What if I did not have Jesus?

This is a scary thought. On my blog I try to be as real as possible because I consider all the people who read this as friends and we are all in this together. I enjoy conversations with people who like to get real about life so call me anytime I will gladly buy you an americano (or any other coffee drink) and we can learn from each other. With that said, I was journaling the other day and I titled my entry "What if I did not have Jesus?" Because last week I was feeling very "human" for lack of a better term. I had a week where I desired things: I wanted to spend money, eat a ton of food, spent a ton of time on facebook, and essentially find my happiness for the week in "human things" rather than set my identity in Jesus. And when you look at it... money, food, friends, fishing, clothes, facebook, and all that are not bad things. Yet they were all things that distracted me last week from the gospel of Jesus. Even though I was in the word daily, I was very distracted and felt restless. This is essentially sin being a part of my life, and I use the word feeling "human" because sin is human nature. As you have heard me say in Young Life talks there is SIN which is the disease we have as humans, and then SINS which are the symptoms of the disease. Notice the difference? Since sin is human nature there is NOTHING I can do about it, I will always have sin, and always sin. Saturday morning I got so tired of being a sinner, it just weighs on you. In turn, that made me so thankful for Jesus! I can't do anything about sin, but a person who loves you and me A WHOLE LOT can do a lot about sin. He actually defeated sin for you and me, so death where is your sting? 2 Cor 5:21 "For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God." Guess what, we are all in the righteousness of God because of  belief in Jesus. And because of this sin does not have to weigh us down. I still listen to River West sermons on pod cast, because it is the best church that has ever existed, period, and I miss it so much, however, Guy Gray said last week as he was talking about Revelation 1 "No matter how hard things are, or get, always begin with Jesus, BEGIN with Jesus, with Him you have a triumphant chorus of Christ ringing in the ears of your heart and mind because you have the truth of the gospel." What is the soundtrack playing in your life right now? Mine is the song "Kids" by MGMT. You need Jesus, no matter who you, if your older than me, smarter than me, whatever, as you are reading this, no matter where you are with Christ, stop and think about your life, think about it this holiday season as we slow down and celebrate Thanksgiving this week. Stop to see how you need Jesus in your life to take away the weight of sin. He takes it away and its a miracle going on right before your eyes in YOUR life, do you believe in miracles? What if we did not have Jesus? Where would there be hope then? I finished my journal entry with this "My sin was why he took the punches and spit in the face, why he accepted the mocking and the crown of thorns, why he carried a tree up a hill as he was half dead, to be nailed to that tree within the hour to die an unfathomably painful death for me, Andy Gadach, and you the awesome blog reader."My sin is the nails that held him on the cross, and now I am free from the weight. That's the truth of the gospel in my life, that's why I celebrate the weight of sin GONE!


A lot has happened since I last posted in early November. The office is fully revamped and it is really slammin' now! Its painted green, has a huge white board, and a really cool log cabin themed rug that I enjoy thoroughly. The last 2 Mondays "the tent" YL club has averaged 70 kiddos to join the fun, skits, a sharing of the gospel, and pies in the face. I finally received my Washington drivers license, 3rd time is the charm, booyah grandma. The ducks are still #1 in the country. I had the amazing and humbling privilege to baptize Ashtyn Fewel at George Rogers Park on the Willamette River in Oregon on Sunday Nov 7th. Then that night I booked it to Seattle to meet up with David Rosser and his Kennedy crew to serve at operation night watch where we whipped up turkey/chicken spaghetti for the homeless people and it was great to see them get a square meal, joke about how bad the Seahawks are, and talk about Jesus. My homie Andrew Salter from Arizona called me randomly and was in Seattle and needed a place to stay for 3 nights as he was finishing up his American promo tour of the ski/snowboard/skateboard film premiere "Look on the bright side" by Velourz. They are a Canadian clothing company who support fun, wildness, and outdoor adventure, all while wearing quality action clothing on the streets, in the mountains, and to Fred Meyer, or whatever you do every day. Salt (short for Salter) and I had a GREAT time and it was a blessing having him as a roomie for 3 days. We non-stop talked about Jesus, our lives, snow sports, adventures, and our dreams for future ministry! Plus your friend and mine Garrison Petrie has a snowboard video that I showed Salt and Velourz is interested in having Garrison as an American representative rider as they try and promote their clothing line down the west coast in America. Gary would be a sweet rep for the brand! We also set up an 8 foot projector in my tiny loft and watched hours and hours of skimboard, snowboard, ski, and skate videos while eating M&M's and grilled cheese with our buddies Evan and Conor. 

