Wisdom on Wheels: Relationships

Dear Friends,

I feel I must apologize for taking so long to write this.  I have been very excited and yet hesitant to share this entry.  Oh well, here goes nothing.  My parents have raised me to be marriage minded.  As I have grown up we have returned to the topic many times.  Unlike most guys, I’ve often thought about my wedding and also taken metal notes for future use as the Lord Wills.

My Dad always told me to get my education and establish my life direction before pursuing romance and marriage.  I always wanted to marry young like my parents, so waiting was hard.  In my early twenties I once asked my Mom when I would know it was a good time to start seriously thinking about marriage.  Her response?  “When all your friends start getting married.” This is not by any means a sole factor, but interestingly enough, it seems that these days my friends younger siblings are getting married in droves.

Before I go any further, let me be clear.  I’m not saying it is a bad thing to wait on God or that it is a bad thing to be single.  I firmly believe that we should seek God in ALL we do, this area being not only included, but perhaps most important. “House and riches are the inheritance of fathers: and a prudent wife is from the Lord.” (Proverbs 19:10)  I simply believe that I (along with the majority of men) was created to need a helpmeet

I have many friends who are girls and to put it quite simply, without their presence my life would be boring and colorless.  I am so thankful for many young ladies in my life.  It seems to me however that whenever I express interest in a young lady an interest that goes beyond friendship, she turns and runs the other way as fast as she can.  Now perhaps I am overstating things ever so slightly, but quite frankly, it hurts.

I know that marrying will be a challenge for me and my bride, but nothing in my life has come easy.  I often feel like a good motto for my life would be “Working twice as hard to prove that I am just as good,” I feel much the same way in my quest for a life partner.  I just want a chance to prove myself in this area as with so many others.

I am not perfect.  I have flaws.  But I am also a godly man seeking righteousness.  I have been taught by my father what it means to be a Family Shepherd.  I have by word and example been taught to value children and the truth “Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it; That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word.” (Ephesians 5:25-26)  I look forward to having a godly young lady to love and cherish for life! :)  I believe she will be an amazing asset to Speaking4Him.

This issue transcends romantic relationships though.  I’ve also faced challenges in regular day to day interactions with friends and co-workers as well.  It is never easy and it is hard and down right frustrating at times.  So why is this?, and (perhaps more importantly) what can we do about it?

I believe the main reason for this is fear of the unknown.  I believe that some may think it is easier to distance themselves from me than to be honest with me about their discomforts relating to my disability.  Sadly I have experienced at least one definite case of this in a work setting and it was heartbreaking.  Honesty is a much better option.  Plus I am as open about my challenges as anyone you’ll ever meet. 

So if you have a question or something about my disability makes you uncomfortable, be honest with me.  Honest questions will always result in honest answers.  What’s more, we’ll both be better for it and we might be lifelong friends!

I am very thankful for those who have been faithful friends and family and seen beyond my wheelchair to the man that God is molding in His time.  God is so good!  He knows what He is doing and I can trust Him.  In closing, just know that my accomplishments in life have not come about because I ignored the “Brick Walls” my challenges created.  That would have just led to a bloody nose. Rather my accomplishments have come because for every “Brick Wall” I have faced I have found sufficient “Rope” to climb over each one and overcome to the Glory of God.                    

   

Speaking4Him,

Andrew Gommesen

Wisdom on Wheels: Employment

As a man, one of my greatest desires is to be a provider.  I know this is a God-given desire because He says in His Word “But if any provide not for his own, and specially for those of his own house, he hath denied the faith, and is worse than an infidel.” (I Timothy 5:8)  So many in society today are failing in this area, and I long to be example of a godly man in this area.

My work career started at 18 with J.C. Penney.  It was a tough three months, but it prepared me for the next step on my employment journey.  I was very blessed to begin working at Right to Life of Michigan in August 1998.  For the next 10.5 years I had the privilege of working with some of the most dedicated, caring, individuals I have ever met.  The only reason I left RTL was because try as I might, I couldn’t move up in the company.

I applied for 4 different better positions with RTL that would have moved me out of the telemarketing department.  While I don’t believe that RTL was guilty of overt discrimination I do believe that there was a subconscious mindset that caused them to doubt my abilities.

I moved on to Guiding Light Mission.  Unfortunately I ran into a similar issue with GLM.  I was doing a job that in most cases would be full time but when the full-time opportunity was never offered, I felt God’s leading to move on.

Where does this leave me?  I’m not sure.  Speaking4Him is keeping me pretty busy and God is faithful, but I still long for a steady income stream.  I am willing to preach full-time or work full-time and preach part-time or any combination of the above.  Please pray for me.                

