AUTHOR: Andy Nuetzel TITLE: Interesting Article DATE: 1/20/2007 11:01:00 AM ----- BODY:
This is a good article, if you have time to read it. (I personally suggest that Ethan himself read it) Warning it's kinda long (8 Word Pages), but it clarifies (at least a little) on what the emerging movement is and isn't.
----- COMMENT: AUTHOR:Anonymous Anonymous DATE:5/17/2013 06:44:00 PM Very nice post. I certainly love this website. Continue the good
work!

Here is my blog - Best Deals From Sky For Existing Customers ----- -------- AUTHOR: Andy Nuetzel TITLE: The Belated Holidays DATE: 1/11/2007 07:04:00 PM ----- BODY:
There are three amazing excuses for which I will explain why I haven't blogged.
1. My pictures are too big for blogger. (anyone have good picture editing software? I'd love something simple and cheap)
2. I am far too busy to post. But I will do it anyways.
3. I hate the new blogger (stupid Google has to ruin everything) although it actually just worked perfectly.
Here's some pictures.

This is my little Brother with his favorite Christmas gift. It's a wonderful little deer call that sounds like a rather large man with a belching problem. He did it the whole morning as it was the first gift he opened up.

Here is the wonderful Tori with the newest addition to the Hunsucker Family. My Cousin Eddie and his wife Anne, have an adorable baby, Mary. She is absolutely beautiful and this picture is a small way for me to ask my cousin Ed for forgiveness. He was maybe the last person on Earth to know about me and Tori's engagement. He still hasn't forgiven me yet.
This is an amazing picture of some of the fun we had while shooting off fireworks at 11pm on Christmas Eve. It's a new Pitsch family tradition, and maybe one of the greatest, as me and the guys get to shoot off explosives and make loud noises. Me likey...

Here's the family playing one of the new games that Andy and Nancy got everyone. This one is called "Don't Fence Me In" (according to me) and the object is for me to always beat Nate Dogg. It only works sometimes.

Here is my lovely fiance and me standing in front of the circle downtown after eating extravagantly with a night downtown courtesy of our friends Scott and Maureen Watson.

This last picture is why my soon to be father-in-law should never be able to tell me to get a haircut. (although I doubt he would anyways.)

