ShaneGarrison.org

A final update on Ethan.  He seems to be fine.  He goes back to the doctor today for a checkup, but everything looks to be back to normal.

I just have to share one funny story in this whole episode.  When Ethan had the first seizure, we immediately got off the road and Jennifer jumped out of the car to go get him out of the car seat.  As she was unbuckeling him, she was praying.  I mean really praying.  Praying with intensity.  Praying loudly.  Praying with a passion and a purpose.  She grabbed Ethan and got him out of the car and kept praying…even more loudly.

After I got off the phone with 911, I went to check on Isaac who was still sitting in his car seat wondering what was going on.  I tried to explain to him that Brother was sick and we need an ambulance to come and take him to the hospital. 

He looked at me and said, “Daddy, Mommy is yelling at Jesus.  She said ‘O Jesus.’ We’re not posed to say O Jesus.”  I couldn’t help but laugh.

We have never been so excited to see a rash.  Ethan’s Roseola rash began showing last night after his bath.   This is very good news, because the rash is the last phase of the virus.  It appears to have run its course in his little body.

Jennifer did some research and found out they also call Roseola ”Sixth Disease” because it was the 6th childhood disease discovered.  Isaac had “Fifths Disease” twice.  I wonder if there is a seventh?

CAMPBELLSVILLE UNIVERSITY YOUTH MINISTRY CONFERENCE DISCUSSES WAYS TO ENGAGE YOUTH IN CHURCHES

By Joan C. McKinney, news and publications coordinator

The Rev. Shane Garrison, instructor in educational ministries at CU, who is also a 1999 graduate of the university, gave the first presentation, laying out various paradigms (or models) for youth ministry.

He said five promising paradigms are as follows: missional youth ministry – go and tell, not come and see; global- humanitarian youth ministry – where youth become part of the “Jesus Peace Corps” by helping and serving others in Jesus’ name;

Parent-centered youth ministry – where parents learn to lead their own teens in spiritual growth (with or without a “youth minister”); peer-to-peer youth ministry – which consists of youth ministry led by students for students, and campus crusade youth ministry that produces student missionaries sent to minister to their own school campuses.

For the full Campbellsville University press release on the Think Again Conference, select Full Story

By Friday afternoon, 3 of the Garrison clan were rolling back into Campbellsville.  Ethan was sent home shortly after the doctor visited yesterday.  Throughout the day, he was cranky, fussy, and clingy, but no signs of the fever returning.

Last night, he slept well.  He slept with us, of course, but he seemed like he was getting back to his old self.

Today, we are waiting for the Roseola rash to begin.  If he has the Roseola virus, a rash will form all over his body after the fevers subside.  As of 10  AM, still no rash has shown, but the fevers haven’t come back either.  So we are probably right between the two stages.

I am heading to Williamsburg to pick up Isaac from Nanna and Papaw’s.  He has been gone since Wednesday night and we are missing him terribly.

It is Friday morning.  We stayed another night in Hardin Memorial Hospital for the doctors to keep an eye on Ethan.  He hasn’t had any more seizures since Wednesday.  The fever has spiked multiple times, but no seizures, which is a good thing.  It looks like he has the Roseola virus.  The doctor came this morning and will be sending us home later today.  Needless to say, we are relived that he has a childhood virus and not anything serious.

One nice part of this whole thing, I was able to go Black Friday shopping in E-town, instead of Campbellsville.  I got nearly everything done in less than 2 hours, plus hit Starbucks.  Sweet.

One not-so-nice part, we had Thanksgiving dinner from the hospital cafeteria.  Yummmm. 

We are so thankful that Ethan is doing better and that Isaac has been in great hands at Nana and Papaw’s house.  Probably not the way I had envisioned my Thanksgiving holiday, but God has provided all that we needed.

We have spent 24 hours in Hardin County Memorial Hospital in Elizabethtown.  Ethan had two Febrile seizures yesterday. 

A Febrile seizure is caused when a child’s temperature spikes too fast.  The first seizure was in the car while we were traveling to Hancock Co. for a family visit.  We called an ambulance and they brought him in to the hospital.

Several negative tests later we were about to be discharged to take E home, when he had another seizure.  This time it was longer and more intense.  The medical personnel got him under control and more tests were ordered.  Everything pointed to a viral infection which was causing the fever.

So at this moment, 9 AM on Thanksgiving morning, we are waiting for the pediatrician to come and do his checkup on E.  All the tests have come back negative for various diseases.  They have given him Tylenol and Motrin to keep the fever down and antibiotics to fight the virus, which seems to be working.

Isaac went home with his Nana and Aunt Jan.  Jennifer and I stayed the night with E.  I guess we will be watching the Macy’s Day Parade from the hospital TV.