I do know that I would be an asset to any company that would choose to hire me.  God has gifted me in many ways.  I don’t know what God’s plans hold for me, but I the words of Paul are true “Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ:” (Philippians 1:6)  

Praise the Lord!  Even as I type this, another love gift came in the mail.  God’s Almighty hand is always at work and I am safe within its grasp! 

   

Speaking4Him,

Andrew Gommesen

Wisdom on Wheels: School

I am very blessed to have been homeschooled throughout my educational journey, but I didn't start out that way. The first couple of years of my formal education took place in public school in a special Ed program. Well it is not my intention to totally trash them or to purposely make them look bad; it is certainly not an understatement to say that they drastically undermined my potential.
They said things to my parents such as "we can't teach him to read," or "he needs speech therapy." (Those who know me and have watched me grow up know how crazy that is!) When my school wanted to bring me back for a second year of first grade, my parents made the bold move to begin homeschooling me.

Again, I do not want to be mean-spirited about this, but considering that the thing that most sticks out in my mind about that school year is the three times we changed classrooms, it is evident that there was a problem and I will always be grateful to my parents for having the courage and conviction to pull me out of that environment. Although the school was never easy, I never failed another grade again and now hold a bachelors degree in communications.

I think that it is important for people to realize that just because someone is physically disabled does not mean they are mentally incompetent. I was capable of a lot more than what my early teachers believed. I just needed individual attention and parents (especially a father) who would not allow me to quit. I received my college degree in 2006 largely because my father pushed me to excel. While I was not happy about it at the time, I will always be grateful that he didn't let me quit.

When I got done with high school, the last thing I wanted to do was think about more school. I firmly believe that if I could have worked manual labor I would've chosen not to go to college. My father's wisdom prevailed upon me though. He told me that with all my other challenges lack of an education should not be one of them.

College was indeed a major challenge for me. After all, it takes talent to squeeze four years of college into seven!! :) I took 2 to 3 classes a semester and learned that slow and steady does indeed win the race. (Incidentally that amounted to what I was able to afford financially, so I was able to pay cash for my degree) I dealt with some difficult situations including a teacher who said that I should cut back on the number of classes I was taking because I was struggling in a class, but I persevered.

Because of a recommitment that I had made to God following high school my GPA went from 3.0 to 3.9. God gets all the glory because to this day I am not academic. God helped me complete every class and I can truly say that completing my degree in the manner in which I did was a living example of the fact that I serve a God who can do "is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us,” Ephesians 3:20

I want to encourage you that if God can do this in my life he can certainly work mightily in yours. Seek him and he will direct you. Every person's journey is different, but God's promises are the same "Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ:” Philippians 1:6

Speaking4Him,
Andrew Gommesen

Wisdom on Wheels: Intro

“The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.”

John 10:10

Greetings Readers,

For quite awhile, my wise father has told me that more of my writing should focus on my disability.  I have shied away from this, not because I have a problem discussing this (those who know me will tell you that the opposite is true) but because I don’t want my disability to define me.  As was said of Elijah, in the book of James, I am simply a man with like passions as many of you, my faithful readers.

Most of the burdens God has placed on my heart have little or nothing to do with being a disabled individual.   A recent event in the news has led me to realize that God is calling me to do a series of blog posts on dealing with my disability.  Over the next few weeks I will I address my struggles in the following areas: education, employment, relationships, and personal care.

You are probably wondering by now what might be prompting this series.  Blogger Christina Symanski was injured in a swimming accident on June 5, 2005.  Six years and many blog posts later, she died in December 2011 after starving herself to death.  To me, one of the saddest parts of the story is that her boyfriend (whom she wanted to “liberate”) was committed to her and today says he can’t see himself with someone else.

I hope over the next few weeks to look at the biblical perspective on facing the challenges of life.  Hopefully, you will be encouraged to embrace life and pass on that encouragement to others.  I am also hoping this will help jumpstart my autobiography project.

Speaking4Him,

Andrew Gommesen   

PS: Here is the story to which I am referring.

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2101334/Christina-Symanski-24-starved-death-paralysed-boyfriend-on.html

The Hills Are Alive...

Master Arts Theater is one of my favorite places in the world!  I love theater and the fact that I can enjoy the arts in an environment dedicated to honoring Jesus Christ is a blessing.  I love to act, but since there are a limited amount of roles for a good looking guy on four wheels, I started to explore opportunities “behind the curtain.”

This led me to the wonderful opportunity to Assistant Direct “The Sound of Music.”  Little did I know on that third Saturday of September when I reported for auditions this would be a life-changing experience for me!!!  I loved every part of the process.  I was so thankful to assist in every step along the way.