----- -------- AUTHOR: Andy Nuetzel TITLE: Communication DATE: 12/01/2006 09:04:00 AM ----- BODY:
So I am learning about Communicating. It sort of goes with the whole getting married, pre-marriage counseling thing. I like it. I am also talking about communication this week at youth group. I am going to try to figure out what it means to communicate with God, and share this with the youth. It's interesting and funny how something can be so easy, but get screwed up so quickly. Say for example that I have a cool thought flow thru my brain. Then I want to share this with Tori. Now I have to express this thought (which in my head seems like a series of words with associated meanings) and so I say what those words are. But when they are transmitted from my head, thru my mouth, into Tori's ear, into her head, those same words that had some meaning or thought behind them, can be changed into another meaning in her head. Thats odd and funny, frustrating and interesting. So the solution to mixed messages, is to be a better communicator which means getting to know the way the other person thinks. The act of communicating is the act of trying to figure out how to express yourself in a way that the person can understand. That's really fascinating, and also pretty new to me. It also requires patience and practice. (wow this youth group meeting is getting better at all times). The funny thing about communication is that its principles don't change. The same way that I have to know Tori to express my thoughts so that she can understand is true with God. The more that we know one another and are around one another the better we can communicate. Cool stuff. Makes this whole postmodern thingy of language as reality interesting as well.... Thats all for today... be blessed and sorry that I never seem to update.
----- -------- AUTHOR: Andy Nuetzel TITLE: your Real identity DATE: 11/09/2006 10:21:00 AM ----- BODY:
Be encouraged this day in your identity in Christ. Taken from 1 Peter. "As obedient children, do not be conformed to the passions of your former ignorance, but as he who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct," "According to his great mercy, he has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the ressurection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heave for you, who by God's power are being guarded through faith for a salvation ready to be revealied in the last time. In this you rejoice..." Having purified your souls by your obedience to the truth for a sincere brotherly love, love one another earnestly from a pure heart, sinc e you have been born again, not of perishable seed but of imperishable, through the living and abiding word of God... But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclam the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light. Once you were not a people, but now you are God's people; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy. Honor everyone. Love the brotherhood. Fear God. Honor the emperor. That's just in the first 2 chapters... Be blessed to the glory of the Father.
----- COMMENT: AUTHOR:Anonymous Anonymous DATE:11/20/2006 10:36:00 PM im commenting! its robbie kleinberg from the awakening, felt this was the easiest way to reach you. my email is twirk88@gmail.com. i really hope to hear what youre up to in the future, and let me know how the 4th day meeting works out. later. ----- -------- AUTHOR: Andy Nuetzel TITLE: Thankfulness DATE: 11/08/2006 05:20:00 PM ----- BODY:
I have thousands of things that I can and should be thankful for. But one sorta stands out at this direct moment. I came into the office and decided to check up on my emails, which I had 27 of. that's alot for me. especially when I have a dial up connection. But thankfully I do not have that dial up connection any longer. we've jumped to the super fast information superhighway DSL line, and I seriously couldn't have waited another day. In a few minutes I made it thru my emails and shot up this post on my blog, all while having streaming music videos playing thru relevantmagazine.com This is good. My blog and my fiancee's email inbox shall appreciate it.
----- -------- AUTHOR: Andy Nuetzel TITLE: Hello World DATE: 10/16/2006 11:06:00 PM ----- BODY:
Hey there. Its' 10.16.06. And I am engaged to the wonderful, and beautiful Victoria Pitsch. Here's us. We're thrilled to share this with family and friends and you'll hear more soon. Goodnight. (and if you're wondering about the hole in my jeans, it's because that was my practice knee.)
----- COMMENT: AUTHOR:Anonymous Anonymous DATE:10/17/2006 08:05:00 PM It's Jacqui... I love your site, and I am super happy for you guys. Check out my site at www.xanga.com/jasheeha ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR:Anonymous Anonymous DATE:10/19/2006 10:02:00 PM CONGRATULATIONS!!! You guys are such an awesome couple and I am so excited for you to embark upon the journey of married life :) ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR:Anonymous Anonymous DATE:10/25/2006 02:07:00 AM Just Peachy! She better like Cheese-It's! Continue to be blessed ----- -------- AUTHOR: Andy Nuetzel TITLE: Redeeming the Old Testament Stories DATE: 10/11/2006 09:03:00 AM ----- BODY:
So I've been doing some reading of scripture lately, mostly for prep for teaching Bible Study and Sunday Night X-files. Here's two totally cool intraconnnections that I've noticed in scripture. First comes from Psalm 46. It’s a song about how God is there even when things look like their over our heads (thanks Fray.) The song was written by some guy during David's reign and it was too be sung by a certain group of appointed singers. Hold that thought. Rewind back to the days of Moses wandering in the desert. He's trying to get the people to rely on God and get used to the 40 years of wandering. The funny thing is that God was probably REALLY excited about those years because it could have been the greatest time of dependence of the Israelites in their history, if they would have just sucked it up and stopped complaining. But they didn't. There was a guy from the Levites (the group that was to help out in the worship services) who wanted to his group to be the priests, although that was reserved for Aaron's sons. The guys name was Korah and he led a big rebellion of Levites who wanted to be priests. Moses said that God would judge between them. In the end 250 wannabe priests were consumed by God's fire. Also Dathan and Abiram's households and families, and Korah himself and his stuff were all sucked into the ground as it opened up and swallowed them. Pretty much the only stuff that wasn't 'devoted' to the Lord was Korah's sons. Fast-forward to the time of David. Korah's great great... grandson's were still Levites who helped out in the worship service, this time as singers. Note: the Levites were not a bunch of lunatics that stood on a mountainside casting down firebombs, nor were any of them to my knowledge known as Tim. But back to the point, I personally wouldn't want to be remembered as a 'son of Korah', but rather a few generations back to possibly a 'son of Levi' (which has problems as well). This wasn't the case for these singers though. They were referred back to that old story of a relative they probably didn't like too much. Here's were the irony comes in. Psalm 46:1-3. God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble. Therefore we will not fear, though the earth give way and the mountains fall into the heart of the sea, though its waters roar and foam and the mountains quake with their surging. According to this song, we are to look to God as our salvation even when things are going bad. As bad as the earth giving way. Now I am no OT scholar but the only other time I remember the earth giving way was when Korah and his friends were swallowed by them. This amazes me that generations later, God is redeeming the sons of Korah. They now look to God as their help, EVEN when the earth gives way. Irony? Sounds like it, mixed in with tons of Redemption. Here’s another instance of redemption. The setting is John 4. Jesus in an act that most other Jews would completely resist crosses through Samaria to get home to Galilee. Most other Jews of his day would have taken every opportunity to avoid the Samaritans. The reason is in point #1 Background point number #1. The nation of Israel was split into 12 tribes, the 12 sons of Jacob/Israel. This tribe developed into nations, or sub nations. They all united during the Time of David. The disbanded shortly after. There were 10 in the north and Judah in the south. The northern kingdom fell, and its peoples intermarried with the captors and they stayed there. This came to be the Samaritans. The southern kingdom fell later, but a group of them abstained from intermarriage and in the time of Ezra-Nehemiah came back and established themselves as the ‘new’ Israelites. These became the Jews of the Jesus day. They Jews and Samaritans were sort of half related, but the Jews despised the Samaritans. Background point #2. In this day and age of Jesus (and further back and also for a long time in the future) women had an extremely low standing in society. They were looked down on as inferior and incomplete and were seen somewhat as property for the most parts. They were around the same level as slaves, and children. So for starters it is extremely big deal for Jesus to go up and just start talking with a Samaritan woman on his way home. This meeting probably wouldn’t happen with any other Rabbi’s of the day. This shows me that Jesus truly cares about the marginalized and people who don’t have a voice in our society. But it goes much further than that. Point #3 – The place that Jesus met her was in the town of Sychar, near the well that Jacob gave his son Joseph, and where Jacob fed his flocks. I don’t believe that Sychar is mentioned anywhere else, so I looked up info on Jacob’s well, or the land that Jacob gave Joseph. Genesis 48:22 tells about the land that Jacob gave to Joseph. “Moreover, I have given to you rather than your brothers one mountain slope*, that I took from the hand of the Amorites with my sword and with my bow.” The one mountain slope*, could be translated possibly as a mountain ridge or shoulder. The Hebrew word (to the best of my knowledge) is ‘shechem.’ There was an area known as Shechem at that same time. Some scholars (and although not really a scholar, I myself) think that the ridge that Jacob gave to Joseph was Shechem, which many many years later would become the home of the Samaritans the same town now known as Sychar. By now you are probably saying, “Oh that’s absolutely amazing Andy, please tell me more.” Well, I shall. The other time we hear about Shechem is also in the OT, or as Pastor Paul would say Old School, in Genesis 34. This is my least favorite story in the bible. One of the Shechemites, saw one of Jacob’s daughters and lusted after her and took her and defiled her. Afterwards his family and friends ask Jacob’s sons for the girl to be given to him in marriage. The raped this girl and now they want to have a peace treaty. Well the brothers aren’t so sure, so they tell them that if they want to become friends then the whole town of Shechem must become like them and worship the One, True God. They Shechemites think, sure, that sounds fine well marry their daughters if we act like we worship their God. These Shechemites were the first people to go and become converted to ‘Judaism.’ The problem is that they didn’t last long. The conversion process to Judaism has one critical painful part, circumcision. Three days after the whole town of Shechem circumcised themselves, two of Jacob’s sons came in with swords and killed all the men. One of the sons was the aforementioned Levi. So in review, the town that Jesus visited was possibly/probably one and the same as the town in the OT where the sons of Jacob slew the Shechemites. Well how does this connect? Similar to the bad connotation that the name Korah had, the town of Sychar/Shechem had a rocky history. It was the place of the first converts to Judaism, and it was also the first place that Jesus preached to those outside of Judaism. The first converts to Judaism and the first converts to Christianity were in the same small town. So instead of remembering the town with the residual OT baggage, it is redeemed by its Maker as the place in which Christ is first proclaimed outside of the Jews. Not only that but Jesus actually claims that he is the Christ (John 4:26) for what is, to my knowledge, the first time. So in all the places that Jesus could have told people he was the Christ he chooses to do so in a small town, that has a history for savage violence in the name of religion, to a woman, a Samaritan woman, a Samaritan woman who has had 5 different husbands. If I have ever grasped how much God cares for the Lost, it may be right now. One last tidbit is that, (again to my knowledge) this is the longest one on one conversation that Jesus has with anyone in the entire recorded Gospel record. To say that God doesn’t care for the unknown, hurting, and lost is blasphemous. It also gives me a much greater appreciation for Redemption. God is so into redemption that he will go so far as redeeming the stories of the OT. Well that’s a lot of blogging for a day. Be blessed and get to know this God who loves all…..
----- -------- AUTHOR: Andy Nuetzel TITLE: Super Computer DATE: 10/10/2006 09:34:00 AM ----- BODY:
Hey there all you computer nerds (myself, and probably Ethan). I recently got a computer for work at CCML. and its AMAZING. I am really blessed to have a good computer to work from. I have a Compaq with 3.5 GHz processor and 150ish GB of space. To all you non-computer geeks, that means I can do stuff fast, and hold all the stuff I'd ever need. I also will have the ability to connect up to a TV for cool powerpoint lyrics stuff straight in the youth room. Although with my huge ole 17" monitor I almost have the same size on the TV screen. I also have a DVD/CD burner that is supposedly sweet (now with lightscribe technology). Also Pastor Paul and I figured out how to connect to the internet at the same time so we can do lots of cool stuff, and I can keep this site more updated (with much more Youth Ministry Content to follow..) Thats all now. See ya'll sooner.
----- -------- AUTHOR: Andy Nuetzel TITLE: DATE: 10/09/2006 10:59:00 AM ----- BODY:
Hey there peoples. I haven't blogged in awhile because I've been kinda busy lately. So what might I have been doing that's kept me from bloggin. Well I have been working at the wonderful FedEx and that is not the most greatest place ever. I have been working there for just about a month now and it is getting to become normal and repetitive. I go in, stretch, push boxes, then stack. Wooo fun. Actually its not a bad job its pretty good (when I get benefits) except that it takes a little too long. If I could do it for like two hours a day, Mon-Fri in the morning, 7-9ish. I would be ecstatic. The big deal is that it takes so much of the day (5-6 hrs a day in the prime of the day). In other news the Youth Pastor Job is going pretty good. This week we talked about God's Control / Free Will, and it went great. We also had some sweet Frisbee games. On Tuesday we went over John 3 and that also went well. David Riggleman made a great point about the distinguishment between the Spirit and spirit (vs 6). We also linked the Spirit that gives birth to spirit to Psalm 104:30, where God sends forth his Spirit and they shall be created. It was a cool night. This week we have Bible study again, (John 4), and Christian Life Training Sunday morning, and then X-Files on Sunday night. Should be good times. Today is actually my day off and I am going to get some things done and just relax. Last week on my day off I bought a couple of movies, including X-men and then got sucked into the whole trilogy that threw my week off. It got me wondering why do I sometime try to escape reality with movies or video games, or whatever else. I mean I KNOW that my life is really REAL when I am connected to Christ, but I get desires randomly to try escapism.... I wonder... Well thats it, so I should go know.
----- COMMENT: AUTHOR:Blogger Tori Pitsch DATE:10/09/2006 04:03:00 PM The picture of the FedEx planes is cool, is that what you get to look down on all day while you work? Do you whistle while you work? ----- -------- AUTHOR: Andy Nuetzel TITLE: DATE: 9/14/2006 10:15:00 AM ----- BODY:
So it's obviously been a long time since I blogged like normal, so I am gonna give a quick update on my life. 1. I started at FedEx this week (well at least the physically demanding part started this week). Its not too bad yet. I have a not too hard job if I am just pushing, (push packages down a slide). Its more difficult if they have me be a checker because then I have to check in the packages and load/stack/toss them into position before they go on a plane. I am hopefully going to get to be a tug driver (picture a mini train with me driving minus the cute engineer hat). But yes Fedex is officially started and I am working hard there. 2. Murphy's Landing is about to start the regular scheduled youth ministry. I am super psyched because we've been having fun events and getting to know one another but this week we will throw God into that mix so much more. We are starting a new series called the X-files, where we will be looking into what is really Real. It should prove interesting and exciting. This week we look at the meaning of life and the next week we start to look at who God is. I am also excited about our Bible study that will be starting next Tues. Good times in the book of John. 3. I still love Wednesday night Bible study. Greg Manship is the Man at leading a thought provoking discussion. His one flaw is he's still not saying enough controversial stuff. He can play the devil's advocate pretty good, and would probably frighten many blue haired conservative Evangelicals but us po-mo's want more Greg. Bring it on. 4. I still love the pleasure and honor of getting to know the wonderful and beautiful Victoria Pitsch. Hi there Beautiful. We had a great weekend hanging out with her family over Labor Day. You can check it out at any of their sites. 5. My alarm just went off so I gotsta go. Peace out Homeskillet.
----- COMMENT: AUTHOR:Blogger Tori Pitsch DATE:9/18/2006 06:27:00 PM Wow! You were up early! It was fun helping out in your youth ministry Sunday night and watching you speak truth to the kids as well as play games. God's got you right where he wants you and I'm happy I get to watch! :) ----- -------- AUTHOR: Andy Nuetzel TITLE: The Life and Times... (2nd installment) DATE: 8/27/2006 01:34:00 PM ----- BODY:
of andy nuetzel... So alot has happened over the past few months. Most notably I have become the Youth Pastor at Community Church of Murphys Landing. I'm pretty siked as I completely believe that this is where God has called me. I am enjoying trying to build, or think about building up a ministry to the kids in the church, schools (namely Perry and Center Grove) and in the local community. I mainly only know the youth ministry at Southport Pres. So I am going to try and implement some of the stuff that works there (basically loving God and kids). We actually have our first event tonight. Other things that are going on. I love my Wednesday night Bible study led by Greg Manship. He's one cool cat who Really gets the blood flowing thru my brain as I think through stuff. I also enjoy the fellowship and prayer with my friends. I may have a job with FedEx. Kinda excited about that but still not really sure. Could be great, could be good, could be not so good. I am still enjoying getting to know the lovely, beautiful, talented, and gracious Tori Pitsch. (she probably blushed at that, while Sister Jenn went 'awwwww' Prove me wrong Jen. Prove me wrong.) Thats about it, other than the fact that I am now an old 24 year old man. See ya'll later.
----- COMMENT: AUTHOR:Blogger Jennifer Lienau DATE:8/27/2006 03:18:00 PM awww I can't prove you wrong...you know me too well! :) Congrats on the job and Happy 24th Birthday!! ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR:Blogger Tori Pitsch DATE:8/29/2006 01:18:00 PM I'm so proud of you, keep up the good work and good postings! ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR:Anonymous Anonymous DATE:9/20/2006 06:41:00 PM hey andy, this is josh, i finily figured this thing out.
see you sunday ----- -------- AUTHOR: Andy Nuetzel TITLE: What is the Gospel (Part 3) DATE: 8/27/2006 12:47:00 PM ----- BODY:
Before I begin. I owe all of you a major apology. I have held off on printing this blog for FAR too long and I've no doubt lost all of my loyal fanbase. For this I am sorry. Especially for anyone who really does need to know the good news of the Gospel. But first we continue with a slight recap Part 1 - The God who made us, loves us, also wants to reveal himself to us. Part 2 - We are not good and cant really have a relationship with God because we aren't perfect. Part 3 - (finally) The Good News, the Gospel, is that God still loves us. His love is ridiculous. His love is extravegent. His love goes way beyond what we think love is. His love is demonstrated to us in many ways. The first is called Immanuel. Immanuel means 'God with us'. The person of Jesus, is actually one part of God Himself, coming down to earth and taking up a life like anyone else. The sin thing that we humans have needs to be made up, cleared up by a human, because Humans are the one who have broken the relationship. So this guy Jesus, is not just any ordinary guy, but God come down to live among us. Thats the Good News part 3a = God with us. Part 3b is that this God-Man Jesus, went beyond just hanging out in a human body with super divine powers. Phillippians 2:7, in a poem about who this Jesus Christ is, tells us that he 'made himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness.' Hebrews 4:15 tells us that this God-Man was also tempted just like all of us other humans, except he never fell to temptation. Jesus came as a human, and lived a sinless life, as a model for what the rest of us humans should try to strive for. Part 3c is that Jesus came and died on a cross for our sins. He suffered the death that we all deserve. In the old testament people who sinned had to make a sacrifice for their sins. The punishment of sinning is that death must occur. In the olden times the death was all the perfect animals that were offered on our behalf. One of the most popular names for Jesus, The Lamb, or the Lamb that Was Slain, points us back to the picture of the old testament. Jesus was crucified to make atonement (to cover up) for our sins. Instead of killing a billion animals to make us sorta right with God, God himself choose to come and sacrifice himself on our behalf so that the problem of sin, the death, could be fixed. Part 3d is that Jesus didn’t stay dead. Death could not hold the Son of God in the grave. Rom 6:9-10 says that “since Christ was raised from the dead, he cannot die again; death no longer has mastery over him. The death he died, he died to sin once for all; but the life he lives, he lives to God.” Jesus Christ was glorified and raised up from death as a testament to God’s power and the power of his love for us. Jesus now sits at the right hand of God and intercedes for us. The good news is that God wants a relationship with you. The Good News is that he makes it possible to have a relationship with him through Jesus Christ. That’s the best flipping news the universe has ever heard. Praise be to God. This fact that God wants a relationship with you is different than any other religion in the world. Allah did not be a human so that he could relate to us and we could relate to him. The difference between God and all other gods is that he knows firsthand how to relate to us, because he has been in our skin. That truly is good news that is hopefully worth the wait. Be blessed.
----- -------- AUTHOR: Andy Nuetzel TITLE: What am I Grateful For? DATE: 7/23/2006 08:20:00 PM ----- BODY:
I know I should be telling you all about what the good news is. But I need to take a break and tell a little about what on Earth that I am grateful for. I am generally not a grateful person as much as I need to be, so I want to take some time to rant about all the things in the world that are wonderful. 9 - Blogger's easy Picture Add In Method... Now I know that I said I was going to be grateful, however this one will is extremely sarcastic. I have been working on this post for 30 minutes (on the pictures alone, but i can't get it to work. Just use your imagination...) 8 – Music What a strange thing. Making strange sounds with your voice can bring such sweet joy to your life. Add some strings being plucked and some drums being beat on and it has the ability to change your life. I am very thankful for Jars of Clay, David Crowder Band, and Siler’s Bald (even though I haven’t really ever had a Siler’s Bald CD, but Ethan Pitsch does.) 7 – Mountains Now I know that they aren’t very abundant in Indy, but I love this huge rocks. They point up to the sky and just force you to realize your smallness. They are beautiful and make me happy. I like them a lot… Especially when they have old people on them. 6 – Great food. God has blessed the Earth with so many WONDERFUL variations of food. We could just all eat grass like cows, but no we can eat the cow. Or the Chicken, or my favorite, seafood. Last week I was blessed to enjoy the Ultimate Feast at Red Lobster. I love lobster tail, crab legs and shrimp. This had all. I thank you so much God for such a wonderful selection of food to eat. I am excited thinking about it. Here is a pic… 5 – Lazy Sunday Afternoons I didn’t get to really enjoy one of these today, but it was still a good day. I love having a day where I get home from church, the weather is very favorable (mid 80’s) and having nothing to do on Sunday from 1-8pm. Just sit back enjoy the sun, read, and sleep. Rest in God. Rest in peaceful moments. Here’s a picture of a lazy river… also pretty great 4 – My Friends I have been blessed with some great friends for a long time. I’ve known Nick Epple and Jordan Heid for roughly 18 years. I have known many other friends for 10+ years. I am blessed to have so many friends for so long in such a short life of mine. God continue to bless my friendships and may we continue challenge one another towards Godliness. 3 - My Family I love my family a lot, even though I probably don’t every really show it like I should. I think that God has blessed me so much and that I am very much in debt to him for having a family that loves one another so well. I am thankful that my parents love one another and work hard to keep us together. I love my bro Adam and his beautiful wife Sarah. I would never admit it but Adam has always taught me a lot about life and I am very thankful for him. I am thankful for my “little” bro Alex and that he still realizes that I can beat him in everything, including basketball, wrestling, racing, and I’d probably be a better hunter if I didn’t have reservations about killing Bambi. I love you guys a lot. PS check out my site. 2 - My girlfriend. the Beautiful and gracious Victoria Pitsch. I thank God for you. You are beautiful on the inside and on the outside. May God bless our love and friendship and may he lead us in all areas of our lives. (thankfully not too many people read this site, so you shouldn't blush that much) Here's a picture of her pretty face. 1 - My God My rock, savior, deliverer, peace, comfort and everything. He made it all and has blessed me with every good thing in him. Oh my God, how I love you and thank you for being here in my life and touching me in all the ways that you do. You are so wonderful and amazing and make my life great. I can never thank you for any small thing you've done, yet I will try the rest of my life.
----- -------- AUTHOR: Andy Nuetzel TITLE: What is the Gospel (Part 2) DATE: 7/20/2006 09:28:00 PM ----- BODY:
The much anticipated part 2. This post is the 'What is the Gospel Part 2'. Part one of the Gospel is that there is a God who wants to reveal himself to us. The part that I left out is the character of who this God is. Who would want to meet a malicious god, especially if that god were not the One True God. In addition to God wanting to reveal himself to us is that he is the God who made us, for good, for our own good, and this God loves us. So part 1 in its (more) entirety is that the God, who loves us, made us, and wants to know us, is revealing himself to us. So what is part 2 of the ‘Good’ news. This part is a little more strange, and doesn’t actually sound like good news, because its not. The bad part of the good news is that we are not good. Human beings are no longer good. God created us with two main characteristics. The first is that we are made in the image of God, (which means we were made good). But the second characteristic or quality is that we also have the ability to choose. God loved us and gave us the power of free will.1 The problem is that the first two humans made a choice to disobey God, to sin. This sin or disobediance caused a separation between humans and God. We can no longer stand in his gracious prescence no more. Part two of the good news is that we are not really good at all and we are all in danger of being eternally separated from our God who created us and reveals himself to us. And what better way to end a brief note on good news than to tell you that you’re not good and are deserving of eternal separation. Well, I am afraid that is where this post is going to leave you. I will update this post after tomorrow with the best of good news that is so worth hearing. So don’t go dying on me…
----- COMMENT: AUTHOR:Blogger Jennifer Lienau DATE:8/14/2006 07:32:00 PM Even though I know what the best of the good news is I still can't take the suspense of waiting to hear it in your own words. Stop leaving us hanging and make the post already! :) ----- -------- AUTHOR: Andy Nuetzel TITLE: What is the Gospel (Part 1) DATE: 7/13/2006 07:57:00 PM ----- BODY:
This is a post that I really want to look at, and in fact I am going to get started on it tonight, knowing that I haven't any chance of finishing what I want to talk about. In a bible study I have been attending the past couple of weeks we are trying to learn how to read the Bible. Its funny, because I’ve known how to read for around 16-18 years, yet only a very small fraction of that time have I been able to read the Bible correctly (if I can even do that I am still wondering) How often do I read my bible because I am supposed to. Or as if it’s something on a list that I want to check off. Or maybe I read so that I can be inspired. Maybe I sometimes read the bible so that I come off as much smarter, so that I can recite the line of succession of the kings of Babylon as some cheap party trick or something. Maybe I read the bible so that I feel good at night. All of these reasons are very wrong. The Bible is the story of God revealing himself to people thru relationships and it is written by those people who knew God. The point of this book is a means by which the God of the Universe decided to reveal himself to us. This is part 1 of the Gospel, that God has chosen to reveal himself. That is a miracle in and of itself that we don’t deserve, and are supremely blessed. The good news part 1 is that God wants us to know him. And unfortunately that is all the time I have. I knew that I was going to be upset with this post. Don’t worry all, more gospel will come (probably not until next Monday though, my deepest apologies.)
----- -------- AUTHOR: Andy Nuetzel TITLE: God's Life Vs My Life... Fight to the Finish DATE: 7/04/2006 03:15:00 PM ----- BODY:
...ignore the whole "fight to the finish part"... that has nothing to do with this post, I just have a weird way of thinking and sometimes I add things where they don't go, just so that it makes sense to me, even if it doesn't make any sense to anyone else. So I have been thinking the last couple days about personal autonomy and God ordaining of Stuff. I also have been reading Eugene Peterson's Eat This Book, whose goal is to try and teach us how to read the Bible. One of the topics that is in the first couple of chapters is shows us how we use the Bible, God's story, to supplement our lives, spiritually, academically, inspirationally or whatever. He makes the case that all too often we decide that we are the ultimate reality and focus everything around us and not around God, who created us. So I was thinking that the question that I ask myself semi-often may be somewhat flawed. The question that I ask too often is "What is God doing in my life?" The motive behind the question is generally good and valid I believe, however the focus is wrong. The focus in that question tends to be that God is only moving in my life, or otherwise the only meaningful place that God is woring happens to be MY life. When we look at it, and look at the Holy Scriptures it tells us that God is always working. He is also working in everyone else' life and not just Mine. Therefore I proposed a new question. This question is "What am I doing in God's life?" My question about this question is does it really shift the focus from Me and my Life to God and his Life? I initially thought so, and liked this question, however to someone on the outside of my brain, they might not get all the initial connections going on in there. When I thought of this question the presuppositions that were in place where that 1) God is working 2) He invites me to work and I have to decide to join him 3) He desires to use me alongside himself in his work. I came across these presuppostions thru Jesus talking about his Father doing work. Jesus talks about God always doing work, and everything that Jesus does is alongside his father. This is found in John 5:16-30. The proble I run into is, is the phrasing, "What am I doing in God's life?" continue to put the emphasis on me, where it doesn't belong, or on God, where it does belong. With the three presuppositions in place I think that it works, however if one has to explain all those it may loose out on its pithyness or its complete point. So the new question was formed, "Where is God working that he wants me to join Him?" I guess that I would like all of your opinions on the best, most pithy, most complete, most God centered question of the three. - What is God doing in my life? - What am I doing in God's life? - Where is God working that He wants me to join Him? So please vote thru the comments and continue to join God wherever you see him working.
----- -------- AUTHOR: Andy Nuetzel TITLE: The Life and Times.... DATE: 6/30/2006 07:36:00 PM ----- BODY:
of andy nuetzel... To my many adoring fans, (tori) I must apologize for never ever updating this slice of my life. So to the rest of the world that cares to listen in on my thoughts here's whats going on in my life. 1. Finished my 490 Research project on Wednesday. I am unofficially a college gradeate. Yippie Yea. I got a B in the class which I was told I earned. I'd much rather have that earned B than any other unearned grade. Thank you Jesus for helping me through this entire process. You rock. Lets move on. 2. In a stunning blow to my anticipated future I found out that God doesn't want me to be a Youth Pastor at New Castle First Baptist Church. I never actually had the job, however, I did pretty much fall in love with it. I don't know exactly why or what it was that made me like that church and its people so much but it was a real heartbreak. I had spent around two months getting to know this church and it was a real refreshing place to visit. They have an awesome group of adults who love and care for them and are wanting to glorify God by ministering to their teens. I was gettin pysched because I wanted to be a part of it. I pray for this church and their new youth pastor. May he be what they need to continue to make disciples. I also had an interview with another church roughly 10 min. after finding out about this job. (Which wasn't ideal) God is good and the pastor that I talked to is cool and nice and understanding. I just want to be near to God. As I traveled on the country roads of mid-central Indiana I got to sing and praise the God of all. He is such a good God. He loves me more than I can wrap my head around. It was a time of healing, honesty, and straight up rocking worship with my two car mates, Mr. Shane, and Mr. Shane. (Aka shane and shane). We all three worshipped God, poured our hearts out and set ourselves on the Altar of His Will. It was hard, yet good. God is always Good and I like to recognize that and tell myself that. All in all yesterday was one of the best days that I've probably had in 9-12 months. Not because I got one of my heart's great desires taken from me but because I connected and hung out with my hearts greatest desire. What more can I say than God is sooooooo good. 3. I am re-evaluating my search for a youth pastor position. Anyone know a church that I want to be at? If you do please comment on it. I am open to God's call. Plus I know, thru yesterday, that God so reaffirmed my calling. 4. I am trying to re-consilidate my school loans and have less than 5 hours for this stupid internet thingy to work. Did you know that they now have the internet on computers? Well I'll be...
----- COMMENT: AUTHOR:Anonymous Anonymous DATE:7/01/2006 01:34:00 PM I heard there's this amazing church in Orlando looking for good youth pastors. I even heard there's a married couple willing to let enquiring youth pastors stay at their home in Winter Park for free. I also heard there's an amazing seminary in Orlando should a working youth pastor ever wish to complete a tuition-reimbursed seminary program. ----- -------- AUTHOR: Andy Nuetzel TITLE: The Beast is (nearly) Dead DATE: 6/08/2006 07:01:00 PM ----- BODY:
" And I saw a beast coming out of the sea. He had ten horns and seven heads, with ten crowns on his horns, and on each head a blasphemous name. 2The beast I saw resembled a leopard, but had feet like those of a bear and a mouth like that of a lion. The dragon gave the beast his power and his throne and great authority. 3One of the heads of the beast seemed to have had a fatal wound, but the fatal wound had been healed. The whole world was astonished..." i was going to write about how I am finished with my project, (or mostly) and the beast (the project) is dead (or nearly dead). but stupid Blogger decided to erase my beautiful witty post. I am not going to finish it now.... My project is so close to done, I just turned in my first (and hopefully last) complete report. Just gotta make minor corrections (i hope) and then give a presentation.... Then it's on to 'real' life. Praise Jesus!
----- -------- AUTHOR: Andy Nuetzel TITLE: And Now For Something Completely Different... DATE: 5/16/2006 10:16:00 PM ----- BODY:
Well as I was saying just the other day that it is so wonderful to have stuff always flying through your head, such as songs, videos, books, and other stuff.... well I think that I'd like to recant that. I would say that at times it helps productivity to be immersed in some funky fresh techno that allows your brain to process whatever silly homework assignment that you have to do, (such as mind numbing data analysis with Excel, and some technical paper stuff). After a weekend of busyness and fun-filled times to the max (such as a graduation that takes place during my normal church worship service), I have found out that I miss the silence. Actually I find that all too often I am scared of the silence. Let me explain a lil. I find that all too often myself (and presumably most of the entire World) is caught up in time. We, middle class Americans, rush from one activity to the next with nary a dull or quiet moment between. We have radios for the ride to work, IPods from the car to the job (and possibly longer) and playing a game of solitare on a different window while we work (well not me, I don't like the game). We get back home and turn the TV and let a constant stream of noise into our heads. If we don't get enough noise we start talking to friends on our cells or IM's. And if we don't get enough of others thoughts we drown out our thoughts in our sports, or other leisure activities. As long as we don't have to face the silence we are happy. Or are we. This morning I had realized how little silence I allow into my day. I was running late but realized that I hadn't given Jesus any time to really talk to me in the past couple days. So I gave him five minutes. I rationalized that 5 min. was entirely way too long to sit and listen with all the stuff that I had to get done. Normally when I try to sit and listen I get frustrated because I never think I hear something. Well by God's grace, today was different. As soon as I quieted down I heard a million things. And wonder of wonders, the five minutes was over in no time. But I had heard from God, and it was good. I think my problem is that all too often I have a wrong view of God. I assume that as soon as I become silent he will point out all my faults and screw ups. So I continue to screw up and live without him for the sake of not having to hear about how I screw up. But whenever, and I mean whenever I start to actually listen to him I only hear love. He assures me that I am not the worst person ever, (even if I tell myself I am.) He speaks wisdom on what I need to get done. He tells me who I am (seated in Heaven at Christs side, free from sin, a slave to him, etc). IT's always good news, even when he gently rebukes me. Why am I scared of Silence. What on Earth is there to be afraid of when the silence is always going to begin speaking to me and telling me how much my Savior loves me. We were built for silence and rest. God made 1/7 of our days about rest. Then he made rest even more a part of our lives. We are geared so that we have to rest each day and sleep 1/3-1/5 of the day. On top of that (as my friend JVD pointed out) we have all of these annoying habits that get in the way of our high efficiency workdays. Things like eating, or using the restroom. These are all things that are a part of our physical bodies. Its almost like God is saying, "hey, slow down, listen to the silence. I am waiting..." In fact He probably is saying that to you. Let our prayers be that we don't forget our first love for any hour of the day. Let your breakfast, lunch, dinner, sleep, potty breaks remind you to listen to God. He won't be silent once you become silent. "Be still and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted among the earth." Psalm 46:10
----- -------- AUTHOR: Andy Nuetzel TITLE: Wonders of Wonders DATE: 5/12/2006 04:22:00 PM ----- BODY:
Relevant TV is just about the most wonderful / horrific website in the world. Go to www.relevantmagazine.com and then check out the TV launcher. It plays a whole bunch of different songs and music videos. Warning (horrific part) : can be addictive and draw you in if you try to watch. It helped me to waste most of yesterday. But Today the day was mine. I put the vidoes on but didn't watch, just listened to them. I had been addicted to www.derekwebb.com for a time because it allows me to listen to 4-5 of his songs on repeat. I just like to have music in the background. Back to the title. I would say that the internet is a wonderous thing. Note that I did not say wonderful. Just wonderous. Yes, there is so much cool stuff (blogs, podcasts, Relevantmagazine.com, and any other thing under the sun that could be interesting) yet at the time there is so much filth (including anything under the sun that isn't so uplifting... even my stinking Yahoo mail has ads that are scandal-los). I also am not sure of the long term benefits of the constant info flowing in and out of my head while its glued to this screen. Yes I think there could be benefits (reaction time, ability to process different things at once) but what are the downsides? Any comments would be helpful. In other news I think that I majorly whipped up on my research project this afternoon. I think the music helped, unlike yesterday. Well its been fun but now I get to go hang out with Jesus. I wonder how the constant noise makes him feel?
----- COMMENT: AUTHOR:Anonymous Anonymous DATE:6/28/2007 12:27:00 PM andy in the blog just before it you talk about how we ot to be quiet now im confused
-josh ----- -------- AUTHOR: Andy Nuetzel TITLE: Almost Home DATE: 5/09/2006 03:41:00 PM ----- BODY:
I was looking online today and I noticed a little something on my IUPUI account. Time is almost up for the turning in of grades, and I noticed that I got some of mine. Now I had been a little scared, (actually deathly afraid is more like it) of my thermodynamics class. I am in my last semester and have to take Thermodynamics for my physics major and I don't exactly comprehend it all. But according to the grades today I had a B-. That means I pass. I have passed all of my physics classes with what I need to get in them except for my research class which I am working on now. It is good. I am almost there. When I finish my research I will probably cry and wet myself and jump for joy and sing and dance and wet myself again. It will be a good day. But until that day I feel like little Frodo Baggins, carrying the ring of power up the last mountain. Its just such a heavy weight, a weight that makes me forget the shire, forget sunshine, and strawberries and flowers and all that is good in this world. Almost there and then after I finish this project I will toss that ring into the fiery furnace of Mt Dune. More on this when I finish and I will be able to explain so that it doesn't sound so strange. Until that day...
----- -------- AUTHOR: Andy Nuetzel TITLE: Theology and its point DATE: 4/25/2006 12:46:00 PM ----- BODY:
I have not been writing lately and I must apologize to all of my loyal fanbase (Tori and Ben you know who you are.) Instead of inserting my own thoughts lately I have been doing a lot more reading of the Jesus Creed Blog. Its great because smart theologians and whatnot converse on there about all kinds of interesting stuff. Very academic at times. Well lately they have been looking at the issue of Atonement. This is a nice big word that we generally say is to cover something up. What I am learning is that it is important to get definitions right because they in turn can influence action. What I mean is this. If we define sin as something small, such as a personal offense to God, then it is possible that we likely define atonement in some similar small terms, such as the payment for the personal offense to God. If people only think of sin as a personal thing that they did, instead of a part of their nature and all else that is entailed in sin, then the definition of atonement is reduced. When we have a reduced idea of who Jesus was and what he did to transform, change, make new, renew, revive, restore, make whole, enable, empower, liberate us, then we dont live out the life we are called to (sorta like John Eldridge/Rob Bell/ lots of others reminding us of how our heart (once saved) is good.) When people don't understand (possibly through our teaching) all that Jesus did, then they don't recieve all that he has for them (freedom, holy living, etc.) It is interesting for me to see 'theology in action,' as I am calling it. I sometimes think that people are too academic and worry too much about how to define what the Christian life is that they don't actually go and experience it (as some possibly do). The point of theology (in my opinion) is to give us a full robust view/knowledge of who God is and how he wants us to live so that our lives reflect his glory and that we actually live out that greatness he wants for us. Hopefully I did some justice to the enlightning thoughts being discussed on Jesus Creed and the discussion on Atonement / Penal Substitution that they are talking about. Other concerns - Why don't I pray more. I hate how little I pray. I have been hearing/thinking more and more about having daily set times of prayer (such as maybe following the Book of Common Prayer or something) yet I haven't done it. I actually keep telling myself that I'll do it soon, yet I always put it off. Well not today. I am going to go pray now. Be blessed all you faithful who read this.
----- COMMENT: AUTHOR:Blogger Ted M. Gossard DATE:4/27/2006 05:51:00 AM Andy.

