Over the next couple days, I am going to be sharing some of my favorite Main Street memories.  There is no way I could write them all, but I just felt compelled to reflect on some of my favorites. 

Memories on Main Street Part 1:

1. Meeting the staff for my interview and messing up the word “sieve,” thinking it was “salve.”
2. Sharing an office with Pastor Bob for my first year.
3. Preaching my first sermon at Main Street called “Grandparents: God’s Original Social Security.”  The second message was called “Anger: The Warning on My Label.”
4. Working in the evenings on the new building.  Painting walls, shoveling trash, and scraping cement floors.  Such excitement and unity.
5. Encircling the old building in prayer and then caravanning to the new building for the first worship service in November 2004.
6. Playing drums in the praise band and keyboards for the Easter presentations.
7. Writing songs with Phillip.
8. The annual staff retreats:  Seeing Diana Reis scale a 60 ft. wall, firing tomatoes from a sling shot, eating trail mix, and naming the new building classrooms.
9. Seeing 72 people leave for the gulf on an intergenerational mission trip after hurricane Katrina.
10. Seeing over 200 people come out for Mission 41001.
11. Seeing over 1500 people come to the Great Harvest.
12. Seeing people walk on water during the Immersion Easter presentation.I better stop for now, I am getting upset.  More memories to come.

God is so amazing.  The Gospel is still saving 9 year old boys and girls, just like me.  I got the privilege to lead two kids to Christ today.  They prayed, on their own, for Jesus to forgive them of their sins and asked Christ to come into their hearts.  Their prayers were so sincere and sweet.

Three baptisms scheduled for Sunday.  More VBS followup to come.

While my last day is not until July 6, I am cleaning out my office this week.  It is making me SOOOOO SADDDD.  Each picture I put away, each little memento that goes into a box, each are little reminders of people I have come to love at Main Street.  Each item packed breaks my heart.

Moving stinks away you cut it.  But this move is very, very hard for me.  God’s plan is never easy to follow and right now I am getting depressed.  I am already grieving the loss, even while I am eagerly anticipating what is ahead.  The boxes fill up and are sealed, but the memories just linger. 

Jennifer and I went to see Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull a couple weeks ago (the only movie I have seen all summer).  I love Indiana Jones.  I mean I love it.  My fav has to be The Last Crusade.  “The penitent man will pass. Penitent. Penitent.”  I loved Raiders of the Lost Ark.  The melting German was perfection.  Temple of Doom stuggled but I still quote “Um Num Shadi, Um Num Shadi” when I stub my toe on something.  (Remember the scene where the man is being lowered into the fiery pit.)

This Indy was…not so good. 

The CG (Computer Generated) effects actually took away from the majestic art of movie-making seen in previous films.  Spielberg and Lucas had too much technology at their disposal and they used every piece of.  Lucas can pull that off in Star Wars in a galaxy far, far away.  But not in Indiana Jones, not set in the 1950′s, not when the weapon of choice is a whip, and definitely not when the central character wears a sweat-stained fedora.

The story line was interesting and some of the actions scenes were too much fun, but overall I felt the movie lacked depth.  The story of the father/son reunion did not work for me.  The Marion/Indy reunion did not work for me.  Just too much family drama.

A couple final observations.  Harrison Ford is a stud.  All men who see this movie want to be Harrison Ford when they grow up.  Cool job.  Cool adventures.  Always gets the girl.  Brilliant mind.  And as a 50 year old professor, he is cut. 

Finally, did aliens really need to be included in the Indiana Jones world?  Are their not enough buried archeological treasures in world history to make for a good story.  The aliens did not fit in this movie genre.

I give the film a C+.  Harrison Ford gets an A-.  Lucas and Spielberg get an Incomplete for not finishing the Indy series well.

I got word yesterday that I have been APPROVED to defend my prospectus in the fall.  I am relieved to get this news. 