One of my favorite parts of this journey was the casting process.  It was a real challenge because we needed people who could sing, dance, and act.  Because of the popularity of this show, we had 96 people try out.  Most of them were little girls with big dreams.  It took two or three weeks to finalize the cast.  I was very gratified that three of my top choices made the cut!

I had the great privilege of calling those who made it with the good news!!  It was so much fun to be the messenger of such excitement, especially to the kids and their parents!  The two months that followed were filled with about four days of rehearsal a week, each night focusing on a different part of the cast (for example Wednesday was spent in the Abby with the Nuns and quickly became my favorite day of the week! :) ) and then we all came together for “Crazy Saturday.”

This is where the magic really began to happen!!! 36 cast members, plus about half a dozen crew members, (many of whom had never worked together before) came together to bring one of the best loved musicals of all time to the Master Arts stage.  Over the next two months and six weekends we took audiences to Austria and back 21 times and along the way bonded in a way few if any of us anticipated! 

Some of the highlights included post practice chats with my new friends, talking and laughing (and getting in trouble for it) in the green room during performances, watching the “dressing nuns” assist the children through 11 (yes you read that right!) wardrobe changes, debating where to eat Friday nights, and spending Saturday afternoons at the theater eating potluck dinners with the cast between shows….:) 

One of our more veteran actors commented “I hope everyone realizes how special this cast is because it doesn’t happen all the time.”  I could not agree more!  The friendships I forged during this production mean so much to me.  Many of those involved now have a permanent place in my heart!  I hope we are friends for life! 

As one of our audience members put it “I just wish I could push the rewind button.”  I am so blessed that God would allow me to be able to enjoy this amazing experience!  It was like a smile from God to me!!!!

Blessings,

Andrew                

Are You Courageous?

“Only be thou strong and very courageous, that thou mayest observe to do according to all the law, which Moses my servant commanded thee: turn not from it to the right hand or to the left, that thou mayest prosper withersoever thou goest.” Joshua 1:7

Courageous follows the lives of 4 Police officers in the Albany Sheriff’s Department and their unemployed friend.  Adam Mitchell, Shane Fuller, Nathan Hayes, David Thomson, and Javier Martinez, are (for the most part) all trying to be good fathers to their children. I think the thing that I like the most about this movie is that it is about average ordinary men making a decision to make their families a greater priority.

Adam Mitchell is a guy who thinks he is doing a "good enough" job as a husband and a father. He works hard all day to keep Albany safe and to provide for his family. He has a hard time relating to his son Dylan, and though his daughter Emily is clearly his princess, he fails to see the importance of doing the "little things" she asks him to do (i.e. dancing in the parking lot of a bank) until it's too late.

When his daughter is killed by a drunk driver, Adam realizes that being "good enough" is aiming too low. Convicted that he must do better with his son Dylan in the future, he set out to study God's Word and purposes to sign a declaration of commitment to his wife and family which is the direct result of this study. When he goes to his buddies simply to ask them for accountability, they decide to join him and make declarations of their own.

The next part of the movie shows the men striving to put their commitment into practice. Adam commits to join his son Dylan in a 5K race. Nathan realizes the great responsibility he has can make sure that his daughter realizes her true value so he takes her out to dinner and asks her to commit to sending any interested suitors to him first. David seeks reconciliation with his family (after committing his life to Jesus Christ) which includes a cheerleader that he got pregnant several years before and just left in his four-year-old daughter. Javier turns down a promotion he only recently received when they ask him to be dishonest. He is later rewarded when it turns out that it was a test from his employer.

Shane (though he made the same commitment) clearly has the most struggles with it. Short on cash, he begins stealing drugs from evidence so that he can sell them. He is found out and then arrested. While this is not a happy ending it underscores the need for accountability and the true commitment that it takes to be a man of integrity.

The movie ends with the following challenge "Where are you men of courage?” I was so excited when I heard about the theme for this movie because this is the very question I have been convicted to ask over the last seven or eight years as well as a major reason I started the Ministry Speaking4Him.

As a single young man this movie has bolstered my commitment to continue my journey to become a man of courage that young lady can rely on to be a godly husband and my future children can look to as an example of their Father in Heaven. This is sobering task for any man. We all have our faults and this side of glory we always will, but that does not negate our responsibility to continue to strive for excellence. The family is in chaos and it is long past time for action! We must as the apostle Paul says forget those things which are behind and "press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.” Philippians 3:14

I would encourage any man regardless of the stage that you are at in life to see this film. Even if you are fairly young it is never too early to set your sights on being a man of courage. For the women among my readers, I encourage you to see this film so that you will know the kind of man God would desire for you. Don't settle! I believe you are God's greatest gift to mankind and that you should be treated as such! You are extremely valuable and any man who does not think so is not worth your time or attention!