Thanks for your good thoughts. Yes, that discussion on Jesus Creed has been good. I think it challenges us as we read Scripture, to see the greatness of the scope of the atonement. I often find that my reading of Scripture illuminates that discussion for me, and also the teaching and sharing of scholars and pastors can bring better understanding and illumination to my reading of Scripture.

I look forward to reading Scot McKnight's new book on prayer. I like a balance of liturgy (which I'm deficient in) and the "charismatic" or spontaneous that we all have as Christians (Holy Spirit indwelled ones) (1 Corinthians 14).

Blessings,
Ted ----- -------- AUTHOR: Andy Nuetzel TITLE: Double Digits DATE: 4/11/2006 02:40:00 PM ----- BODY:
I once remember reading about a boy who was turning ten years old. His mom told him that this was a very special birthday. It is not every year you get to add a whole decimal position to your age. The first is 1 year, then you wait 9 years to get to 2 digits, and then you have to wait 90 years until you get to have that third digit. Well as I am remembering, I made the decision to be a Christian in my 7th grade year at Southport Middle School. That was about a week before Easter. I had told myself that I ought to wait until Easter and then it'd be REALLY special. But thankfully the Spirit reminded my young mind that I could die before then. So at 13 years old, a week before Easter I went into talk to Mr. Miller who I knew from Campus Life. I told him what was up and then we prayed and I accepted Jesus into my heart. (although these days I don't exactly know what to think about it.. Did I accept him... or did he accept me... or was it just the first step on my own will to follow God's will... was I really saved... did I/do I still have salvation that has to be worked out...) Regardless of whether salvation is a moment, or if its lifelong, that was the start of me actually thinking of myself as a Christian. I have screwed up much in the following ten years but its been good. I can't really describe it. Of all the stuff that has happened from 13 to 23, it's hard to say, other than God's been good. Wow, I love being reminded of why I have so much to be thankful for. Thanks Mr. Miller. Thanks all of you people sowing seed and more seed before and since Mr. Miller. Thanks Jesus. Peace out Homies.
----- -------- AUTHOR: Andy Nuetzel TITLE: DATE: 4/10/2006 02:46:00 PM ----- BODY:
So yes I am still ridicuouly new to this blog thing, and I recently found out how to post a picture. This here is my first. Its of me and my girlfriend Tori at a friends wedding reception. (Adri and Caleb had a hayride... awesome.) So here it is. Isn't she gorgeous (as of now I believe that she also may be the only person who has ever viewed this site.)
----- COMMENT: AUTHOR:Blogger Jennifer Lienau DATE:8/13/2006 05:10:00 PM She sure is gorgeous and now you have another person viewing your site! I love the world of blogging! :) ----- -------- AUTHOR: Andy Nuetzel TITLE: When ethics crashes into love DATE: 4/05/2006 12:50:00 PM ----- BODY:
I am starting to write an essay that is to connect "the ideas of Just Laws, Human Rights, and personal thinking/ attitudes regarding both numerical and power minorities," where I need to take a stand on the issue. First off, I have no clue as to what this means. We have been discussing what makes a society just and rights in my intro to philosophy class over the past weeks. The problem I have is that my state school is so stinkin secularized that they believe they cannot attempt to make a stand on any thing at all. I had to write an essay concerning what IUPUI has taught me about ethics earlier this semester and all that I have learned from this school so far is that plagarism is bad. Seriously its crazy that we talk about what just is yet cannot ever say anything definitive or useful. We just talk, and talk, and talk. I am less and less convinced that just discussing justice will ever make anything better. That is why I think as Christians, who have the Maker of Justice, need to be out in the world trying to save this dying planet. I love Jesus. I love my Christian friends and my nice oversized Church. I love my Bible studies, youth groups, small groups, and worship services. God says what gain is it for you to love the things/people that love you. Do I love the people in the world. Do I love the sick, dying, captive, masses. I want to say yes. I want to tell people that I do. But then I am in the same problem that my philosophy class is in. Its just words. The only words that have ever held any power in my life come from my Bible, and those words tell me that my actions need to back up my words. What about you? Do you love your bible study more than the homeless downtown. Do you love your youth group or small group more than the millions dying from AIDS in Africa. Do you love your large church building more than the thousands of kids sold into sexual slavery in the East? I think God's message to me is that for me to love him, I need to show my love them.
----- COMMENT: AUTHOR:Blogger rose DATE:4/10/2006 02:49:00 PM welcome to the blog world. Happy blogging! ----- COMMENT: AUTHOR:Blogger Ted M. Gossard DATE:4/19/2006 09:17:00 PM Andy, God's love is certainly different than our ramblings about ethics. And for us to enter that love requires a radical bent and move towards what you're talking about. I think this is a major reason why so much of our Christianity is so "high and dry" with little life in it. Are we doing what God has called us to do, in Jesus? Thanks. ----- -------- AUTHOR: Andy Nuetzel TITLE: Decisions DATE: 4/03/2006 12:55:00 PM ----- BODY:
Its been a long weekend. I have spent the past couple months trying to discern God's call on my life. That alone sounds hilarious, to think that in a few months I could understand all that God has done and wants to do in and through me. Well anyways the plan for the past two and a half years was to get a degree in Physics and use this to get into highschool teaching. I have always loved working with youth and over the past two and a half years thats been thru our middle school church youth group. I recently got accepted to the Transitition to Teaching Program thru IUPUI, and recieved a scholarship that would pay for the whole thing; provided I taught two years in the urban environment. I have no qualms with the inner city, in reality I might enjoy it more. The problem is that I am almost to the point of hating college right now. The physics have not been kind to me. I am pretty burned out. So I have been talking to people, lots of people about my decision. According to Ben Ruyack I do not have to love teaching to be a teacher. Jacqui Sheehan agrees with this comment, provided that the teaching is for middle school. To be a good high school teacher one must love both kids and their subject. I know I love working with kids, yet I can't say that I love teaching. So where do I go. I have been contemplating being a youth pastor for quite awhile as well. I love ministering to kids and feel like this might be where my giftings line up as well. The only problem is that I do not have any job prospects lined up (if you know of any in Cental Indiana please tell me.) This has lead me to a major step of faith. For three of the past 4 weeks I have been attending the services at the Church at Stones Crossing. The sermons seemed to be custom tailored to me. Yesterday's sermon was again on fear. This time the fear had to do with very large decisions (or armies in Jehosophaet's case). The scripture was 2 Chron. 20:1-30. In the text the kingdom is about to be overun by 3 other groups. The king turns to God for answers. He also has all the subjects seek God with him. The pastor pointed out four things to do when facing a huge decision. 1) Worship. The point is to get your attention on the only constant in your life, God. Review the past and how God has delievered you before. Get the proper perspective. For me this came thru journaling and worship and trying to live obediently over the past couple months. 2) Wait. Sit in front of God. Just shut up so that he can speak. Be still and know he is God. Again for me this was a long waiting process where I have been trying to wait on him. 3) Walk. For the kingdom of Judah this meant walking into battle praising God, with the "Men's Glee Club" in front of the army. Sometimes God calls us to do sorta strange things, generally I think so that we can recognize that it wasn't thru our own strenght that God moved. After we wait, God will give us a few steps of obedience to live out and will see if were willing to follow. For me this means turning down what seems to be (from the world's perspective) a golden opportunity and a certain job. 4) Watch. Just sit back (walking in obedience of course) and watch to see what God will do for you. He destroyed Judah's enemies. He is a strong God whose arm can save easily. Just look to see God move. For me this is right now. I am watching for you God, please show your awesome providence and power. This leads me to now. I am open to God's movement in my life. Its utterly terrifying yet also sweet because I feel so alive. I likey.
----- -------- AUTHOR: Andy Nuetzel TITLE: Purity Rocks DATE: 3/27/2006 01:47:00 PM ----- BODY:
This past weekend I was blessed by the high school purity retreat that I was privelaged to help out at. We call it Men of Honor, Women of Purity and spend the weekend telling high schoolers about how God has created us to live. The guys sessions delve into John Eldridge's Wild at Heart line of thinking, saying that there are three parts to a man's heart: A Battle to Fight An Adventure to Live A Beauty to Rescue What is cool to me is that God has created guys to love girls, and girls to love guys. But ultimately these lead to all of us realizing that the other will not satisfy us. In Don Miller's 'Blue Like Jazz' he talks of a play he wrote and a man talking to his wife. The man is trying to understand why God has allowed him to love his wife and he is working on what this love for his wife shows him about his relationship to God. Basically the point is that God wants us to love him. We get practice in our relationships with everyone else. Ultimately the closest experience that we can have to knowing someone is a committed marriage relationship. This relationship still fails in comparison to the agape love that God has for us and desires of us. The symbol of the church as the bride of Christ becomes more understandable when we realize what the love is like in marriage. It was a great weekend. I got to hear and hopefully speak lots of truth into the lives of some pretty cool high school guys. We got to mess around and have good ole "Wild at Heart Time." We also learned about guys, girls, and ultimately more about God.
----- COMMENT: AUTHOR:Blogger Ted M. Gossard DATE:4/19/2006 09:09:00 PM Andy, Thanks for sharing that. Great truth there. So much we can learn through the committed relationship of marriage (me- 20 years) towards what our relationship with God is to be. And good to hear of the good time you had with the youth.

