by Andrew Beard | Sep 16, 2024 | Words from Pastor Andrew
Years ago I was a youth pastor in Kansas City and I had a commercial drivers license…yep…hard to believe. We were taking a group of students to a retreat weekend at a conference in Nebraska and as I was pulling into Omaha there was a strange sound from the engine. The bus didn’t stop, but there was a slight change in the power and a check engine light came on. I pulled up to the event, dropped off the students and leaders, and then parked the bus. I was sure when I would get back after the opening session it wouldn’t start…but to my surprise it started up just fine.
That night, I didn’t sleep because I was busy trying to diagnose what was the problem online. Now, I know I look like a mechanic…this may come as a shocker…but I am not.
by Andrew Beard | Sep 4, 2024 | The Tower
In this month’s tower you will read about our new podcast, get a new recommended reading, get new dates of fun things coming up and read about our success with one of our outreach partners.
by Andrew Beard | Sep 3, 2024 | Words from Pastor Andrew
My kids have a friend that we will call “Hank”. After hanging out with “Hank” they will come home and tell us some outlandish story that is obviously not true. We’ll ask some clarifying questions about where they heard this, and they’ll often say,
“‘Hank’ told us”.
We all know a “Hank”
We all grew up with a “Hank”.
We may have been “Hank”.
We may be “Hank”.
I don’t think “Hank” is trying to tell lies or lead people astray intentionally…I think he wants to fit in, he wants to be accepted, he wants to prove a point, or appear a certain way. As we all know, even if it is unintentional, telling lies, misleading others, and manipulating things so we appear in the best light will take a toll on us.
by Andrew Beard | Aug 2, 2024 | The Tower
Get a view from The Tower.
by Andrew Beard | Jul 29, 2024 | Words from Pastor Andrew
This past week we went to Disney World. Sarah and I both hadn’t been in about 25 years or more. I remember the wonder and magic, the rides and more.
It’s grown, it’s changed, and you no longer stand in incredibly long lines.
Don’t worry, there are still lots of strollers, lots of Mickey ears, lots of tears and exhaustion…and some kids are crying and exhausted too, lots of hopes and expectations, and lots of credit card debt.
But now there are also virtual lines, and lighting lanes, and queue groups, and magic genie plus on a Disney World app that tells you wait times if you do stand in line, and gives you directions to where you want to go, and ability to make reservations, and mobile order food and it was my room key and more.
In some ways, this feels almost nothing like the park I went to 25 plus years ago…and yet in other ways it is oddly familiar. It’s just grown up.