To top off the week I took a solitude day over on the Methow River on Thursday and Friday and stayed at Katie Blincoes cabin by myself. Didn't catch a steelhead, yet had a blast trying, and mainly enjoyed my time with Jesus, the beautiful country surrounding the Methow (it looks like Montana, really!), and chillen at the cabin in front of the wood stove eating stir fry. 

What if I did not have Jesus? My life would look vastly different, and as Jesus says in John 10:10 it would not be "life and life to the full." This adventure I am on is all about and for Jesus, and its not just an external adventure in Seattle on YL staff, it is an internal adventure as Andy Gadach.

Blessings, thanks for reading! Happy Thanksgiving! If you want to know what thanksgiving is really about, read this...

http://www.caringbridge.org/visit/jimsteinfeld           
     

An Eventful Week

Praise Jesus for an eventful week in His kingdom, on the river, and in Los Angeles...

In His kingdom- Highline/Tukwila Young Life officially has an office as of today at Lake Burien Presbyterian Church. However, I am still working today and possibly most of this week at coffee shops because we have to get the office ready for operation with paint, white board, pictures, desk, filing system, etc. I am confident that Jesus has blessed us with this relationship with LBPC to work shoulder to shoulder together for the advancement of the gospel in our community. Scripture speaks to relationships like we are developing in Mark 9:38-41. This partnership will continue the momentum in starting a new ministry in this community...Sylvester WyldLife...gotta love it! Last week Foster YL had club Monday night with about 44 kids there in the Montoya's living room. That room holds about 25, so it was packed! For the Halloween festivities all the kids dressed in "western theme" and David sent me a video of the entire club doing the "Cupid Shuffle" in the living room, now that's Young Life at its finest! Wednesday night Kale held Lancer Life at Kennedy High School and we all carved pumpkins and sang blue grass music. I would say unofficially there were about 35 kiddos there to hear Kale share his heart about Jesus guiding us through tough times. He helped all the kids realize that if you think you are the only one going through a tough time, or have had a loss in your life, look around, everyone has their hand raised.  Great job Kale, what a great way to show kids how to relate with one another.

Collin Gilbert shared this wonderful Oswald Chambers devo with me the other day, thanks Collin!
http://www.myutmost.org/10/1030.html

Then David Montoya shared this devo with me yesterday and I read it while I was getting on the Satsop river to Salmon fish with Pat Farmer.
http://www.devotions.net/devotions/10october/31.htm

On the river-Thursday and Friday Keith Dow, Brian Boucher, and I stayed at our friends house in Roslyn, Washington. We floated the Yakima river fly fishing for trout. It was slow, yet Keith and Brian hooked a few good fish on a blue winged olive hatch in late afternoon. The next day Brian left so Keith and I explored the river by driving and hiking sections of the river. That day I caught 1 trout on a bwo nymph pattern. Slow, slow, slow. So on Saturday I was not pleased with the fishing (yet the trip was soooo fun, we had great fellowship, and ate lots of great food!) so I talked to Pat Farmer who lives down in Hoquiam and Sunday we decided to float the Satsop river. I caught my first chum Salmon and learned a lot from Pat about fishing in the state of Washington. He is very experienced in Salmon/Steelhead fishing. We had a blast tiring out our arms on those chum, though it would have been nice to take home some silvers, but they were not in.

In Los Angeles- On Saturday the Oregon Ducks went down to USC and beat them 53-32, I watched the game with my homie up in Redmond Andy Freeman. The following day (Halloween, yet no hoax) The Ducks were ranked #1 in the BCS for the first time in school history. This Saturday the Ducks play the Huskies at Autzen and my Dad and I will be there! Sunday in Lake Oswego at 1:00 pm at Dale Haas' house we are doing a lunch, so feel free to come by! All are welcome.

If your still reading ill give you a dollar, so thanks! I am now 0-2 on trips to the DMV to get a new Washington Drivers License. Last week I drove 20 minutes there and realized they only take checks or cash, and today I drove there 20 minutes again, to find out they are closed on Mondays. Hmmm...perhaps I should check this stuff before driving 20 minutes. Third time is the charm ;)

Tight Lines and thanks for praying and caring -Andy-

I was tricking you about the dollar, happy belated halloween...bleeehhh!!!

My sister is going to South America!

read my sisters blog if you want, its AMAZING!

http://www.darcyywam.blogspot.com/

She is going to Chile and Paraguay on a YWAM mission Dec-Feb, yeaaaaa, do work Darcy!!!

Never and Always are God words

David Montoya told me yesterday on our way to Church that "Never and Always are God words." I am not even sure how that came up, but I really like the depth of that phrase. Think about it for a minute...