Thanks again. ----- -------- Exegesis on Andy

Jan 20, 2007

Interesting Article

This is a good article, if you have time to read it. (I personally suggest that Ethan himself read it) Warning it's kinda long (8 Word Pages), but it clarifies (at least a little) on what the emerging movement is and isn't.

Jan 11, 2007

The Belated Holidays

There are three amazing excuses for which I will explain why I haven't blogged.
1. My pictures are too big for blogger. (anyone have good picture editing software? I'd love something simple and cheap)
2. I am far too busy to post. But I will do it anyways.
3. I hate the new blogger (stupid Google has to ruin everything) although it actually just worked perfectly.
Here's some pictures.

This is my little Brother with his favorite Christmas gift. It's a wonderful little deer call that sounds like a rather large man with a belching problem. He did it the whole morning as it was the first gift he opened up.

Here is the wonderful Tori with the newest addition to the Hunsucker Family. My Cousin Eddie and his wife Anne, have an adorable baby, Mary. She is absolutely beautiful and this picture is a small way for me to ask my cousin Ed for forgiveness. He was maybe the last person on Earth to know about me and Tori's engagement. He still hasn't forgiven me yet.
This is an amazing picture of some of the fun we had while shooting off fireworks at 11pm on Christmas Eve. It's a new Pitsch family tradition, and maybe one of the greatest, as me and the guys get to shoot off explosives and make loud noises. Me likey...

Here's the family playing one of the new games that Andy and Nancy got everyone. This one is called "Don't Fence Me In" (according to me) and the object is for me to always beat Nate Dogg. It only works sometimes.

Here is my lovely fiance and me standing in front of the circle downtown after eating extravagantly with a night downtown courtesy of our friends Scott and Maureen Watson.

This last picture is why my soon to be father-in-law should never be able to tell me to get a haircut. (although I doubt he would anyways.)

Dec 1, 2006

Communication

So I am learning about Communicating. It sort of goes with the whole getting married, pre-marriage counseling thing. I like it. I am also talking about communication this week at youth group. I am going to try to figure out what it means to communicate with God, and share this with the youth. It's interesting and funny how something can be so easy, but get screwed up so quickly. Say for example that I have a cool thought flow thru my brain. Then I want to share this with Tori. Now I have to express this thought (which in my head seems like a series of words with associated meanings) and so I say what those words are. But when they are transmitted from my head, thru my mouth, into Tori's ear, into her head, those same words that had some meaning or thought behind them, can be changed into another meaning in her head. Thats odd and funny, frustrating and interesting. So the solution to mixed messages, is to be a better communicator which means getting to know the way the other person thinks. The act of communicating is the act of trying to figure out how to express yourself in a way that the person can understand. That's really fascinating, and also pretty new to me. It also requires patience and practice. (wow this youth group meeting is getting better at all times). The funny thing about communication is that its principles don't change. The same way that I have to know Tori to express my thoughts so that she can understand is true with God. The more that we know one another and are around one another the better we can communicate. Cool stuff. Makes this whole postmodern thingy of language as reality interesting as well.... Thats all for today... be blessed and sorry that I never seem to update.

Nov 9, 2006

your Real identity

Be encouraged this day in your identity in Christ. Taken from 1 Peter. "As obedient children, do not be conformed to the passions of your former ignorance, but as he who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct," "According to his great mercy, he has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the ressurection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heave for you, who by God's power are being guarded through faith for a salvation ready to be revealied in the last time. In this you rejoice..." Having purified your souls by your obedience to the truth for a sincere brotherly love, love one another earnestly from a pure heart, sinc e you have been born again, not of perishable seed but of imperishable, through the living and abiding word of God... But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclam the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light. Once you were not a people, but now you are God's people; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy. Honor everyone. Love the brotherhood. Fear God. Honor the emperor. That's just in the first 2 chapters... Be blessed to the glory of the Father.

Nov 8, 2006

Thankfulness

I have thousands of things that I can and should be thankful for. But one sorta stands out at this direct moment. I came into the office and decided to check up on my emails, which I had 27 of. that's alot for me. especially when I have a dial up connection. But thankfully I do not have that dial up connection any longer. we've jumped to the super fast information superhighway DSL line, and I seriously couldn't have waited another day. In a few minutes I made it thru my emails and shot up this post on my blog, all while having streaming music videos playing thru relevantmagazine.com This is good. My blog and my fiancee's email inbox shall appreciate it.

Oct 16, 2006

Hello World

Hey there. Its' 10.16.06. And I am engaged to the wonderful, and beautiful Victoria Pitsch. Here's us. We're thrilled to share this with family and friends and you'll hear more soon. Goodnight. (and if you're wondering about the hole in my jeans, it's because that was my practice knee.)

Oct 11, 2006

Redeeming the Old Testament Stories

So I've been doing some reading of scripture lately, mostly for prep for teaching Bible Study and Sunday Night X-files. Here's two totally cool intraconnnections that I've noticed in scripture. First comes from Psalm 46. It’s a song about how God is there even when things look like their over our heads (thanks Fray.) The song was written by some guy during David's reign and it was too be sung by a certain group of appointed singers. Hold that thought. Rewind back to the days of Moses wandering in the desert. He's trying to get the people to rely on God and get used to the 40 years of wandering. The funny thing is that God was probably REALLY excited about those years because it could have been the greatest time of dependence of the Israelites in their history, if they would have just sucked it up and stopped complaining. But they didn't. There was a guy from the Levites (the group that was to help out in the worship services) who wanted to his group to be the priests, although that was reserved for Aaron's sons. The guys name was Korah and he led a big rebellion of Levites who wanted to be priests. Moses said that God would judge between them. In the end 250 wannabe priests were consumed by God's fire. Also Dathan and Abiram's households and families, and Korah himself and his stuff were all sucked into the ground as it opened up and swallowed them. Pretty much the only stuff that wasn't 'devoted' to the Lord was Korah's sons. Fast-forward to the time of David. Korah's great great... grandson's were still Levites who helped out in the worship service, this time as singers. Note: the Levites were not a bunch of lunatics that stood on a mountainside casting down firebombs, nor were any of them to my knowledge known as Tim. But back to the point, I personally wouldn't want to be remembered as a 'son of Korah', but rather a few generations back to possibly a 'son of Levi' (which has problems as well). This wasn't the case for these singers though. They were referred back to that old story of a relative they probably didn't like too much. Here's were the irony comes in. Psalm 46:1-3. God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble. Therefore we will not fear, though the earth give way and the mountains fall into the heart of the sea, though its waters roar and foam and the mountains quake with their surging. According to this song, we are to look to God as our salvation even when things are going bad. As bad as the earth giving way. Now I am no OT scholar but the only other time I remember the earth giving way was when Korah and his friends were swallowed by them. This amazes me that generations later, God is redeeming the sons of Korah. They now look to God as their help, EVEN when the earth gives way. Irony? Sounds like it, mixed in with tons of Redemption. Here’s another instance of redemption. The setting is John 4. Jesus in an act that most other Jews would completely resist crosses through Samaria to get home to Galilee. Most other Jews of his day would have taken every opportunity to avoid the Samaritans. The reason is in point #1 Background point number #1. The nation of Israel was split into 12 tribes, the 12 sons of Jacob/Israel. This tribe developed into nations, or sub nations. They all united during the Time of David. The disbanded shortly after. There were 10 in the north and Judah in the south. The northern kingdom fell, and its peoples intermarried with the captors and they stayed there. This came to be the Samaritans. The southern kingdom fell later, but a group of them abstained from intermarriage and in the time of Ezra-Nehemiah came back and established themselves as the ‘new’ Israelites. These became the Jews of the Jesus day. They Jews and Samaritans were sort of half related, but the Jews despised the Samaritans. Background point #2. In this day and age of Jesus (and further back and also for a long time in the future) women had an extremely low standing in society. They were looked down on as inferior and incomplete and were seen somewhat as property for the most parts. They were around the same level as slaves, and children. So for starters it is extremely big deal for Jesus to go up and just start talking with a Samaritan woman on his way home. This meeting probably wouldn’t happen with any other Rabbi’s of the day. This shows me that Jesus truly cares about the marginalized and people who don’t have a voice in our society. But it goes much further than that. Point #3 – The place that Jesus met her was in the town of Sychar, near the well that Jacob gave his son Joseph, and where Jacob fed his flocks. I don’t believe that Sychar is mentioned anywhere else, so I looked up info on Jacob’s well, or the land that Jacob gave Joseph. Genesis 48:22 tells about the land that Jacob gave to Joseph. “Moreover, I have given to you rather than your brothers one mountain slope*, that I took from the hand of the Amorites with my sword and with my bow.” The one mountain slope*, could be translated possibly as a mountain ridge or shoulder. The Hebrew word (to the best of my knowledge) is ‘shechem.’ There was an area known as Shechem at that same time. Some scholars (and although not really a scholar, I myself) think that the ridge that Jacob gave to Joseph was Shechem, which many many years later would become the home of the Samaritans the same town now known as Sychar. By now you are probably saying, “Oh that’s absolutely amazing Andy, please tell me more.” Well, I shall. The other time we hear about Shechem is also in the OT, or as Pastor Paul would say Old School, in Genesis 34. This is my least favorite story in the bible. One of the Shechemites, saw one of Jacob’s daughters and lusted after her and took her and defiled her. Afterwards his family and friends ask Jacob’s sons for the girl to be given to him in marriage. The raped this girl and now they want to have a peace treaty. Well the brothers aren’t so sure, so they tell them that if they want to become friends then the whole town of Shechem must become like them and worship the One, True God. They Shechemites think, sure, that sounds fine well marry their daughters if we act like we worship their God. These Shechemites were the first people to go and become converted to ‘Judaism.’ The problem is that they didn’t last long. The conversion process to Judaism has one critical painful part, circumcision. Three days after the whole town of Shechem circumcised themselves, two of Jacob’s sons came in with swords and killed all the men. One of the sons was the aforementioned Levi. So in review, the town that Jesus visited was possibly/probably one and the same as the town in the OT where the sons of Jacob slew the Shechemites. Well how does this connect? Similar to the bad connotation that the name Korah had, the town of Sychar/Shechem had a rocky history. It was the place of the first converts to Judaism, and it was also the first place that Jesus preached to those outside of Judaism. The first converts to Judaism and the first converts to Christianity were in the same small town. So instead of remembering the town with the residual OT baggage, it is redeemed by its Maker as the place in which Christ is first proclaimed outside of the Jews. Not only that but Jesus actually claims that he is the Christ (John 4:26) for what is, to my knowledge, the first time. So in all the places that Jesus could have told people he was the Christ he chooses to do so in a small town, that has a history for savage violence in the name of religion, to a woman, a Samaritan woman, a Samaritan woman who has had 5 different husbands. If I have ever grasped how much God cares for the Lost, it may be right now. One last tidbit is that, (again to my knowledge) this is the longest one on one conversation that Jesus has with anyone in the entire recorded Gospel record. To say that God doesn’t care for the unknown, hurting, and lost is blasphemous. It also gives me a much greater appreciation for Redemption. God is so into redemption that he will go so far as redeeming the stories of the OT. Well that’s a lot of blogging for a day. Be blessed and get to know this God who loves all…..