In closing I just want to ask that question once again. "Where are you men of courage?" Are you ready to step up and embrace the challenge that God has clearly outlined for you in His Word? Remember he will not ask you to do anything for which He will not adequately equip you!!!

            

Speaking4him,

Andrew           

Earth Needs Moms!

“Hearken unto thy father that begat thee, and despise not thy mother when she is old.”

(Proverbs 23:22)

EARTH NEEDS MOMS

A few weeks ago I had the privilege of going to a movie on the lawn at my local library with my mom and my sisters. It was a great time with my family and I had fun. The movie was Disney’s “Mars Needs Moms.” I am naturally skeptical of the depth of animated films and Disney films in particular, but I was very impressed with this film.

The film centers on 9-year-old Milo and his mom. Milo is annoyed with his Mom because she makes him do things he doesn’t want to do. (She makes him eat Broccoli!) When he feeds it to the dog (and the dog subsequently vomits) she sends him to bed with no TV. He then retorts that he doesn’t need her and wishes she wasn’t his mom. Within a few moments Milo regrets what he says and as he goes to apologize, he sees his mom being kidnapped by Martians.

Milo hitches a ride on the spaceship and when he lands on Mars and sets off on an action packed adventure with new friends (A young man named Gribble and a teenage Martian girl name Ki) and rescues his Mom. As the movie progressed, a few thing things stuck out to me:

1) Mars is run by women. This is the reason they need moms. They use the moms to program the “NANNY BOTS” in motherhood. They are robots required to raise the girl babies because the women are busy running the planet.
2) The men are relegated to second class citizenship and raise the boys in the Martian Underground.
3) Milo and his friends find out that on Mars of old, families had two parent raising the children and when the Martians find out, they unite to depose the Evil Matriarch leader. The Martians are then shown enjoying family life as it was meant to be.
4) Milo (unlike so many kids today) had two parents that cared for him and loved each other!

As I watched this movie I couldn’t help but notice some real parallels between life on Mars and life on earth. Like Mars, Earth (particularly Western Culture) we no longer value motherhood (or fatherhood for that matter) as essential to raising well rounded children of high character. If we look at the Bible, we see the God put Adam and Eve together and told them to “Be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth, and subdue it: and have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over every living thing that moveth upon the earth.” (Genesis 1:28) Thus the institution of the family!

This movie was fun and I laughed a lot, but I was gratified that it laid out (though maybe not on purpose) God’s plan for the family. I don’t know about Mars, but Earth does indeed need moms!

4/5 Stars

Speaking4him,

Andrew

The Corruptible: A Dud

The Corruptible by Mark Mynheir

I am always up for a great mystery.  I also specifically appreciate books of this genre that are free of objectionable content.  Because of this, I was somewhat intrigued by The Corruptible.  I was mainly disappointed.

Ray Quinn is a retired police officer who became a private detective.  He has a severe injury which he tries to ignore by drowning the pain in the bottle.  The main characters are rounded out by an office assistant named Pam and a brash young sidekick named Crevis.

This story gets an A+ for being a clean read, but that’s about it. Ray is a bitter man and though the reasons are hinted at, the details of why are not laid out.  Pam loves God, and Jesus is mentioned, but God’s wonderful plan of Redemption is never laid out.  Crevis is supposedly trying to get into the police academy.  He is presented however almost as a dimwitted high school dropout!

The case begins with a stolen satchel and hard drive.  The clues seemed to come together way too easily.  The author gave the impression the Crevis (and the reader) were incapable of figuring anything out themselves.  There were way too many clichés and it went too many directions.

1/5 stars  

            

Speaking4him,

Andrew


Waterbrook Press gave me this book for my honest review

Heaven on Earth!

“Speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord;” Eph 5:19

So I just got back from a week of vacation at the best place on earth!  Though there is without a doubt some bias in that statement, I challenge anyone to experience Family Camp at Ao-Wa-Kiya and not agree with me!  It has everything a good vacation should.  Food, Fellowship, and Fun, centered around a schedule (or should I say non-schedule) that allows people to spend their days as they wish.

Every family has their turn working in the kitchen, but many hands make light work, and most families actually enjoy their turn to help make things enjoyable for the other families.  Plus the food is sooo good that it is worth it!