Basically, I go to Louisville and present my prospectus and research design to my two readers (or dissertation committee members.  They have already read my draft proposal and will share with me the changes that I need to make.  After the hearing and defense, I will have 30 days to revise my work and resubmit a clean copy.  This copy will go through another round of reviews and alterations.

The whole process will come to a close in October if the faculty and VP approves my prospectus and gives me the green light to begin the actual research.  Then a whole new process starts which will hopefully lead to May ’09 graduation.

We shall see.

We said “Aloha” to another amazing VBS week.  We saw nearly 200 children enrolled in VBS this year.  We had over 100 leaders and volunteers who served each night.  God was working in those classrooms and I got to sit back and watch.

We shared God’s love and the Gospel with everyone who came to Friday night’s Closing Worship Rally.  In the service, I shared with the audience of about 350 how I came to faith at VBS.  I shared how I never really heard of Jesus before coming to VBS.  That during that week way back in 1987, I heard that Jesus loved me, that I needed forgiveness for my sins, and that I could ask Jesus to come live in my heart.  And that is exactly what I did.  VBS rocked my world and eternity for Christ.

This marks the first year that I have served as a VBS Director.  I have worked in VBS since I was in the 6th grade.  Every summer since then (19 consecutive years), I have served in VBS but never as a director.  I have served as a teacher’s assistant, on the rec team, on the worship team, camp pastor, Bible study leader, crafts helper, and even making the snacks.  Yikes!  But never as a director.

After this week, I am not sure if I like the leadership post.  You don’t get to know the children as much.  I missed that this year.  I missed learning names, giving hugs & high-fives, being down on the floor telling them stories about Jesus.  I also missed pulling out the ole’ guitar and playing my rock version of “This Light Light of Mine.”

But all in all, this year will forever be special.  It was my last VBS as Main Street.  For that reason, it will be cherished as one of the most memorable in my VBS experience.

You have to watch these videos in order.  It shows the love a mom has for her son.  Moms invent all kinds of games and activities for their rambuctus boys.  Poolball is a perfect example.  Enjoy the laughter and the pure joy of Poolball.

Wednesday night was a blast.  More children came and heard that Jesus is the the only way.  Two children asked their teacher about how to become Christians.  Praise God!!!  Tonight we will continue to sharing the Gospel message with the older children.  I will be presenting the Gospel in the worship rally.  We are asking God to work on hearts as I share His Good News.

I had an adventure Wednesday night with the 5th Graders.  I spent 45 minutes answering some tough theological and biblical questions.  I was so impressed with how interested these students were in understanding the Trinity, angels, Moses and the Exodus, and how Jesus was conceived.  It was too much fun.  So much for following the lesson plan, there were just too many GREAT questions.

Our VBS Leadership teams are doing an amazing job.  Everything has gone so smoothly.  We have about 80 adult and teenage leaders serving this year.  As I walk around the building, I see tons of smiles on the leaders’ faces.  I see them giving hugs, high-fives, and speaking encouraging words as they minister to the children.  They are being the hands and heart of Jesus extended to these young ones.

Day 2 of VBS (Tuesday) went very smoothly.  The Worship Team is doing great as are all the other leadership teams.  The kids seem to be excited to come and hear about Jesus.  Our prayers have been answered and God’s word is being sown into their little hearts.

So much so, that tonight (Wednesday) I have been invited to come and answer questions by the 5th grade class.  They are wanting some answers to questions on the Trinity and the virginal conception of Christ.  They also wanted to learn why the Bible is true and how do we know for certain God is real.  Tough crowd.  I am up for the challenge.

We are showing the Mission video tonight about work being done on the Island of Malta.  The video features IMB missionaries Earl & Robin Pinkston.  Main Street Church sent a mission team to Malta way back in the summer of 2004 to work with the Pinkston’s.  I was on that team.  Kinda neat seeing a VBS video about a place where I have served.