Oct 10, 2006

Super Computer

Hey there all you computer nerds (myself, and probably Ethan). I recently got a computer for work at CCML. and its AMAZING. I am really blessed to have a good computer to work from. I have a Compaq with 3.5 GHz processor and 150ish GB of space. To all you non-computer geeks, that means I can do stuff fast, and hold all the stuff I'd ever need. I also will have the ability to connect up to a TV for cool powerpoint lyrics stuff straight in the youth room. Although with my huge ole 17" monitor I almost have the same size on the TV screen. I also have a DVD/CD burner that is supposedly sweet (now with lightscribe technology). Also Pastor Paul and I figured out how to connect to the internet at the same time so we can do lots of cool stuff, and I can keep this site more updated (with much more Youth Ministry Content to follow..) Thats all now. See ya'll sooner.

Oct 9, 2006

Hey there peoples. I haven't blogged in awhile because I've been kinda busy lately. So what might I have been doing that's kept me from bloggin. Well I have been working at the wonderful FedEx and that is not the most greatest place ever. I have been working there for just about a month now and it is getting to become normal and repetitive. I go in, stretch, push boxes, then stack. Wooo fun. Actually its not a bad job its pretty good (when I get benefits) except that it takes a little too long. If I could do it for like two hours a day, Mon-Fri in the morning, 7-9ish. I would be ecstatic. The big deal is that it takes so much of the day (5-6 hrs a day in the prime of the day). In other news the Youth Pastor Job is going pretty good. This week we talked about God's Control / Free Will, and it went great. We also had some sweet Frisbee games. On Tuesday we went over John 3 and that also went well. David Riggleman made a great point about the distinguishment between the Spirit and spirit (vs 6). We also linked the Spirit that gives birth to spirit to Psalm 104:30, where God sends forth his Spirit and they shall be created. It was a cool night. This week we have Bible study again, (John 4), and Christian Life Training Sunday morning, and then X-Files on Sunday night. Should be good times. Today is actually my day off and I am going to get some things done and just relax. Last week on my day off I bought a couple of movies, including X-men and then got sucked into the whole trilogy that threw my week off. It got me wondering why do I sometime try to escape reality with movies or video games, or whatever else. I mean I KNOW that my life is really REAL when I am connected to Christ, but I get desires randomly to try escapism.... I wonder... Well thats it, so I should go know.

Sep 14, 2006

So it's obviously been a long time since I blogged like normal, so I am gonna give a quick update on my life. 1. I started at FedEx this week (well at least the physically demanding part started this week). Its not too bad yet. I have a not too hard job if I am just pushing, (push packages down a slide). Its more difficult if they have me be a checker because then I have to check in the packages and load/stack/toss them into position before they go on a plane. I am hopefully going to get to be a tug driver (picture a mini train with me driving minus the cute engineer hat). But yes Fedex is officially started and I am working hard there. 2. Murphy's Landing is about to start the regular scheduled youth ministry. I am super psyched because we've been having fun events and getting to know one another but this week we will throw God into that mix so much more. We are starting a new series called the X-files, where we will be looking into what is really Real. It should prove interesting and exciting. This week we look at the meaning of life and the next week we start to look at who God is. I am also excited about our Bible study that will be starting next Tues. Good times in the book of John. 3. I still love Wednesday night Bible study. Greg Manship is the Man at leading a thought provoking discussion. His one flaw is he's still not saying enough controversial stuff. He can play the devil's advocate pretty good, and would probably frighten many blue haired conservative Evangelicals but us po-mo's want more Greg. Bring it on. 4. I still love the pleasure and honor of getting to know the wonderful and beautiful Victoria Pitsch. Hi there Beautiful. We had a great weekend hanging out with her family over Labor Day. You can check it out at any of their sites. 5. My alarm just went off so I gotsta go. Peace out Homeskillet.

Aug 27, 2006

The Life and Times... (2nd installment)

of andy nuetzel... So alot has happened over the past few months. Most notably I have become the Youth Pastor at Community Church of Murphys Landing. I'm pretty siked as I completely believe that this is where God has called me. I am enjoying trying to build, or think about building up a ministry to the kids in the church, schools (namely Perry and Center Grove) and in the local community. I mainly only know the youth ministry at Southport Pres. So I am going to try and implement some of the stuff that works there (basically loving God and kids). We actually have our first event tonight. Other things that are going on. I love my Wednesday night Bible study led by Greg Manship. He's one cool cat who Really gets the blood flowing thru my brain as I think through stuff. I also enjoy the fellowship and prayer with my friends. I may have a job with FedEx. Kinda excited about that but still not really sure. Could be great, could be good, could be not so good. I am still enjoying getting to know the lovely, beautiful, talented, and gracious Tori Pitsch. (she probably blushed at that, while Sister Jenn went 'awwwww' Prove me wrong Jen. Prove me wrong.) Thats about it, other than the fact that I am now an old 24 year old man. See ya'll later.

What is the Gospel (Part 3)

Before I begin. I owe all of you a major apology. I have held off on printing this blog for FAR too long and I've no doubt lost all of my loyal fanbase. For this I am sorry. Especially for anyone who really does need to know the good news of the Gospel. But first we continue with a slight recap Part 1 - The God who made us, loves us, also wants to reveal himself to us. Part 2 - We are not good and cant really have a relationship with God because we aren't perfect. Part 3 - (finally) The Good News, the Gospel, is that God still loves us. His love is ridiculous. His love is extravegent. His love goes way beyond what we think love is. His love is demonstrated to us in many ways. The first is called Immanuel. Immanuel means 'God with us'. The person of Jesus, is actually one part of God Himself, coming down to earth and taking up a life like anyone else. The sin thing that we humans have needs to be made up, cleared up by a human, because Humans are the one who have broken the relationship. So this guy Jesus, is not just any ordinary guy, but God come down to live among us. Thats the Good News part 3a = God with us. Part 3b is that this God-Man Jesus, went beyond just hanging out in a human body with super divine powers. Phillippians 2:7, in a poem about who this Jesus Christ is, tells us that he 'made himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness.' Hebrews 4:15 tells us that this God-Man was also tempted just like all of us other humans, except he never fell to temptation. Jesus came as a human, and lived a sinless life, as a model for what the rest of us humans should try to strive for. Part 3c is that Jesus came and died on a cross for our sins. He suffered the death that we all deserve. In the old testament people who sinned had to make a sacrifice for their sins. The punishment of sinning is that death must occur. In the olden times the death was all the perfect animals that were offered on our behalf. One of the most popular names for Jesus, The Lamb, or the Lamb that Was Slain, points us back to the picture of the old testament. Jesus was crucified to make atonement (to cover up) for our sins. Instead of killing a billion animals to make us sorta right with God, God himself choose to come and sacrifice himself on our behalf so that the problem of sin, the death, could be fixed. Part 3d is that Jesus didn’t stay dead. Death could not hold the Son of God in the grave. Rom 6:9-10 says that “since Christ was raised from the dead, he cannot die again; death no longer has mastery over him. The death he died, he died to sin once for all; but the life he lives, he lives to God.” Jesus Christ was glorified and raised up from death as a testament to God’s power and the power of his love for us. Jesus now sits at the right hand of God and intercedes for us. The good news is that God wants a relationship with you. The Good News is that he makes it possible to have a relationship with him through Jesus Christ. That’s the best flipping news the universe has ever heard. Praise be to God. This fact that God wants a relationship with you is different than any other religion in the world. Allah did not be a human so that he could relate to us and we could relate to him. The difference between God and all other gods is that he knows firsthand how to relate to us, because he has been in our skin. That truly is good news that is hopefully worth the wait. Be blessed.

Jul 23, 2006

What am I Grateful For?