Long conversations and afternoons watching shuffleboard by the lake are my highlights.  I am so thankful to God for this oasis.  It reminds me of the heavenly future for all who trust Christ as their savior!  The curse of sin will be gone, but work came before sin, work will still be a part of the perfect experience!  Consider the following verses:

“And the LORD God took the man, and put him into the garden of Eden to dress it and to keep it.” (Genesis 2:15)

“And from Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness, and the first begotten of the dead, and the prince of the kings of the earth. Unto him that loved us, and washed us from our sins in his own blood, And hath made us kings and priests unto God and his Father; to him be glory and dominion for ever and ever. Amen.” (Revelation 1:5-6)

“And they sung a new song, saying, Thou art worthy to take the book, and to open the seals thereof: for thou wast slain, and hast redeemed us to God by thy blood out of every kindred, and tongue, and people, and nation; And hast made us unto our God kings and priests: and we shall reign on the earth.” Revelation 5:9-10

God will have work for us to do, but because of the perfect environment of heaven and the The New Heavens and The New Earth, it will be a pleasure to serve the King.  Oh, and did you notice what these verses say about singing?  The singing is going to be great! 

That’s another of those simple pleasures that I enjoyed at camp.  Twice with Mrs. Z and once with Bert, I sat with a godly sister in Christ in the presence of God and gave Him Praise!  I look foreword to heaven, but until than, spending a week with my “family” at Ao-Wa-Kiya will Lord willing, be my “Heaven on Earth” for years to come!  Miss you camp family! ;)

Speaking4him,

Andrew           

Thank You!!!

“But by the grace of God I am what I am: and his grace which was bestowed upon me was not in vain;…”

                                      I Corinthians 15:10

Dear Friends,

I want to thank you so very much for reading this blog, supporting my ministry, and praying for me. I am so grateful for all of you! I want to thank a few of you by name:

My Dad, Michael Gommesen is my hero. He taught me to love Jesus Christ, The Word of God, and God’s blessing of children. He encouraged me to surrender to ministry. I love you, Dad

Jay Harnish is my webmaster. The website truly is a gift! Thanks Bro!

Tara Squires taught me to stop talking about ministry and do it! I am so grateful to her!

David Dalrymple is a true warrior for Christ and he doesn’t back down from the Truth! Thanks for everything Bro!

Tom Neering is a wonderful caring friend and a great D.J.! Thanks Bro!

Robb Munger thanks for the office space!

My Brother B.J. is my best friend and my greatest helper and I wouldn’t be able to do half of what I do without him! Thanks Bro!

Naomi & A.J. Van Harn have been amazing support to my ministry. Thanks guys!

To everyone else, Thanks for all of your support. By God’s grace I will remain faithful to His Calling on my life!

Speaking4Him,

Andrew Gommesen

Thoughts on Tragic Events

There has been quite a buzz around our Nation lately over two horrible tragedies. Rodrick Dantzler gunned down 7 people and killed himself in my back yard Grand Rapids, MI and also Casey Anthony was acquitted in the murder of her young daughter. The common consensus among the American public is that Dantzler and Anthony are guilty parties, and their victims were innocent people in the wrong place at the wrong time. The victim’s families and those supporting them cry out for justice.

This is understandable and I agree with it, but it got me thinking. Did you realize that each victim of these crimes was ushered into eternity at the moment they died? That means they are now faced with God’s judgment. “And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment.” (Hebrews 9:27)

As awful as the above crimes are (and don’t get me wrong they are) there is one place where we all stand guilty. The verdict and penalty are more important than that which is rendered in the Court of Public opinion, or the Court of Law. The place is the Courtroom of Almighty God! The charge is sin and the penalty is death!

The Bible says “For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;” (Romans 3:23) “All” is totally inclusive. All of us are deserving of the judgment of God, but Jesus paid our penalty before God and made a way for us to be right with Holy and Righteous God.

“Who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose stripes ye were healed. For ye were as sheep going astray; but are now returned unto the Shepherd and Bishop of your souls.” (I Peter 2:24-25) God is a God of love, and this passage shows us that love does indeed win.

My prayer for you is that today you would consider your mortality and make today the day of your Salvation. “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved.”(Acts 16:31)

Speaking4Him,
Andrew Gommesen

Soul Surfer Was Good, but It Could've Been Great

I don't typically review movies on this blog. I'm not sure if this particular entry signals the first of many movie reviews, but I feel compelled to share my views on this particular project. I was both pleased and disappointed with this film.

This movie was most definitely inspiring. How could it not be? A young surfer who loses her arm to a shark decides to get back on her board and try again. She has a lot of family support, and she inspires many who watch her triumph over adversity. You leave the theater believing that anything is possible, and you want to go out as soon as possible and reach for your dreams. There is nothing wrong with that, however this film misses the boat in a crucial area. Let me explain.