You understand Thanksgiving better when you spend the day in a hospital.  Thankful for doctors and nurses who care for your child.  Thankful for ambulances that can drive 80.  Thankful for cell phones that pick up reception in the middle of nowhere.  Thankful for family who come to your rescue.  Thankful for a silly sports medicine degree that helps you stay calm and know what was wrong with your son.  Thankful for a wife who has stayed awake 24 hours caring for her baby boy.

Thankful to God for his great protection and provision this Thanksgiving.

I laugh and laugh at this picture the more and more I look at it.  It looks like an interp has gone terribly bad. 

If you are not familiar with the term “interp” let me explain.  An Interp is short for Interpretative Movement or Interpretative Dance.  Many churches use a form of dance, ballet, or “music with motions” as creative elements in their worship service.  Usually the particpants were all black and perform to a song.

You can almost imagine this being an interp with Jesus on the cross.  Notice how Isaac’s arms’s are outstretched and he is standing next to a tree.  If you use your left brain, you can see it.

But the funniest part is that Ethan is running away.  He is getting out of there.  “RUN FOR THE HILLS.”  This interp thing is not for him.  He is gone.

My family and I got the great opportunity to worship at Bethany Bapt. Church yesterday in Louisville.  We were welcomed by my old friend, and CU alum, Pastor Chuck Fuller and his wife, Jessie. 

I preached a message entitled “What I am NOT Thankful For” taken from 2 Corinthians 12:7-10.  This passage contains one of the my powerful verses in all of scripture.  “My grace is sufficient for you; My power is made perfect in weakness” (2 Cor. 12:9).

The key theme of the message was being thankful even in the midst of suffering.  I shared Paul thanked God for (1) his unremoved thorn, (2) his unending suffering, and (3) his unimaginable contentment.

Afterwards, the Garrison’s enjoyed the Mall at St. Matthews.  When you are in the big city, you have to do some window shopping.

The Before Shots.

Mr. Matt “Disco” Rodgers, the Garrison family barber, did the honors at Disco’s Chop Shop. 

The After shot.

A while back, actually probably a year now, Jennifer found Isaac leading his first small group Bible study with his stuffed animals.

Isaac's First Small Group

Well apparently George, Sparky, and Lil’ Georgie are no longer in his small group.  He has a new group formed since we moved to Campbellsville.  Here is Isaac teaching.

Quiet Everyone, I'm About to Begin

 And here is Isaac’s new group member.

Teach Me Brother

Another great day at Living Grace Church yesterday as we celebrated the dedication of their new facility.  In the 6 years Living Grace has existed as a church, they have worshipped in 5 different locations from a living room, to an old warehouse, to a movie theater, and now a completely renovated Coca Cola distribution plant.  The service was great and the dedication was a very special time of unity and thanksgiving to God for His great provision.

I preached a message called The Wrecking Ball taken from John 8:2-11.  You can listen by going to: http://podcast.livinggracechurch.com.

Next Sunday (Nov. 23), I will be preaching at Bethany Baptist Church in Louisville, KY, for a dear friend and CU Alum, Pastor Chuck Fuller.  Chuck and I were in school together.  He also served as my brother’s pastor at Pellville Bapt. Church in Hancock Co., KY. 

I will be preaching a message entitled What I am NOT Thankful For taken from 2 Corinthians 12:7-10.

On Saturday, November 15, we had nearly 30 youth pastors and ministry leaders from KY and TN on campus for the inaugural Think Again Conference hosted by CU and the Kentucky Baptist Convention.  While the day was cold and rainy, the conference participants were warm and ready to discuss the changing tide of Youth Ministry in a post-modern world.  The event was well attended and seemed very well received by the participants.

I led the first session and Joe Ball, KBC Youth Ministry Strategist, led the second.  My topic dealt with Youth Ministry paradigms that exist everywhere in all kinds of churches.  The most prevalant youth ministry designs and formats seen today.  Additionally, I spoke about the paradigms that are failing and causing youth to leave the church after graduation.  Conversely, in sharing the good news, I highlighted five paradigms that are showing real promise in reaching the next generation for the long haul. 

Joe Ball tackled the challenging new book by Steven Wright called ReThink which deals with the role of parents in youth ministry.  Considering the family, not the church, as the primary institution created by God for the discipleship of teens.  The church, as a secondary institution, acts as a partner to parents.

We are discussing how we might continue the Think Again Conference for next fall.  I will post some pictures of the event soon.  Thank you to all who attended and supported this event.

Here are some recent pictures of the boys.  We have really enjoyed the fall season change.