I know I should be telling you all about what the good news is. But I need to take a break and tell a little about what on Earth that I am grateful for. I am generally not a grateful person as much as I need to be, so I want to take some time to rant about all the things in the world that are wonderful. 9 - Blogger's easy Picture Add In Method... Now I know that I said I was going to be grateful, however this one will is extremely sarcastic. I have been working on this post for 30 minutes (on the pictures alone, but i can't get it to work. Just use your imagination...) 8 – Music What a strange thing. Making strange sounds with your voice can bring such sweet joy to your life. Add some strings being plucked and some drums being beat on and it has the ability to change your life. I am very thankful for Jars of Clay, David Crowder Band, and Siler’s Bald (even though I haven’t really ever had a Siler’s Bald CD, but Ethan Pitsch does.) 7 – Mountains Now I know that they aren’t very abundant in Indy, but I love this huge rocks. They point up to the sky and just force you to realize your smallness. They are beautiful and make me happy. I like them a lot… Especially when they have old people on them. 6 – Great food. God has blessed the Earth with so many WONDERFUL variations of food. We could just all eat grass like cows, but no we can eat the cow. Or the Chicken, or my favorite, seafood. Last week I was blessed to enjoy the Ultimate Feast at Red Lobster. I love lobster tail, crab legs and shrimp. This had all. I thank you so much God for such a wonderful selection of food to eat. I am excited thinking about it. Here is a pic… 5 – Lazy Sunday Afternoons I didn’t get to really enjoy one of these today, but it was still a good day. I love having a day where I get home from church, the weather is very favorable (mid 80’s) and having nothing to do on Sunday from 1-8pm. Just sit back enjoy the sun, read, and sleep. Rest in God. Rest in peaceful moments. Here’s a picture of a lazy river… also pretty great 4 – My Friends I have been blessed with some great friends for a long time. I’ve known Nick Epple and Jordan Heid for roughly 18 years. I have known many other friends for 10+ years. I am blessed to have so many friends for so long in such a short life of mine. God continue to bless my friendships and may we continue challenge one another towards Godliness. 3 - My Family I love my family a lot, even though I probably don’t every really show it like I should. I think that God has blessed me so much and that I am very much in debt to him for having a family that loves one another so well. I am thankful that my parents love one another and work hard to keep us together. I love my bro Adam and his beautiful wife Sarah. I would never admit it but Adam has always taught me a lot about life and I am very thankful for him. I am thankful for my “little” bro Alex and that he still realizes that I can beat him in everything, including basketball, wrestling, racing, and I’d probably be a better hunter if I didn’t have reservations about killing Bambi. I love you guys a lot. PS check out my site. 2 - My girlfriend. the Beautiful and gracious Victoria Pitsch. I thank God for you. You are beautiful on the inside and on the outside. May God bless our love and friendship and may he lead us in all areas of our lives. (thankfully not too many people read this site, so you shouldn't blush that much) Here's a picture of her pretty face. 1 - My God My rock, savior, deliverer, peace, comfort and everything. He made it all and has blessed me with every good thing in him. Oh my God, how I love you and thank you for being here in my life and touching me in all the ways that you do. You are so wonderful and amazing and make my life great. I can never thank you for any small thing you've done, yet I will try the rest of my life.

Jul 20, 2006

What is the Gospel (Part 2)

The much anticipated part 2. This post is the 'What is the Gospel Part 2'. Part one of the Gospel is that there is a God who wants to reveal himself to us. The part that I left out is the character of who this God is. Who would want to meet a malicious god, especially if that god were not the One True God. In addition to God wanting to reveal himself to us is that he is the God who made us, for good, for our own good, and this God loves us. So part 1 in its (more) entirety is that the God, who loves us, made us, and wants to know us, is revealing himself to us. So what is part 2 of the ‘Good’ news. This part is a little more strange, and doesn’t actually sound like good news, because its not. The bad part of the good news is that we are not good. Human beings are no longer good. God created us with two main characteristics. The first is that we are made in the image of God, (which means we were made good). But the second characteristic or quality is that we also have the ability to choose. God loved us and gave us the power of free will.1 The problem is that the first two humans made a choice to disobey God, to sin. This sin or disobediance caused a separation between humans and God. We can no longer stand in his gracious prescence no more. Part two of the good news is that we are not really good at all and we are all in danger of being eternally separated from our God who created us and reveals himself to us. And what better way to end a brief note on good news than to tell you that you’re not good and are deserving of eternal separation. Well, I am afraid that is where this post is going to leave you. I will update this post after tomorrow with the best of good news that is so worth hearing. So don’t go dying on me…

Jul 13, 2006

What is the Gospel (Part 1)

This is a post that I really want to look at, and in fact I am going to get started on it tonight, knowing that I haven't any chance of finishing what I want to talk about. In a bible study I have been attending the past couple of weeks we are trying to learn how to read the Bible. Its funny, because I’ve known how to read for around 16-18 years, yet only a very small fraction of that time have I been able to read the Bible correctly (if I can even do that I am still wondering) How often do I read my bible because I am supposed to. Or as if it’s something on a list that I want to check off. Or maybe I read so that I can be inspired. Maybe I sometimes read the bible so that I come off as much smarter, so that I can recite the line of succession of the kings of Babylon as some cheap party trick or something. Maybe I read the bible so that I feel good at night. All of these reasons are very wrong. The Bible is the story of God revealing himself to people thru relationships and it is written by those people who knew God. The point of this book is a means by which the God of the Universe decided to reveal himself to us. This is part 1 of the Gospel, that God has chosen to reveal himself. That is a miracle in and of itself that we don’t deserve, and are supremely blessed. The good news part 1 is that God wants us to know him. And unfortunately that is all the time I have. I knew that I was going to be upset with this post. Don’t worry all, more gospel will come (probably not until next Monday though, my deepest apologies.)

Jul 4, 2006

God's Life Vs My Life... Fight to the Finish

...ignore the whole "fight to the finish part"... that has nothing to do with this post, I just have a weird way of thinking and sometimes I add things where they don't go, just so that it makes sense to me, even if it doesn't make any sense to anyone else. So I have been thinking the last couple days about personal autonomy and God ordaining of Stuff. I also have been reading Eugene Peterson's Eat This Book, whose goal is to try and teach us how to read the Bible. One of the topics that is in the first couple of chapters is shows us how we use the Bible, God's story, to supplement our lives, spiritually, academically, inspirationally or whatever. He makes the case that all too often we decide that we are the ultimate reality and focus everything around us and not around God, who created us. So I was thinking that the question that I ask myself semi-often may be somewhat flawed. The question that I ask too often is "What is God doing in my life?" The motive behind the question is generally good and valid I believe, however the focus is wrong. The focus in that question tends to be that God is only moving in my life, or otherwise the only meaningful place that God is woring happens to be MY life. When we look at it, and look at the Holy Scriptures it tells us that God is always working. He is also working in everyone else' life and not just Mine. Therefore I proposed a new question. This question is "What am I doing in God's life?" My question about this question is does it really shift the focus from Me and my Life to God and his Life? I initially thought so, and liked this question, however to someone on the outside of my brain, they might not get all the initial connections going on in there. When I thought of this question the presuppositions that were in place where that 1) God is working 2) He invites me to work and I have to decide to join him 3) He desires to use me alongside himself in his work. I came across these presuppostions thru Jesus talking about his Father doing work. Jesus talks about God always doing work, and everything that Jesus does is alongside his father. This is found in John 5:16-30. The proble I run into is, is the phrasing, "What am I doing in God's life?" continue to put the emphasis on me, where it doesn't belong, or on God, where it does belong. With the three presuppositions in place I think that it works, however if one has to explain all those it may loose out on its pithyness or its complete point. So the new question was formed, "Where is God working that he wants me to join Him?" I guess that I would like all of your opinions on the best, most pithy, most complete, most God centered question of the three. - What is God doing in my life? - What am I doing in God's life? - Where is God working that He wants me to join Him? So please vote thru the comments and continue to join God wherever you see him working.

Jun 30, 2006

The Life and Times....

of andy nuetzel... To my many adoring fans, (tori) I must apologize for never ever updating this slice of my life. So to the rest of the world that cares to listen in on my thoughts here's whats going on in my life. 1. Finished my 490 Research project on Wednesday. I am unofficially a college gradeate. Yippie Yea. I got a B in the class which I was told I earned. I'd much rather have that earned B than any other unearned grade. Thank you Jesus for helping me through this entire process. You rock. Lets move on. 2. In a stunning blow to my anticipated future I found out that God doesn't want me to be a Youth Pastor at New Castle First Baptist Church. I never actually had the job, however, I did pretty much fall in love with it. I don't know exactly why or what it was that made me like that church and its people so much but it was a real heartbreak. I had spent around two months getting to know this church and it was a real refreshing place to visit. They have an awesome group of adults who love and care for them and are wanting to glorify God by ministering to their teens. I was gettin pysched because I wanted to be a part of it. I pray for this church and their new youth pastor. May he be what they need to continue to make disciples. I also had an interview with another church roughly 10 min. after finding out about this job. (Which wasn't ideal) God is good and the pastor that I talked to is cool and nice and understanding. I just want to be near to God. As I traveled on the country roads of mid-central Indiana I got to sing and praise the God of all. He is such a good God. He loves me more than I can wrap my head around. It was a time of healing, honesty, and straight up rocking worship with my two car mates, Mr. Shane, and Mr. Shane. (Aka shane and shane). We all three worshipped God, poured our hearts out and set ourselves on the Altar of His Will. It was hard, yet good. God is always Good and I like to recognize that and tell myself that. All in all yesterday was one of the best days that I've probably had in 9-12 months. Not because I got one of my heart's great desires taken from me but because I connected and hung out with my hearts greatest desire. What more can I say than God is sooooooo good. 3. I am re-evaluating my search for a youth pastor position. Anyone know a church that I want to be at? If you do please comment on it. I am open to God's call. Plus I know, thru yesterday, that God so reaffirmed my calling. 4. I am trying to re-consilidate my school loans and have less than 5 hours for this stupid internet thingy to work. Did you know that they now have the internet on computers? Well I'll be...

Jun 8, 2006

The Beast is (nearly) Dead

" And I saw a beast coming out of the sea. He had ten horns and seven heads, with ten crowns on his horns, and on each head a blasphemous name. 2The beast I saw resembled a leopard, but had feet like those of a bear and a mouth like that of a lion. The dragon gave the beast his power and his throne and great authority. 3One of the heads of the beast seemed to have had a fatal wound, but the fatal wound had been healed. The whole world was astonished..." i was going to write about how I am finished with my project, (or mostly) and the beast (the project) is dead (or nearly dead). but stupid Blogger decided to erase my beautiful witty post. I am not going to finish it now.... My project is so close to done, I just turned in my first (and hopefully last) complete report. Just gotta make minor corrections (i hope) and then give a presentation.... Then it's on to 'real' life. Praise Jesus!

May 16, 2006

And Now For Something Completely Different...

Well as I was saying just the other day that it is so wonderful to have stuff always flying through your head, such as songs, videos, books, and other stuff.... well I think that I'd like to recant that. I would say that at times it helps productivity to be immersed in some funky fresh techno that allows your brain to process whatever silly homework assignment that you have to do, (such as mind numbing data analysis with Excel, and some technical paper stuff). After a weekend of busyness and fun-filled times to the max (such as a graduation that takes place during my normal church worship service), I have found out that I miss the silence. Actually I find that all too often I am scared of the silence. Let me explain a lil. I find that all too often myself (and presumably most of the entire World) is caught up in time. We, middle class Americans, rush from one activity to the next with nary a dull or quiet moment between. We have radios for the ride to work, IPods from the car to the job (and possibly longer) and playing a game of solitare on a different window while we work (well not me, I don't like the game). We get back home and turn the TV and let a constant stream of noise into our heads. If we don't get enough noise we start talking to friends on our cells or IM's. And if we don't get enough of others thoughts we drown out our thoughts in our sports, or other leisure activities. As long as we don't have to face the silence we are happy. Or are we. This morning I had realized how little silence I allow into my day. I was running late but realized that I hadn't given Jesus any time to really talk to me in the past couple days. So I gave him five minutes. I rationalized that 5 min. was entirely way too long to sit and listen with all the stuff that I had to get done. Normally when I try to sit and listen I get frustrated because I never think I hear something. Well by God's grace, today was different. As soon as I quieted down I heard a million things. And wonder of wonders, the five minutes was over in no time. But I had heard from God, and it was good. I think my problem is that all too often I have a wrong view of God. I assume that as soon as I become silent he will point out all my faults and screw ups. So I continue to screw up and live without him for the sake of not having to hear about how I screw up. But whenever, and I mean whenever I start to actually listen to him I only hear love. He assures me that I am not the worst person ever, (even if I tell myself I am.) He speaks wisdom on what I need to get done. He tells me who I am (seated in Heaven at Christs side, free from sin, a slave to him, etc). IT's always good news, even when he gently rebukes me. Why am I scared of Silence. What on Earth is there to be afraid of when the silence is always going to begin speaking to me and telling me how much my Savior loves me. We were built for silence and rest. God made 1/7 of our days about rest. Then he made rest even more a part of our lives. We are geared so that we have to rest each day and sleep 1/3-1/5 of the day. On top of that (as my friend JVD pointed out) we have all of these annoying habits that get in the way of our high efficiency workdays. Things like eating, or using the restroom. These are all things that are a part of our physical bodies. Its almost like God is saying, "hey, slow down, listen to the silence. I am waiting..." In fact He probably is saying that to you. Let our prayers be that we don't forget our first love for any hour of the day. Let your breakfast, lunch, dinner, sleep, potty breaks remind you to listen to God. He won't be silent once you become silent. "Be still and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted among the earth." Psalm 46:10

