What Does a Pastor Daydream About in Church?

Posted by Pastor Andrzejewski on Thursday, March 04, 2010

I used to daydream in church.  

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Changeaphobia: Not Just a Church Thing

Posted by Pastor Andrzejewski on Friday, February 05, 2010

Q: How many Lutherans does it take to change a lightbulb?  

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The Confessions of a Pastor

Posted by Pastor Andrzejewski on Thursday, January 28, 2010

I listened with interest when ESPN analyst Tom Jackson defended Minnesota quarterback Brett Favre's season ending interception by saying, "That's the thing about Brett Favre: He's not afraid to throw interceptions. You have to admire him for that." 

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Pat Robertson: Just Shut Up

Posted by Pastor Andrzejewski on Sunday, January 17, 2010

I am not prone to warring with fellow foot soldiers in Jesus, but Pat Robertson really needs to shut up.  

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My Top 10 CCM Albums of 2009

Posted by Pastor Andrzejewski on Sunday, January 03, 2010

I am a big fan of Christian music. Aside from some old school crooners (Michael Buble, Harry Connick, Tony Bennett, etc.), I have a hard time being drawn to music that is devoid of meaning. I believe Louie Giglio’s quote on music: “All music is worship music. Worship is our response to what we value most. Whatever is worth most to you is what you worship. How do you know what you worship? It’s easy. You simply follow the trail of your time, your affection, your energy, your money, and your allegiance. At the end of that trail you’ll find a throne; and whatever, or whomever, is on that throne is what’s of highest value to you. On that throne is what you worship.”

To that end, I offer you my Top Ten Favorite Contemporary Christian Albums released in 2009.

I am an avid CCM fan, but my tastes tend to fall on the side of classic rock (Boston, The Eagles) and singer/songwriter (James Taylor, Billy Joel). I haven’t listened to all CCM releases, but here are my favorites from 2009:

1. Kutless: It is Well.

        Style: Worship Rock. Compare to Creed.

2. Seventh Day Slumber: Take Everything.

        Style: Worship Rock. Compare to Bon Jovi

3. Unhindered: Be.

        Style: American Rock. Compare to Dave Matthews Band.

4. Skillet: Awake.

        Style: Hard Rock. Compare to Linkin Park

5. Steven Curtis Chapman: Beauty Will Rise.

        Style: Adult Contemporary. Compare to John Mayer

6. Christy Nockels: Life Light Up.

        Style: Adult Contemporary. Compare to Taylor Swift.

7. Decyfer Down: Crash.

        Style: Hard Rock. Compare to Breaking Benjamin

8. Casting Crowns: Until the Whole World Hears.

        Style: Pure American Rock. Compare to Nickelback

9. Switchfoot: Hello Hurricane.

        Style: Alternative Rock. Compare to Kings of Leon.

10. Leeland: Love is on the Move.

        Style: Singer/ Songwriter. Compare to Paul McCartney

 
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34GB a Day?! (The iPod in My Head!)

Posted by Pastor Andrzejewski on Monday, December 21, 2009
The NY Times published a December 2009 report that suggests that the average American consumes 34GB of information daily. 
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Tiger Woods, Sex, and the Alpha Male

Posted by Pastor Andrzejewski on Wednesday, December 02, 2009

Blood is in the water, and the sharks are on the way. If you are Tiger Woods, the blood is yours, and it was only a matter of time… 

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Twilight: The Sissyfication of the Vampire

Posted by Pastor Andrzejewski on Friday, November 20, 2009

Walking through the mall today, it finally dawned on me.

I was disappointed in the first Twilight movie. It didn’t take long for me to realize that the reason I didn’t like it was simply because I am a guy. It wasn’t a traditional vampire thriller. It was- for lack of a better term- a chick flick.

I have always been a big fan of the vampire/werewolf/mummy genre. With a wee degree of shame, I must admit that Anne Rice’s “Interview with a Vampire” is one of my favorites. Although it delved more intriguingly into the moral struggles of a vampire than your traditional Bela Lugosi or Bram Stoker fare, it was ripe with fear, suspense, blood, and the macabre to satisfy my testosterone.