When I heard this film was coming out I decided to read Bethany Hamilton's autobiography of the same name. I know that it's par for the course for Hollywood to tell stories with events out of order and embellished facts, but this film failed to put credit where Bethany herself believes it goes—her Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

The film definitely alludes to their family's strong Christian faith, but you can tell the producers tried not to. For instance, at one point the family quotes Philippians 4:13 “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me” but they substituted the generic Him for Christ. They did a similar thing with a Christian song that is sung during a church service.

I think that this film will be encouraging to whomever goes to see it, and if it causes people to investigate the real Bethany Hamilton, I believe it can be a tool in the hands of God. One thought that ran through my mind was "What if Sherwood pictures had made this film?” I believe that the Gospel which is evident in this story would have been even more blatantly and gloriously proclaimed.

My hope is that the movie will drive people to read Bethany's book, for there they will discover the true source of her strength. I also hope that Sherwood pictures will consider doing a biopic because there is a certain power in a true story!!!

3.5/5 Stars

Speaking4Him,
Andrew Gommesen

Life Without Limits

Nick Vujicic is an amazing individual. He was born without arms or legs, but by God's grace Nick has learned not to let his limitations limit his opportunities. From scuba diving, to surfing, to acting (including doing his own stunts), to speaking across the country and around the world, Nick has done it all! His courage and can-do attitude will be a blessing to whoever chooses to read this book. If you are struggling and need encouragement, I would definitely encourage you to take the time to read it.

As exciting as all of Nick’s accomplishments are, perhaps the true beauty of this book is that it does not shy away from the more difficult aspects of his story. Nick is very candid in explaining his parents initial reaction to his birth. He relates how at first his mother did not want to hold them and that it took her a while to work through her fears and trust God that he would give her the ability to care for him.

I was especially touched when he shared about his childhood desire to end it all. He talked about feeling at one point that it would be best if he just left this world. Fortunately he realized the impact that would have on his family and others around him who cared. As a disabled man myself, I resonated with this part of the story as I had similar thoughts at one point.

Today Nick realizes all of the opportunities he would have missed if his life had ended that day. He is now committed to making the most of every day and as he puts it "living a ridiculously good life." I have been blessed to see how God had used Nick, and have been reinvigorated to continue serving God in my own right.

It is obvious to me that Nick loves the Lord. However, my one complaint with this book is that he never clearly explains the gospel. Without a personal, life-changing relationship with the Risen Christ, our best efforts will never be good enough.

I received this book for free from Waterbrook Multnomah Publishing Group for this honest review.

Speaking4Him,

Andrew Gommesen

Only ONE Life…

“And as it is appointed for men to die once, but after this the judgment,” (Hebrews 9:27)

So a few weeks ago my brothers were playing the XBOX and I needed help with something. I don’t remember the exact conversation, but it went something like this:

ME: Could I get a hand please?

MY BRO: Hang on, I’ve got one life left. Be right there…

This got me thinking about the contrast between real life and video games. In video games you often get multiple lives and the potential to earn more. If the game isn’t going well, you can quit and start over. Real life, however is a one time proposition. While God does give second chances and he will forgive our mistakes, we are only given one life to live and the decisions we make can have a tremendous impact on us now and in eternity.

The most important of these decisions is to answer the question “What will I do with Jesus Christ?” Your chosen answer to this question can mean the difference between eternal life in Heaven or eternal torment in Hell. “And many of them that sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, some to everlasting life, and some to shame and everlasting contempt.” (Daniel 12:2) “And these shall go away into everlasting punishment: but the righteous into life eternal.” (Matthew 25:45)

Two definitive choices are available to all of us—Heaven and Hell. Some would say that a choice for Heaven can be made even after death. However there is a story Jesus told in Luke 16:19-31 about a Rich Man and a poor beggar named Lazarus. The Rich Man had everything the world had to offer, but died without God. Lazarus was a beggar who trusted God. He was brought to Abram’s bosom. The Rich went to Hell—not because of his wealth, but because his wealth gave him the false idea that he didn’t need God. From the heat of Hell the Rich man asked for a drop of cold water, but he is told there is a “Great Golf Fixed” between Heaven and Hell. After death there is no way to span that Golf!

Heaven and Hell are very real. Jesus Christ is God in the flesh. He spanned the Golf between us as wicked sinners and Righteous Almighty God. He was perfect before time, was born perfect, lived a perfect life, and rose again! HE LIVES and wants a personal relationship with each of you!

“For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.” (2 Corinthians 5:21)

I urge you to read the Word for yourself and trust the One who died for you!

Speaking4Him,

Andrew Gommesen

Reflections...

As I sit here three weeks into 2011, I wanted to let my readers know that I appreciate each of you. I hope and pray that God has encouraged your heart by what you have read. My hearts desire is to be His Mouthpiece. I’m not perfect. I make mistakes.