We begin VBS last night.  We had a great turn out.  130+ kids and 85 leaders.  We are praying for God to work on the hearts and lives of both the children and the leaders during this week.

Our summer Vacation Bible School is next week (June 16-20).  VBS is always the highlight of my summer.  It was during a VBS way back in 1987 that I asked Jesus to forgive me of my sins and placed my faith in Him as my Lord and Savior.  That was 21 years ago.

This will be my last VBS at Main Street.  My first year (2004), I was on the worship team dancing to all the songs and acting crazy on stage.  The last three years I have been in the 4 year old group.  Can you imagine forty-five 4 year olds?  It was a blast.  Last year was a western theme and they called me “Sheriff Shane.”

This year I will be serving as a Co-Director and Camp Pastor.  I get the privilidge of working behind the scenes, helping other leaders with their groups, and presenting the Gospel to the children.  What an honor.

If you are in Alexandria and want to register for a great VBS, go to www.Sievechurch.org.

Several have asked for some more information about our relocation to Campbellsville. 

We will be at Main Street through July 13.  Next week is VBS and I wouldn’t miss that for the world. 

On June 25 during Main Street’s quarterly business meeting, I will supply my formal, written resignation to the church.

My last day on staff is July 6.  Our last Sunday at the church is July 13.

We will be moving to Campbellsville sometime during the week of July 14 to 18.  I am not sure the day. 

July 23, I turn 31 years old.  Yeah, birthdays are awesome.

I will begin working at CU August 1 with classes starting August 20.  Yikes.  I got to get some stuff together.

I defend my prospectus August 13. 

We have been so overwhelmed by the outpouring of love and encouragement we have received the last couple days.  We are humbled and truly blessed to be loved so much by our friends and church family.   We love each of you dearly.

I am a Christian first.  But I am also a Southern Baptist.  I have attended three Southern Baptist academic institutions (Campbellsville Univ, Southwestern Bapt. Seminary and Southern Bapt. Seminary).  I have been a member of five Southern Baptist Churches (Lewisport BC, First Bapt. Euless, First Bapt. Millsap, Trinity Bapt. and Main Street Bapt.), of which I have served three of those as a staff member.  My dissertation topic deals entirely with how Southern Baptist colleges function and operate.  I married a Southern Baptist girl.

In short, I am highly connected to my denomination.  I love my denomination.  I am proud of my denomination for their commitment to God’s Word, to missions, to cultural engagement, and to their humanitarian efforts.  My family and I are just back from two days at the Southern Baptist Convention in Indianapolis, IN.  This is my second SBC annual meeting.

I, unlike a lot of people, find strength in these large denominational events.  A denomination is nothing more than a way to group people together.  It is a way to generically organize common beliefs and convictions about spiritual matters.  Are there differences?  Sure.  Does everyone believe the exact same thing?  No way.  But on the essentials, there is unity.  There is just something powerful when a large gathering comes together to say “We want to win the world to Christ.”

For the record, I would be comfortable serving in several other denominations.  But God has consistently placed me in Southern Baptist churches, schools, and groups.  That is my history.  Call it tradition if you will.  I am not opposed to “tradition.”  I just love my Lord Jesus and find great hope in the group of people called “Southern Baptists.”

Picture taken in March 2008

To check out our new little brick house in Campbellsville, click here:

http://www.kentuckyhomes.biz/view.php?id=5099&img=1&p=4

A couple weeks ago I alluded to a big announcement that was coming.  Here it is.

This morning, I officially announced my resignation as the Associate Pastor of Main Street Baptist Church.  My final day will be July 13.  

God has led me to accepted an invitation to join the faculty of Campbellsville University.  Starting August 1st, I will be an assistant professor of Educational Ministries at CU.  I will be teaching four classes this fall (Intro. to Youth Ministry, Intro to Educational Ministries, and 2 Religion-in-Life).  This is truly a God-sized dream come true. 