The Twilight series has turned the classic guy movie into a modern day chick flick. And today, while Christmas shopping in the mall, it finally hit me… I feel robbed.

I heart vampires t-shirts are everywhere!

Why?!

Because they are frightening creatures of the night that horrifically feed on the blood of unsuspecting saps? No! It’s because they are bare-chested and buff creatures of the night that are in touch with their feminine side and are more interested in romance than pillaging.

Ok, I’ll admit it: The Notebook made me cry (but then again, so did Forrest Gump). Chick flicks are supposed to do that. I rather enjoyed Father of the Bride, Pretty Woman, and Sleepless in Seattle, but I knew what I was in for… a movie that- as advertised- played on the heartstrings. But Twilight is a strange, unholy mixture of Titanic meets The Lost Boys.

We’re not supposed to leave a vampire movie lustily admiring the integrity and character of the undead! A good vampire film has us all fearfully going home stringing together garlic necklaces and whittling wooden stakes from broomsticks.

Twilight has successfully stolen the lore, turning our youthful monsters into dreamy heroes.

Once upon a time, a young man would lose himself for a few theatric hours engaged in an epic battle vicariously struggling for the life and love of the damsel in distress. Good was good. Evil was evil. Today, we love the vampires. They are the lovers and the protectors… and suddenly we vampire slayers? We’re the bad guys!

So, I’m left to wonder- as Paula Cole once sang- “Where is my John Wayne? Where is my prairie song? Where is my happy ending? Where have all the cowboys gone?”

Or vampires…

 
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For All the Saints: Famous Lutherans

Posted by Pastor Andrzejewski on Monday, November 02, 2009

Below is a partial list of Famous Lutherans. Saints and sinners... just like the rest of us. But known by more people than we "average Lutherans": 

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Doomed: The Agonizing Union Between a Beleaguered Ball Club and a Faithful Fanatic

Posted by Pastor Andrzejewski on Thursday, October 01, 2009

In the waning days of September 2003, I sat down at my computer, contemplating the drizzle dripping past my window, I could not help but mourn the passing of my beloved Detroit Tigers.  

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"You Are Going to Hell" (My conversation with a Jehovah's Witness)

Posted by Pastor Andrzejewski on Monday, September 21, 2009

For the first time in many years, I decided to take the time to spiritually haggle with a pair of Jehovah’s Witnesses (JW), knocking on my door. I’ve done this enough over the years to recognize their game plan, know what’s coming, and respond appropriately. It’s just so time consuming! Especially if you happen to be polite. I can honestly say, nothing has changed in the past twenty years. The script is the same. The technique is the same. Here is a summary of my thoughts: 

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Hubble Demonstrates God's Handiwork

Posted by Pastor Andrzejewski on Monday, September 21, 2009

Psalm 19:1- "The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of his hands." 

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Our Jesus Fish

Posted by Pastor Andrzejewski on Tuesday, September 08, 2009

For eight years, we lived in West Michigan, Ottawa County, where almost all the roads are 55 MPH. I was driving home from church late one afternoon. The speed limit on that country road… 55. I pulled behind a elderly man driving at a steady clip of 37 miles per hour (nearly 20 MPH under the speed limit). That's fine. Happens all the time out there. When I got to the passing lane, I did just that. I passed him. Check that, I tried.
As I was passing to his left, I couldn't quite… actually… pass him. I hit 45, 50, 55, 60. Nothing. There he was at my immediate right. Without giving it much thought, I floored the accelerator. So did he. Now, I'm no longer in the legal passing lane for northbound traffic. It's double yellow, with a blind hill coming up. I glanced down to see that I was doing 70 MPH, and the man in the green Bonneville is still to my right.  

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Your First Thought?

Posted by Pastor Andrzejewski on Tuesday, September 08, 2009

John Ballie's morning prayer got me thinking...  

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The Pursuit

Posted by Pastor Andrzejewski on Friday, September 04, 2009
CHOMP, CHOMP, CHOMP...  Read the rest of this Blog Post