.net0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34014344.post-72909106761382668652009-11-06T11:17:00.004-05:002009-11-06T11:51:15.209-05:00

Just want to remind everyone, everywhere that you're invited to the Advent Conspiracy! Click on the video, but be warned, it may change how you "do" Christmas for the rest of your life!For Christ-followers, the Christmas season can be filled with a lot of things besides, peace, joy, and good will toward man! I'm hoping to lead our church in December to "conspiring" to regain the focus of Advent

Andy the Country Parsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04626211146214748400andyfbcdenmark@bellsouth.net0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34014344.post-23387042591048214102009-11-03T23:17:00.004-05:002009-11-03T23:51:28.571-05:00

Ok, you know I like science fiction, so I gave ABC's new series "V" a chance to grab my attention, and it did, though not like I anticipated. It's a remake of a series done in the early 80's about aliens showing up in big spaceships, proclaiming peace while having a much more sinister purpose. So this big, really big spaceship slowly makes its way over New York City, causing everything to shake.

Andy the Country Parsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04626211146214748400andyfbcdenmark@bellsouth.net0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34014344.post-36545037829401826222009-10-30T08:12:00.001-04:002009-10-30T08:14:37.966-04:00

With money being tight these days, it gives you a good excuse to wait to go on that next cruise. If you can't wait till 2011, you can take the family on the first cruise ship with a "water coaster!" Those Disney people! I thought this animation was pretty cool anyway, and having Disney movies playing throughout the ship was a nice touch... never miss a chance to advertise! So save your pennies!

Andy the Country Parsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04626211146214748400andyfbcdenmark@bellsouth.net0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34014344.post-88909631896737729772009-10-29T23:30:00.002-04:002009-10-29T23:49:09.587-04:00

Amazingly beautiful things are happening all the time around us; we just don't have eyes to see. Well, look at this...

Andy the Country Parsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04626211146214748400andyfbcdenmark@bellsouth.net0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34014344.post-2095030140610836352009-10-28T23:48:00.004-04:002009-10-28T23:53:36.948-04:00

In case you're looking for a cool robot to give to your favorite geek, here's one you should check out!

Andy the Country Parsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04626211146214748400andyfbcdenmark@bellsouth.net0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34014344.post-3859376150924418072009-10-26T11:31:00.002-04:002009-10-26T11:39:09.641-04:00

I went to see a church member after church yesterday, and when I was leaving, saw a couple of unexpected photo opps. Having my little Sony (a T77 for anyone who would care), I took these. Wonders are all around you if you'll just take a little time to look!The grasshopper, well, he was very cooperative!The dogs are obviously having a hard time understanding me...so what else is new?

Andy the Country Parsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04626211146214748400andyfbcdenmark@bellsouth.net0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34014344.post-54640808691982320592009-10-16T21:52:00.007-04:002009-10-16T22:36:51.912-04:00

I thought that buying (and eating) these tiny 100 calorie snack cakes would be the answer to my weight problem. Well, maybe not, but hang with me for the sake of this post!Yesterday, my routine bloodwork showed that all of my blood levels were normal (Yay...blood glucose of 88!), except for my triglycerides (230). So I hit the stationary bike tonight, having moved it into my foyer so I could see

Andy the Country Parsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04626211146214748400andyfbcdenmark@bellsouth.net0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34014344.post-20963641447596879032009-10-14T07:20:00.002-04:002009-10-14T07:30:38.346-04:00

Sure, this dance number is staged, but only the dancers knew about it. I enjoy seeing the reactions of bystanders to what seemed a spontaneous event. It was unexpected in what many probably thought would be another day of the same old routine. It reminded me how important it is that people see the joy in our lives. Not a shallow happiness based in circumstances, but an abiding joy in knowing

Andy the Country Parsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04626211146214748400andyfbcdenmark@bellsouth.net0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34014344.post-60754535961670714422009-10-14T07:06:00.004-04:002009-10-14T07:19:24.958-04:00

I went a little ballistic yesterday on Facebook. My good friend of mine sent it to me. I'm glad he did. Here is the comment it prompted...I'll tell you what's on my mind....how we who have been adopted by the Creator of the Universe so that we can call Him, "Abba Father," can live our lives unchanged, complaining, allowing the trivial to ruin our (and other's) ...days, talking about so many

Andy the Country Parsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04626211146214748400andyfbcdenmark@bellsouth.net0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34014344.post-31205131114618743012009-10-06T09:37:00.003-04:002009-10-06T09:40:18.680-04:00

Okay, so every now and then I have to take a break from dealing with the infinite, and the eternal to be truly juvenile...this was one of those times...

Andy the Country Parsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04626211146214748400andyfbcdenmark@bellsouth.net0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34014344.post-43404604338795159202009-10-06T08:51:00.002-04:002009-10-06T09:36:41.208-04:00

Just a little reminder...make that a HUGE, GIGANTIC reminder that God is big enough, and smart enough, and powerful enough, and loving enough to take care of you. If you forget that, then look up at the heavens which declare His glory!

Andy the Country Parsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04626211146214748400andyfbcdenmark@bellsouth.net0