My child, My little one, oh how I love you. I would rather die than be without you-so I did. And know that I love you just as you are, not as you should be. Circumstances do not alter My love for you or My faithfulness to you. I am always thinking of you and I'm pleased. No matter where you are, no matter what you've done, I love you-unconditionally. My love for you is furious and unrelenting. Believe it. Accept acceptance. Trust that I love you. Such faith is your gift back to me. Believe that my words are true..."NOTHING CAN SEPARATE YOU FROM MY LOVE!" Come sit upon My lap and let Me hold you. Get lost in my arms as if you were 4 years old. I know things are tough, but trust in me. Bring it to Me first and once the matter is in My hands do not hold onto it or take it back or worry about it. In my perfect time, not yours, I will address and resolve it perfectly. Because I do not sleep, there is no need for you to loose any. Simply rest My child, rest on My shoulder, and I will renew you. As you go about your day, follow My spirit...I will guide you because I love you and want the best for you. Simply acknowledge me in everything and I will make your paths straight. Come and waste time just being with me. I died for you because I love you and I want to have this relationship with you. I long for you to trust Me, to trust that I love you, to trust that living with Me is life...real life...abundant life. Let me transform you into what you are meant to be-flushing out selfishness/sin, and pouring in selflessness by My Spirit. You will not be satisfied any other way for they are apart from Me. Come, My darling, My beautiful one, come with Me. I have chosen you to be with Me...with Me forever. I will never leave you, I LOVE YOU! Isaiah 43:4, Psalm 103:11, Song of Songs 2:10, 1 John 3:16, Romans 8:38-39.

I am so good, because God is good and I am his child. Whooo! Saturday GHT YL went to a regional Student Leadership conference up in Everett and Rob Seims was our speaker. He gave us the above prayer before we left, the words of God are so true, I can almost hear God speaking those words to me when I look at the prayer.

Friday I climbed 1/4 the way up Mt. Rainier on the Paradise side by myself and I sat down on a slab of granite rock overlooking the entire mountain range, 360 degrees all around me in every direction as far as I could see where mountain peaks and trees. Right then and there I prayed and said to God, "Lord, I am leaving all the pain I feel from an event that happened in my life a few weeks ago up here on this mountain with you." Today I move forward in your love, I choose to allow you to heal me from this point forward! God I trust you with my heart and my future, I am yours. Then I heard that Bebo Norman song play in my head (the one he wrote at Malibu)

So walk down this mountain
With your heart held high
Follow in the footsteps of your maker
With this love that's gone before you
And these people at your side
If you offer up your broken cup
You will taste the meaning of this life

On my way home I called one of my best buds in the world, Sun. He mentioned that song as I was telling him about my experience that day. So solid!

Other great things happening in ministry this week: Meeting with some Seattle area YL staff folks to discuss Urban leadership development in the Seattle area. Grabbing breakfast on the UW campus with two great guys (Jeff and Zach) leading YL at the tent as we try and set up "open gym" opportunities at Mt. Rainier high school. Within the first 20 minutes of me EVER being on MRHS campus I had met the assistant principle and upon him finding out I am the new YL area director in town he offered me essentially the keys to the gym during lunches at the school to open it up for kids to play hoops, volleyball, and soccer! The potential of this could be enormous!

I hope and pray the LO banquet went well last night, praise God for Jim and Patsy Steinfeld, praise God for JC and Krissy for giving their testimonies there, and Go Ducks! For the first time in world history we are ranked number 1 in the country for college football!

Thanks for reading if you made it this far, ha!  Never and Always are God words...Blessings!  

The Zeal of Baruch

Who is Baruch? Two days ago I would have asked the same question! Nehemiah 3:20 is where its at! I wont take the time to count the number of workers listed in Ch 3 of guys rebuilding the wall in Jerusalem. But Baruch had to stand out to all who observed. What was in his character that got him the label of a zealous worker? He was the only man building this huge wall that was labeled as "zealous." The definition of zealous is=marked by fervent partisanship for a person, a cause, or an ideal. Baruch must of been a fervent believer of God. He was a man building a wall...A seemingly mundane task...yet did it with fervent partisanship because he knew it was honoring God and was a task for God. Like Baruch, I have a passion to build, not a wall, yet a family of believers in Jesus Christ in the greater Highline/Tukwila area. I pray I can build (and when I say "I" that means God through me) a Young Life ministry with the same passion and zeal Baruch had. Even when it comes to the most mundane and routine tasks that I treat those with so much zeal that it sticks out enough and is done with so much excellence that God's kingdom is built here! And that it is not only me God is using, but he is using an entire community of believers here and back in Lake Oswego through prayer! So thanks for your prayers and keep praying!