May 12, 2006

Wonders of Wonders

Relevant TV is just about the most wonderful / horrific website in the world. Go to www.relevantmagazine.com and then check out the TV launcher. It plays a whole bunch of different songs and music videos. Warning (horrific part) : can be addictive and draw you in if you try to watch. It helped me to waste most of yesterday. But Today the day was mine. I put the vidoes on but didn't watch, just listened to them. I had been addicted to www.derekwebb.com for a time because it allows me to listen to 4-5 of his songs on repeat. I just like to have music in the background. Back to the title. I would say that the internet is a wonderous thing. Note that I did not say wonderful. Just wonderous. Yes, there is so much cool stuff (blogs, podcasts, Relevantmagazine.com, and any other thing under the sun that could be interesting) yet at the time there is so much filth (including anything under the sun that isn't so uplifting... even my stinking Yahoo mail has ads that are scandal-los). I also am not sure of the long term benefits of the constant info flowing in and out of my head while its glued to this screen. Yes I think there could be benefits (reaction time, ability to process different things at once) but what are the downsides? Any comments would be helpful. In other news I think that I majorly whipped up on my research project this afternoon. I think the music helped, unlike yesterday. Well its been fun but now I get to go hang out with Jesus. I wonder how the constant noise makes him feel?

May 9, 2006

Almost Home

I was looking online today and I noticed a little something on my IUPUI account. Time is almost up for the turning in of grades, and I noticed that I got some of mine. Now I had been a little scared, (actually deathly afraid is more like it) of my thermodynamics class. I am in my last semester and have to take Thermodynamics for my physics major and I don't exactly comprehend it all. But according to the grades today I had a B-. That means I pass. I have passed all of my physics classes with what I need to get in them except for my research class which I am working on now. It is good. I am almost there. When I finish my research I will probably cry and wet myself and jump for joy and sing and dance and wet myself again. It will be a good day. But until that day I feel like little Frodo Baggins, carrying the ring of power up the last mountain. Its just such a heavy weight, a weight that makes me forget the shire, forget sunshine, and strawberries and flowers and all that is good in this world. Almost there and then after I finish this project I will toss that ring into the fiery furnace of Mt Dune. More on this when I finish and I will be able to explain so that it doesn't sound so strange. Until that day...

Apr 25, 2006

Theology and its point

I have not been writing lately and I must apologize to all of my loyal fanbase (Tori and Ben you know who you are.) Instead of inserting my own thoughts lately I have been doing a lot more reading of the Jesus Creed Blog. Its great because smart theologians and whatnot converse on there about all kinds of interesting stuff. Very academic at times. Well lately they have been looking at the issue of Atonement. This is a nice big word that we generally say is to cover something up. What I am learning is that it is important to get definitions right because they in turn can influence action. What I mean is this. If we define sin as something small, such as a personal offense to God, then it is possible that we likely define atonement in some similar small terms, such as the payment for the personal offense to God. If people only think of sin as a personal thing that they did, instead of a part of their nature and all else that is entailed in sin, then the definition of atonement is reduced. When we have a reduced idea of who Jesus was and what he did to transform, change, make new, renew, revive, restore, make whole, enable, empower, liberate us, then we dont live out the life we are called to (sorta like John Eldridge/Rob Bell/ lots of others reminding us of how our heart (once saved) is good.) When people don't understand (possibly through our teaching) all that Jesus did, then they don't recieve all that he has for them (freedom, holy living, etc.) It is interesting for me to see 'theology in action,' as I am calling it. I sometimes think that people are too academic and worry too much about how to define what the Christian life is that they don't actually go and experience it (as some possibly do). The point of theology (in my opinion) is to give us a full robust view/knowledge of who God is and how he wants us to live so that our lives reflect his glory and that we actually live out that greatness he wants for us. Hopefully I did some justice to the enlightning thoughts being discussed on Jesus Creed and the discussion on Atonement / Penal Substitution that they are talking about. Other concerns - Why don't I pray more. I hate how little I pray. I have been hearing/thinking more and more about having daily set times of prayer (such as maybe following the Book of Common Prayer or something) yet I haven't done it. I actually keep telling myself that I'll do it soon, yet I always put it off. Well not today. I am going to go pray now. Be blessed all you faithful who read this.

Apr 11, 2006

Double Digits

I once remember reading about a boy who was turning ten years old. His mom told him that this was a very special birthday. It is not every year you get to add a whole decimal position to your age. The first is 1 year, then you wait 9 years to get to 2 digits, and then you have to wait 90 years until you get to have that third digit. Well as I am remembering, I made the decision to be a Christian in my 7th grade year at Southport Middle School. That was about a week before Easter. I had told myself that I ought to wait until Easter and then it'd be REALLY special. But thankfully the Spirit reminded my young mind that I could die before then. So at 13 years old, a week before Easter I went into talk to Mr. Miller who I knew from Campus Life. I told him what was up and then we prayed and I accepted Jesus into my heart. (although these days I don't exactly know what to think about it.. Did I accept him... or did he accept me... or was it just the first step on my own will to follow God's will... was I really saved... did I/do I still have salvation that has to be worked out...) Regardless of whether salvation is a moment, or if its lifelong, that was the start of me actually thinking of myself as a Christian. I have screwed up much in the following ten years but its been good. I can't really describe it. Of all the stuff that has happened from 13 to 23, it's hard to say, other than God's been good. Wow, I love being reminded of why I have so much to be thankful for. Thanks Mr. Miller. Thanks all of you people sowing seed and more seed before and since Mr. Miller. Thanks Jesus. Peace out Homies.

Apr 10, 2006

So yes I am still ridicuouly new to this blog thing, and I recently found out how to post a picture. This here is my first. Its of me and my girlfriend Tori at a friends wedding reception. (Adri and Caleb had a hayride... awesome.) So here it is. Isn't she gorgeous (as of now I believe that she also may be the only person who has ever viewed this site.)

Apr 5, 2006

When ethics crashes into love

I am starting to write an essay that is to connect "the ideas of Just Laws, Human Rights, and personal thinking/ attitudes regarding both numerical and power minorities," where I need to take a stand on the issue. First off, I have no clue as to what this means. We have been discussing what makes a society just and rights in my intro to philosophy class over the past weeks. The problem I have is that my state school is so stinkin secularized that they believe they cannot attempt to make a stand on any thing at all. I had to write an essay concerning what IUPUI has taught me about ethics earlier this semester and all that I have learned from this school so far is that plagarism is bad. Seriously its crazy that we talk about what just is yet cannot ever say anything definitive or useful. We just talk, and talk, and talk. I am less and less convinced that just discussing justice will ever make anything better. That is why I think as Christians, who have the Maker of Justice, need to be out in the world trying to save this dying planet. I love Jesus. I love my Christian friends and my nice oversized Church. I love my Bible studies, youth groups, small groups, and worship services. God says what gain is it for you to love the things/people that love you. Do I love the people in the world. Do I love the sick, dying, captive, masses. I want to say yes. I want to tell people that I do. But then I am in the same problem that my philosophy class is in. Its just words. The only words that have ever held any power in my life come from my Bible, and those words tell me that my actions need to back up my words. What about you? Do you love your bible study more than the homeless downtown. Do you love your youth group or small group more than the millions dying from AIDS in Africa. Do you love your large church building more than the thousands of kids sold into sexual slavery in the East? I think God's message to me is that for me to love him, I need to show my love them.

Apr 3, 2006

Decisions

Its been a long weekend. I have spent the past couple months trying to discern God's call on my life. That alone sounds hilarious, to think that in a few months I could understand all that God has done and wants to do in and through me. Well anyways the plan for the past two and a half years was to get a degree in Physics and use this to get into highschool teaching. I have always loved working with youth and over the past two and a half years thats been thru our middle school church youth group. I recently got accepted to the Transitition to Teaching Program thru IUPUI, and recieved a scholarship that would pay for the whole thing; provided I taught two years in the urban environment. I have no qualms with the inner city, in reality I might enjoy it more. The problem is that I am almost to the point of hating college right now. The physics have not been kind to me. I am pretty burned out. So I have been talking to people, lots of people about my decision. According to Ben Ruyack I do not have to love teaching to be a teacher. Jacqui Sheehan agrees with this comment, provided that the teaching is for middle school. To be a good high school teacher one must love both kids and their subject. I know I love working with kids, yet I can't say that I love teaching. So where do I go. I have been contemplating being a youth pastor for quite awhile as well. I love ministering to kids and feel like this might be where my giftings line up as well. The only problem is that I do not have any job prospects lined up (if you know of any in Cental Indiana please tell me.) This has lead me to a major step of faith. For three of the past 4 weeks I have been attending the services at the Church at Stones Crossing. The sermons seemed to be custom tailored to me. Yesterday's sermon was again on fear. This time the fear had to do with very large decisions (or armies in Jehosophaet's case). The scripture was 2 Chron. 20:1-30. In the text the kingdom is about to be overun by 3 other groups. The king turns to God for answers. He also has all the subjects seek God with him. The pastor pointed out four things to do when facing a huge decision. 1) Worship. The point is to get your attention on the only constant in your life, God. Review the past and how God has delievered you before. Get the proper perspective. For me this came thru journaling and worship and trying to live obediently over the past couple months. 2) Wait. Sit in front of God. Just shut up so that he can speak. Be still and know he is God. Again for me this was a long waiting process where I have been trying to wait on him. 3) Walk. For the kingdom of Judah this meant walking into battle praising God, with the "Men's Glee Club" in front of the army. Sometimes God calls us to do sorta strange things, generally I think so that we can recognize that it wasn't thru our own strenght that God moved. After we wait, God will give us a few steps of obedience to live out and will see if were willing to follow. For me this means turning down what seems to be (from the world's perspective) a golden opportunity and a certain job. 4) Watch. Just sit back (walking in obedience of course) and watch to see what God will do for you. He destroyed Judah's enemies. He is a strong God whose arm can save easily. Just look to see God move. For me this is right now. I am watching for you God, please show your awesome providence and power. This leads me to now. I am open to God's movement in my life. Its utterly terrifying yet also sweet because I feel so alive. I likey.

Mar 27, 2006

Purity Rocks

This past weekend I was blessed by the high school purity retreat that I was privelaged to help out at. We call it Men of Honor, Women of Purity and spend the weekend telling high schoolers about how God has created us to live. The guys sessions delve into John Eldridge's Wild at Heart line of thinking, saying that there are three parts to a man's heart: A Battle to Fight An Adventure to Live A Beauty to Rescue What is cool to me is that God has created guys to love girls, and girls to love guys. But ultimately these lead to all of us realizing that the other will not satisfy us. In Don Miller's 'Blue Like Jazz' he talks of a play he wrote and a man talking to his wife. The man is trying to understand why God has allowed him to love his wife and he is working on what this love for his wife shows him about his relationship to God. Basically the point is that God wants us to love him. We get practice in our relationships with everyone else. Ultimately the closest experience that we can have to knowing someone is a committed marriage relationship. This relationship still fails in comparison to the agape love that God has for us and desires of us. The symbol of the church as the bride of Christ becomes more understandable when we realize what the love is like in marriage. It was a great weekend. I got to hear and hopefully speak lots of truth into the lives of some pretty cool high school guys. We got to mess around and have good ole "Wild at Heart Time." We also learned about guys, girls, and ultimately more about God.