Written for CU Worship Arts Conference Blog - www.cuworshiparts.com

As we enter into the post-Christian, post-modern era, worship is not only changing in its liturgical forms and stylistic preferences; it is also changing its location.  Moving from the cathedral to the store front, from the multi-acre campus to the living room, from the expansive to the intimate. 

We must recognize that one inevitable change to face of worship in the 21^stcentury is location, location, location.  Real estate matters to the next-generation of worshiper.  Post-modern Millennials are often offended, and slightly repulsed, by big buildings, white columns and stained glassed windows.  They see the traditional church facility as a debt-burdening albatross on the movement and mission of God.  They prefer smaller, more mobile and user-friendly church facilities that can be used both for corporate worship and for community ministry.

Millennials prefer the building to be used daily for the glory of God; not just on Sunday and Wednesday.  They would rather worship in a location that serves the community Monday through Saturday than one that is vacant six days a week.  Let it be used for a Christian school, community center, business park or a homeless shelter, no matter the purpose, just use the facility every single day for the kingdom of God.

Gone are the days of the perfectly manicured wood, immaculate tile floors and hand-made furniture in the “parlor,” enter the days of utility, mobility, and efficiency in regard to the place followers of Christ gather to worship.  The PLACE of worship is changing.

I just got my copy of ”The Book: New Testament” created by Swedish publisher Dag Soderberg and his company called Bible Illuminated. 

This New Testament looks and feels like a magazine you would see in any Starbucks or high-end book store.  Similarities to media giants as Elle, Cosmo or GQ are easily seen in the format and layouts.  The editorial pictures are absolutely stunning, but instead of articles about trend-setting in Milan or whats happening on the runaway in Paris, you get to read scripture, God’s holy word.  The translation chosen was the Today’s English Version.

The creator wanted a Bible that people would read on the subway or in an airplane terminal, possibly even in a university library.  Rarely do you see anyone at Barnes & Noble opening up their black leather-bond, gold-foiled King James Version (King Jimmy to me) to read while sipping their latte.  If you did, that person is deemed a religious fanatic looking to evangelize a passerby.  Soderberg wanted a New Testament that was portable and eye-catching.  He wanted people to open up the most read book of all time and not be ashamed to read it in public.

Personally, I think this is brilliant.  It is an attempt to bring the Gospel to the culture.  Much like missionaries translating the word for an indigenous people group, we need to translate God’s word to a post-Christian, post-modern, secular American and European society.  The Book is well-done, professional, and pushes the creative envelope.  I love it.

To read more, check out: www.illuminatedworld.com

I spent all day yesterday in Lexington, KY, with my fellow Kentucky Baptists at the annual Kentucky Baptist Convention meeting.  I have to say, this was one of the best KBC meetings I have ever been to.  There was something different in the air.  A spirit of harmony, unity, and a desire to see the Gospel go forth was everywhere.  It was almost palpable.

The three sermons from Bill Hernard, Kevin Smith, and David Platt were absolutely amazing.  The times of worship were passionate and Christ-exalting.  I even loved the reports from the various KBC entities sharing how investment in the Cooperative Program is changing lives.  I got to see old friends and meet some new ones.

Now as a denominational representative working at Campbellsville University, and not as a pastor of a local church, it was a very different experience for me.  I serve one of the institutions that is being supported by the KBC.  It makes you feel different about how we collectively participate in the mission of God, not individually in one particular church.  You are invigorated that other brothers and sisters in Christ are investing in you and in your area of service to make a impact for the Gospel.

It was a great day all around.

God was really at work yesterday during our first week at Living Grace Church.  Jennifer and I felt so welcomed.  The service was alive and full of energy. 

I started a new series called “Condemned” taken from Romans 7:22-8:4.  “There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are Christ Jesus” (Romans 8:1).  Next week, the message will be “The Wrecking Ball” taken from John 8:2-11.

If you would like to hear the message, you can go to iTunes and search “Living Grace Church” or go to: http://podcast.livinggracechurch.com/

Maple Trail Ministry Consultants is pleased to announce the launch of KY Pastor Search, a new interactive ministry support website Connecting God’s Person to God’s People.

The goal of this site is to share information concerning KY churches in need of pastoral or ministerial staff.  The process is very simple.  If you are a church in need, please send us a brief description of your open position, search team contact information, church website, and whom to refer resumes. 

If you are a pastor or minister in need of a church to serve, this site is for information only.  We do not send or refer resumes.  We only supply up-to-date information about pastoral and ministerial positions available in KY. 

Check out KY Pastor Search today.

The fall season activities are flying.  With all the warm weather, we have been out paryting nearly every Friday night the last couple weekends.  Here are some pics.

Hayride Family Pic

Isaac got all decked out in his new corduroy jacket to go to a CD Release Party for a local band called The Embers.  The music was great, but too loud for him so we only got to listen to 2 songs.