This morning was terribly difficult.  I was an emotional mess.  I love Main Street so much.  My family loves Main Street so much.  But we could not deny God’s work and hand in this.  We had prayed that if it was not His plan, doors would be closed.  But doors were continually opened and we are following His guidance into this next step.

For those of you from Main Street, Jennifer, the boys, and I love you all greatly and have loved being a part of your family.  To all my CU friends and family, we will see you soon.

So that I don’t burst into tears and anger, I will only share the highlights of one of the most miserable days of my life…yesterday.

9:00 AM – Disappointment because I was not given good information about a very important decision Jennifer and I need to make.  The delay is going to cost us significantly.

10:30 – More disappointment because now we can’t find anything that will work for our family’s situation.

12:00 – A bit of a bright moment.  We got to have lunch with a dear friend.

1:30 PM – Another disappointment as we had our hope crushed yet again.  Oh and it has hit 96 degrees outside.

3:30 – Jennifer is driving the car and notices it is loosing power.  A/C goes out.  Boys are hot and hungry in the backseat.  Shane is nervous about breaking down 3 hours from home.

4:00 – Pulled over at Walmart and Shane is trying figure out why the car is loosing power.  We try again.

4:30 – Car Alternator completely goes out.  We are broke down at a gas station in the middle of nowhere.  Shane calls the tow truck.  $3 per mile for a tow home.  We are 135 miles away.  Ouch!!!!

4:30 – 6:30 – Still waiting for the tow truck, sitting in a gas station with a hungry 2 year old and 7 month old.  People are wandering what on earth we are doing hangin’ out in a gas station.  But it was air-conditioned.

6:30 – Tow truck arrives.  Hooks up the car.  Jennifer and the two boys in car seats in the backseat of the truck, Shane in the front.  The tow truck doesn’t have A/C either. A VERY LONG DRIVE HOME.

8:45 – Arrive home.  Drop off the boys and Shane follows the tow truck to the local mechanic.

10:00 – Tow truck driver calls to say our credit card denied the payment for the tow and now he is going to have to come back to Alexandria and get the car.  Shane freaks out.

10:30 – Shane finally contacts owner of tow company and finds out they are playing a terrible joke on their driver.  Everything is fine with the credit card.

Next day:  To fix the alternator and a couple other things that went bad…$550.  Dang.

Great article on our school’s first Fifth Grade graduation.  A couple great photos.

Here’s the link and a quote by your’s truly.  Click Here for full Article.

“‘We believe the soul of a child is just as important as the brain of a child, and we want to nurture both,’ Garrison said.”

It has been quite a while since the original Love Shack was reunited.  The Love Shack was the official nickname of Suite 208, South Hall East, Campbellsville University, during 1998-1999 school year.  Suite 208 has had a long line of historic ancestry since its opening fall 1995. 

The original Suite 208 members were: B. Searcy, J. Owens, J. Williams, and S. Garrison.  Over the years others have joined the legacy of Suite 208. 

Other patriarchial Suite 208 members include: Nathan Gaddis, Chad Floyd, Ron Cornelison, and Russ G. Funk.

But the Love Shack was truly an exceptional year.  Members pictured (from left to right): Shane Garrison, Brandon Carrier, Zach Rice, and Steve Blan. 

Quick update on the Love Shack. 

Brandon Carrier, Associate Pastor, Pioneer Baptist Church in Harrodsburg, KY, single and independently wealthy.

Zach Rice, Worship Pastor, Immanuel Baptist Church, Danville, KY, married to Heather.  Zach (known by most as “Chief”) is now a lead member of Sola Grace, a traveling worship band who has toured all over the world…well at least all around central KY.

Stephen Blan, married to Sarah, former international man of mystery, now unemployed and looking for investors to start his new career…Persian Rug Dealer.  No problems, special price for you.

To All Members of SUITE 208, “Women want us; Men want to be us.”