I would like to ask that you would pray for me as I seek God for direction regarding this blog. I want to be writing faithfully, but I don't want to be just spouting off for the sake of seeing my words in print. For this reason, I have a couple of questions for you, the reader. Are there any particular posts that spoke to you in a specific way? Is there any particular topics you would like to see me address in the weeks to come? If you could take the time to seriously consider these questions, I would appreciate it.

I would also ask you to continue to pray for me. This year was full of ups and downs. In some ways it was very difficult. If you're anything like me you have (or have had at some point in your life) the impression that if you do what God asks of you everything will work out the way it's supposed to. While this is very true, it quite often takes a form quite different from what we expect.

Please pray for me as I seek God's will for my job, my ministry, and other important aspects of my life. I don't think God ever intended for a man to minister on his own. Please pray that God will bring the right people into my life to help me continue strong in my ministry and to make it even more vital than it is today, and I would not forget to thank him for those who already are!!

I am trying to rest in the following promises of God “And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose. For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren.” (Romans 8:28-29)

Speaking4Him,
Andrew Gommesen

Should we be "Seeker Friendly?"

I have become alarmed at the modern trend of the "seeker friendly" church. One quote I ran across recently went so far as to say "We should be a church that always exists more for the people who are not yet saved than for the people who are.” (Mark Driscoll). The person who said this is no doubt a well-intentioned and godly man who has a burden for the lost. But we must be careful at all times not to pull Scriptural truth out of balance.

The Church universal does not exist for Christians or non-Christians, but rather for God. Christ "gave himself for it." (Eph. 5:25). He desires that it be “a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish.” (v. 27). Every mention of the church in Scripture refers to those who are saved. God gives differing gifts to each member of the church primarily for the “perfecting of the Saints.” (Eph. 4:12) People are only added to the church after they are saved. “And the Lord added to the church daily such as should be saved.” (Acts 2:47)

I would like to briefly discuss two dangers which I believe a seeker friendly church is exposed to. The first one is the temptation to water down the truth of Scripture. One prominent speaker (who I will not name) spends a lot of his time talking about the love of Christ. In a sense, this is great. There is perhaps no greater truth than the understanding that the God of the universe wants to have a personal, vibrant relationship with us his creation. But he gives sin and judgment only a passing glance.

It is impossible to fully understand and embrace the love of God without first understanding the judgment of God. Consider the following passage:

“For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God; Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus” (Romans 3:23-24)

You can't truly appreciate verse 24 unless you understand the implications of verse 23. We need to make sure that we consistently share the truth in love that "The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it?” (Jer. 17:9). Once this truth is understood the message of God's love and forgiveness will be more fully appreciated, understood, and ultimately applied.

We must realize that it is not we who are responsible to save souls but the Spirit of God. While it is true that God gives us new and exciting ways to minister (i.e. film, multimedia etc.) we must realize that sharing the truth is more important than making someone comfortable. There really is nothing comforting about knowing that we are guilty sinners, but it is only through the understanding and admission of such that we have peace with God. Only "godly sorrow worketh repentance to salvation” (2 Cor. 7:10)

The second danger is that those who are already believers will have difficulty growing in their faith because the line between being "seeker friendly" and "seeker focused" can be very thin. It is God's desire that we would progress from the "milk" of the word to “strong meat [which] belongeth to them that are of full age, even those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil.” (Heb. 5:14). This will increase our ability to reach our world with the life-changing message of Jesus Christ!

In conclusion, although we are called to reach out to those who do not yet believe we must make sure that we do not neglect the truth. To do so is to forget the whole point of our outreach. We must realize that only as strong believers can the church maximize its impact in the world. It is also worth noting that in any area of life in which we wish to excel, the best way is to spend time with those who are at a more advanced stage than we are. The Christian life is no exception!

Speaking4Him,
Andrew Gommesen

Pray, Pray, Pray!

Dear Friends,

I want to thank you for reading this blog. I know I haven’t written in awhile. I would like to say it is just because I have gotten busy but it is more related to discouragement. So rather than trying to expound some great truth, I simply want to ask for prayer. I feel like I’ve been though the ringer lately. I often wonder why God would allow me to go through so much, but perhaps the correct question should be “Why not?

I would ask that you would pray that I would continue steadfast with this blog and other aspects of this ministry. Please pray that God provide me with funds and/or a job to continue this ministry, as well as the perseverance to continue even in the absence of visible fruit.

Please also join me in praying for a helpmeet. I know she is out there somewhere. Pray that I will prepare adequately for this adventure! If you have input on any aspect of my ministry, please feel free to share it with me…

Lord willing my regular blogposts will continue next week.

