No aaronallison.com - for now
I haven't blogged in the last few days because my url (www.aaronallison.com) had been down while being transferred to a new domain company. However, I realized that my blog was still active on www.aaronsangle.blogspot.com. In the next few days aaronallison.com will be back up - I know that will make a huge difference in your life - ha!

Family News / Bachelor Time
I am missing my family terribly - but now that Abbey calls me at random times, and has even sent me a text message from her Mom's phone - I feel more connected. I am happy Beth and the kids get this annual sabbatical in Kentucky. Their time with all their grandma, aunts, uncles and cousins is an important summer tradition. I also enjoyed being there Sunday afternoon through Tuesday with my mom. Beth's mother and family are just special people - and we cherish these years as we see many of them getting older. We are blessed to have such a great extended family on both sides of our tree.

www.bethallisonmusic.com
If you have never visited www.bethallisonmusic.com you can hear three great songs from my all-time favorite singer! I think its time for some new songs, so when you see Beth join me in the campaign for new music.

Wednesday's Service / The Compassion Team
On Wednesday we had an unusually powerful time of prayer and declaration during our Wednesday night service. I felt a great energy that added life to our mid-week service. The beautiful part of this night was what occurred after the service. We took the enthusiasm and empowerment and directed it towards action in our community. Kim Driver lead our first Compassion Team ministry. The Compassion team exists to create events and ministries that will meet people's tangible needs in the community. By meeting people's needs we will demonstrate the love of Christ and open doors for the message of Christ to spread. We had great participation at this meeting, and I believed that all involved are as excited as I am about the future. Our first compassion event will be the Hendersonville Blessing on Saturday, August 9th. The Church at Indian Lake will be providing groceries and school supplies for families as a blessing before school starts. The level of the church's financial participation in the offering on Sunday, July 20th will determine how many families we can bless. I invite you to pray about what your participation in this event and offering can be.

Back in Town / Youth Get Away

We got back Sunday night from our long weekend in Gatlinburg. It was very weird to not be in church on Sunday morning, but I knew our service was in great hands with the staff. The decision to have Sunday as my last day of the trip instead of the first day was very valuable. I usually miss one Sunday a year just in case you think I am slacking - ha!

This morning I watched the vans load at 5:30 a.m. with teenagers on their way to Florida. The youth group's summer trip to Florida is one of the most important things the church does all year. Our teenagers are challenged spiritually, and its a great time for them to bond with both their leaders and each other. One of my dear friends, Clay Baggat, will be our camp speaker. Clay was a very successful youth pastor, and he is now the lead pastor of Living to Go Church in Goodlettsville. You can learn more about Clay 's personality by listening to our "Conversations" podcast titled "Rebellious PK." In your prayers, let's pray for a spiritual breakthrough in our teenagers that will ignite our church and community. God can do this! Let's believe for more than hype - let's believe for a revolution to start with our kids.

Cook Out / Gatlinburg

Cook Out
On Wednesday, the church had our Independence Day Cook Out. It was a great success - good turn out, great hamburgers, perfect weather. It would not have happened without the hard work of the Acevedos and Barnetts. Great job guys!

Gatlinburg
Yesterday, my family all took off for Gatlinburg. We are in an incredible, brand new cabin in a community called Settlers Ridge. It far exceeded our expectations! I have already been able to relax and spend time with my kids and nephews. Since I am not preaching on Sunday, this is one of the few times in the year I can mentally relax. We are about to leave for a favorite spot in the Smokey National Park - a natural stream shallow enough for the kids to swim in, and clear enough to see them when they slip and fall.

July 4th
Happy 232 to the US!

Week End Reflections

Yesterday was one of those ultimate days. Our service was full of joy, and you could really sense that when we closed with the song "How Can I Keep From Singing?" I was able to baptize my first-born son, Luke. Could a father ask for a better moment? I hope to post a picture of that later.

Sunday afternoon we spent with the Novelos, some special friends from Texas. We were really honored they took time to visit us and the church. We then went to the youth talent show, which was an overwhelming success. I think a tradition at Indian Lake may have been started.

On this Monday, the high in Nashville is only suppossed to be 81. My sister and her family are in town, so I am going to figure out a way to get outside on my day off. I am hearing rumors in our house about a trip to the zoo.

VBS Week - A Good Throw Back

This has been a great week during our Vacation Bible School. With all that has changed in the world, there are some things that have changed very little. VBS is one of those few things that haven't changed:

- Craft Time still exist
- Goofy songs that adult find themselves humming at randomn times still exist
- Teenagers still do the drama / skits
- Snack time / meal time still is the best station
- The gender with the highest offering, still puts a pie in the adult leader's face (the modern version is "slimed" with green slime)
I never realized that a VBS would become timeless in our ever-changing culture.

My Spiritual Fathers

On Sunday I spoke about the role of "spiritual father's" in our lives. There have been so many spiritual fathers to me, but here is a list of some in my life - and what they are doing now.
- J. Don George: Pastor George was my pastor from age 4 until I moved to Nashville in 1995. He is still the pastor of Calvary Church in Irving, TX.
- Brent Batson: Brent was my sixth-grade football coach, and he led me to a relationship with Christ. He is now the pastor of The Church of the Springs in Dripping Springs, TX. No one can disciple young men like Brent can.
- John McKinzie: John is my long time mentor. As my Jr. High pastor John called forth the gifts in my life. As an adult I worked with John nine years, and we never got in a fight. My friendship with him is an example of true Christian brotherhood. John pastors Hope Fellowship in Frisco, TX - a church I helped him plant.
- Maury Davis: Maury was my youth pastor when I was in Jr. High (John was his assistant). Maury then gave me my first full-time job in the ministry, and brought me to Nashville. I learned from Maury so many professional qualities, and he has shown me so much about growing a church. He is still the pastor of Cornerstone Church in Madison, TN.
- Rod Loy: Rod is a family friend I have known all my life, and he was a pastor at my home church while I was growing up. Rod has been part of my life during key times, but in the last year his influence has increased as he is mentoring in me a greater heart for the lost and missions. Rod is the pastor of First Assembly of God in North Little Rock, AR.
- There are several others, but this are some of the pre-imminent spiritual fathers in my life. I thank God for each of there imprints on my life.

Blog Catch Up

I have abandoned the "blogging" world the last two weeks for no good reason. However, it's been a great summer so far, and I have had two short, but amazing trips.

Colorado
- In late May, Beth and I went to Colorado to officiate a wedding at the Air Force Academy (notice pictures of the amazing Cadet Chapel). It was such a privilege that the Linz family brought us there, as they are such special friends of our. I am very impressed with Charles Linz and his new bride Jennifer. They are a wonderful young couple. I love the Denver area!




Philly / NYC
- On Thursday and Friday I went to the suburbs of Philadelphia to visit my friend Rick Steimling. It just so happened, that Jonathan Lee & Matt Underwood were leading worship just a few miles away at The East Coast Worship Summit (www.eastcoastworship.com). It was a blessing to hear Jonathan lead in a different setting; Paul Jackson was their with Media Shout - so I hung out with Paul after the conference. On Friday, Rick and I drove to New York City (about two hours) to watch a Mets game in Shea Stadium (see pic above). It was fun to sit among the locals. The crowd had a definite New York flavor, which made the night entertaining and colorful. Oh yeah, there was a baseball game, too.