On Thursday night when I returned from an area director training at WFR I got straight into Bob Thompson's car and went to Carly Henley's house where there was a prayer vigil for her. The previous day she took her life on UW campus. Below is a link if you desire more information.

http://www.b-townblog.com/2010/10/07/highline-high-gradmusician-carly-henley-found-dead-at-uw-frat-house/

Carly went to Malibu with Highline HS a few years ago, she was a student leader, and her sister is currently a student leader for us at Highline. Needless to say this is a tragedy that has hit our community hard and as the area director here, only a week in, I did not know her, but I know several people who grew up with her. So we have done a lot of praying this week, for a lot of the leaders it's been a long week, her memorial service was yesterday, and it was a celebration of her life, beauty, and talent! I think a lot of our leaders are evaluating their own faith right now so pray for them, a lot of them currently attend UW, and lead here in town. God is moving, even through the most tragic of circumstances. Carly was recently diagnosed with clinical depression, and that hits close to home for me, as most of you know why. This is a time where people can choose to trust Jesus and allow him to cradle one's heart in his tender hands, and that is my prayer for the people who suffer from this great loss.

On a lighter note, we received a $5,000 check in the mail the other day to fund this ministry, what a blessing! And tonight Foster High School is starting Young Life club for the year, let it begin! Whoooo! I get pumped because the starting of a club year, represents the starting of many kids' journeys toward a relationship with Jesus. So here we go!  

he knows a way

I am sitting in Burien Press which between here and Starbucks I consider my office for the first month as I soak in the profound calling of what it really entails to be an area director for Young Life and specifically this Greater Highline/Tukwila area. Burien Press has free wireless and I purchase either an americano with some room, or a french pressed cup of vita roasting company coffee to feel "right" about sitting in here hours at a time. I was attempting to think of a clever name for this blog and here in Burien Press a Johnny Cash song came on and I heard the phrase "he has the way" and I changed it to "he knows a way" because I was thinking there are so many lost kids here, so many kids who don't speak English, so many kids who don't have parents, so many kids with little hope, that Jesus Christ KNOWS a way for hope for each kid here as we reach a world of kids, the only way to do so is to trust that Christ knows a way and to follow him in this.

The reason I say "first month" in reference to an office is due to the fact that I have been spending a significant amount of time with Mark Wagner (yes the music artist) whom I have become great friends with. He is on staff as the director of music and worship at Lake Burien Presbyterian Church and we are in talks with pastor Tobien Wilson right now about the church hosting a Young Life office in their building. Tobien, Mark and I just went to lunch today and we have an incredible vision for what Christ is trying to do in our community and we are simply trying to stay out of the way to let him move and shake in this community that so desperately needs him. I truly believe this church is "a hub" of a revival taking place around South Seattle. Under one roof (LBPC) there could potentially be 4 different para-church ministries running out of the church building and we could all end up working together to reach kids for Christ both locally and internationally. The organizations are Orphan Relief and Rescue (based in Seattle ministering in Liberia), Union Gospel Mission, A Woman's Homeless Shelter, and hopefully in a month Young Life! The potential is enormous just imagining all of us and the folks at Lake Burien all under one roof, I can hardly stay in my seat right now thinking about this! Its only my 4th day on the job and all of this is happening, it is so evident God has a plan bigger than my britches for this place, and I am here, and feel so blessed simply to be a part of it. I get beyond myself thinking, wow I am worthy of being a part of something this magnificent, and then catch myself thinking, of course, because Matthew 3:17 says "This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased." God said this about Jesus and he says this about me and you! His love is extravagant and we all get to fly, and be a part of the excitement, oh what an honor.

How this bad boy will work...ok, I am in a weird mood right now, because I am so psyched about lunch with Mark and Toby, and I have several ounces of coffee and now green tea (organic of course) in me. Anyways, this will work like so....I am going to try and update often because I am sure a lot of great things will be happening weekly, so the best thing to do is subscribe to my blog, instead of trying to remember to check it. When you subscribe you will get an e-mail when I post. ALSO you can get google reader if you have g-mail and then if you are subscribed to more than 1 blog, google reader tracks every new post on every new blog you read and will roll the material into one page. Make sense? Its cool, thanks Amber Cheng for the knowledge about google reader.

Thanks for reading and subscribing, I started this blog per popular demand for the Lake Oswego folks who stated interest in being updated on new life here in South Seattle. I am certain you will read stories on this blog that will amaze you and bring tears to your eyes in future months and years. Lets go on this ride with Christ together through prayer and community! I am all moved in, settled, and am hitting the ground running. Most of our ministries will be starting throughout October, so stoked!

God Bless, thanks for your love and support, and go ducks!   

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f_P1PPy7FTo  Return of the Quack