Thanks,

Andrew Gommesen

The Man I Need to Be!

The Man I Need To Be
By Andrew Gommesen

I want to thank the Lord for the dad he gave to me,
The man God chose to show me the man I need to be.
My Dad he isn’t perfect, he never claimed to be,
But he set a good example for my siblings and for me.

My Father taught me many things to get me through this life,
How to raise a family, and how to love a wife.
But most of all he told me of the Man of Galilee,
Who is the best example of the man I need to be.

He loved the little children, treated women with respect,
And still today He’s faithful, never guilty of neglect.
He walked with purpose toward the cross, he face set like a flint,
Never did he waver, not a single hint.

Still today He prays for us at the Father’s hand,
His the only Merit by which we now can stand.
He gives us everything we need and a great deal beside,
There is great joy for those who in Him now abide.

My father’s learned a lot from this Man of Galilee,
And I’m so glad that with great care, he passed it on to me.
Because of his example, and the One Who died for me,
I know one day that I will be the man I need to be!

Speaking4Him,

Andrew

Peter IV

“Now in the place where he was crucified there was a garden; and in the garden a new sepulchre, wherein was never man yet laid. There laid they Jesus therefore because of the Jews' preparation day; for the sepulchre was nigh at hand.” (John 19:41-42)

The next three days seemed to pass as slowly as the previous three years. The events of those years and the miracles I had witnessed ran though my mind in vivid color. I couldn’t believe that after all I’d seen—all Jesus had done for me—I had denied even knowing Him!

That Sunday morning, I was up early. I hadn’t been sleeping well. I asked forgiveness more times then I could count. I felt so hopeless and full of despair. I couldn’t shake the memory of those tender eyes looking into my soul.

Then Mary came with the news that was alive. John and I ran to the tomb to check it out. Sure enough, He wasn’t there, but I don’t think I believed he was alive until I saw him in the upper room. I can remember being both excited and fearful when I saw Him.

He put my fears to rest when he said “Peace be unto you.” Later, Jesus gave me the opportunity to affirm my love for him three times, the same number of times I had previously denied him. From that point on with the help of the Holy Spirit, I have preached the Gospel boldly. I still make mistakes, but our Lord is faithful.

I write to you from a dark jail cell. Tomorrow I will put off this earthly tent for the sake of the Gospel. Be encouraged, for our Master once said “He that findeth his life shall lose it: and he that loseth his life for my sake shall find it.” (Matthew 10:39)

Keep Serving the Best of Masters,

Brother Peter

Speaking4Him,

Andrew Gommesen

Peter Part III...

“Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God.” (Matthew 16:16)

I will never forget that day. Jesus asked “Whom do men say that I am.” We talked about Elijah and the prophets. Then he said “What about you?” Jesus was good at that. He didn’t want us to focus on what others thought; He wanted us to focus on what we thought. What we do with Jesus is a decision we all need to make for ourselves. I answered that He was the Christ.

Life is full of high points and low points. I still wonder at how I could have gone from such a high point to having Jesus say to me “Get thee behind me Satan.” If only I had understood what was going to transpire in the next few days—or more importantly—why. Thanks be to God that I understand now and that Jesus was patient with me until I did!

Remember earlier when I talked about Jonah? Well, at one point Jesus said to the Pharisees “An evil and adulterous generation seeketh after a sign; and there shall no sign be given to it, but the sign of the prophet Jonas: For as Jonas was three days and three nights in the whale's belly; so shall the Son of man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth.” As we approached Jerusalem, we still didn’t understand all that that Passover week would hold.

The week started with Jesus riding into Jerusalem on a donkey. We as his disciples got excited at that. When he cast the money changers from the temple, it only added fuel to our fire! We enjoyed Passover together until Jesus started talk about leaving us again. He said things like “Where I go, you cannot come…But I will come again.” I told him I would go with him to death. He told me I would deny him three times.

It’s sad that I was so brash at super, because in the Garden—in my Master’s greatest hour of need—He repeatedly found me wiping sleep from my eyes. The events in that Garden passed in a blur. Judas’s betrayal, Jesus arrested, me cutting of Malchus’s ear, Jesus healing him.

I remember following behind Jesus with John to the court yard of the temple. What happened there I will never forget. Three questions—three answers—the tender eyes of my Master. Those things are stuck in my mind like they happened yesterday.

“Then saith the damsel that kept the door Art not thou also one of this man's disciples? I am not.”

“Art not thou also one of his disciples? I am not.”

“Did not I see thee in the garden with him? No!”

After Jesus looked at me, I went out and wept bitterly. While He was beaten, I hid. While he died I wept and wept some more. All my hope was gone!

But Sunday was coming!...

To Be Continued…