Devan's Race - 8 girl campers...

Here is the evidence....Go Devo!

-ao

Devon - Program Devon - Speed Racer!

This is my friend, Devon Accardi.  He's racing a bunch of campers at Windy Gap.  Go Devon, go!  BTW, he won the race.  Merry Christmas, Devon.

-ao

LCYL Staff

 

This is a photo of our Young Life Staff in Loudon County.  Graham, Amy, and me.  We had our staff meeting yesterday - it was a good morning. We are reading a book together, as a staff, "Soul Feast", by Marjorie Thompson.  In the first chapter it talks about a spiritual yearning and hunger; it talks about this thirst that exists within us. We were able to discuss our own time with the Lord, our current experiences with Jesus, and its affects on each of our lives, families, and ministry.  It was good to share our hearts and get back in a quiet rhythm, as a staff team.  We meet every other week.  Yesterday was the first time we've been able to do so in a month or so that has not felt rushed or busied.  It was good to listen to and pray with Graham and Amy.  We make a good team. Together, we are trusting in what the Lord has called us to be a part of - being used by Him and allowing His love to infiltrate us in order that others will see Him and they might be known by Him (then they, too, would know Him).  I consider it a privilege to work with Graham and Amy.  I am in a job that speaks volumes to people in our community - it keeps my "soul standing on its tippy toes" (Teague) most of the time.  This is a direct line of sight into my heart - and the Lord continues to reveal this to me.  "My life is a listening, His is a speaking..." (-a' Kempis)

-ao

Wyatt and a metal detector

At Tractor Supply.

October 2008 - Ministry Report

Below is what I send out (monthly) to our YL Committee and a few folks who lift me up on a regular basis; I thought I would leave it here, too.

 

What about me?

This is the theme in my life. “What about me?” – is what I keep hearing. I sat with an LCHS friend of mine, in our new YL office (pretty cool place) for a few hours, recently, and he told me the same. After a lot of talking and laughing and discussing fall camp, etc. – he told me about how “cool this is” that we were hanging out. He talked about wanting time to just hang out; he didn’t want time being disciple, time being coached, or time talking about YL things – he just wanted time together. I realized in that moment that my friend, the senior at LCHS, was tired of being the Young life “goto” guy and wanted to know in his own way “What about me?” instead of “how about those other kids that do not know Jesus….” It was good for me to hear that. It was hard; I tried to hold on to my tears that came up because it hurts. It hurts to be told I have not spent enough time with someone I care about. As I thought about that, I knew I would write my monthly report on this specific thought of “What about me?”. I hear this when I go home; I hear it from all of them. Olivia is asking the question, Wyatt asks the question, and even Boone smiles at me…..asking the question! If I am honest, I even ask the question of them, too. I think in my heart, I presume the Jesus asks me the same – I feel His Spirit nudging my heart, as if to say, “Andy, what about me?” This is my cue to move in deeper – with all. I am trying to listen to what the Lord is saying to me and am trying to do so by being attentive to all the things going on my life. I am listening to my dear wife who wants time with me….not more of time away. I am listening to my son, Wyatt, who says “Daggy….wrestle???.....will you wrestle me, please..Daggy..??” - And it seems to come as I walk out the door. I listen as Boone smiles and giggles only as little babies who can’t talk do so when they are excited. I listen in my own heart when I wonder the same question to them; I want time with Olivia, I want time with the boys, I want time with Jesus. I want time to live my life as I am supposed to. You know, I even want time to do my job. I feel like things have been in a whirlwind, lately. I have been caught in the tailspin after having Boone and haven’t felt back in touch w/my job in some time, now. It has affected me for sure. I feel like I am an Area Director who loves my role and loves what I do, yet I cannot get in to the rhythm that I long to be in. I think of a quote that I heard from St. Augustine, “ …(I) am restless..until I rest in thee.." That is my hope and vision for myself. I long to rest in Him – apart from Him, my life is just restless! As Olivia says, “Everybody wants a piece of Andy”; and then it seems to show and we feel worn down. I am thankful for a few days this week of rest. A few days of R&R time with Olivia and Boone. I am thankful Wyatt could spend some time at his grandparents’ house. I am thankful to have been able to ride in the car and be with Olivia and just talk. It has been so good. yet, I continue to ponder this theme that keeps getting asked around me and of me – Hey Andy…”What about me?”

Young Life Business

It is happening. Club has been split – we now have two area clubs! Greenback has its own and so does LCHS and LHS. We meet a few times a semester to have joint club and it’s been a beautiful thing! GHS has 20% of their school’s population coming to club! They have 15% of it attending campaigners on a weekly basis. In a school of 270+/- students, they have seven leaders and tons of kids coming to YL events! It is such a beautiful thing to see. We are having our share of struggles in Loudon High and are handing things to the Lord and going to simply “go” – then we will watch..and see. At Lenoir City, we are seeing some pretty cool things: Fewer leaders than ever, quite a few kids coming and several kids in campaigners. It has been fun to watch momentum roll in our area. We have some promising leaders on the rise in Quest. We will keep on keepin’ on. We will “rest in thee” (St. A.). More to come later.

Thank you.

Lord, I am watching, waiting, listening, and wondering. Here am I.

Blessings,

-ao

Jim and Wyatt @ the game!

Cousins - watching their JSU Gamecocks best Tennessee Tech. Oh, and the band, too!
-ao

Back from Camp

Just got back from Windy Gap. It was a great weekend.  I took a group of guys that I didn’t know as well and it has been a little while since I’ve done that. It was great!  I got to stay up til 3 a.m. both nights (or later) and be goofy with these guys, laugh at and with them, and listen to them tell stories of how they loved their weekend.  We got on the bus Friday afternoon, drove 2 and a half hours to Windy Gap in Weaverville, NC, and had dinner. Then, when dinner was over, Brian told me “this is already the best weekend ever, Ogle!”.  I smiled, and said, “It sure is, dude…it sure is.”  My friend Brian was on to something, or better yet, God’s Spirit was already beginning to do something within Brian’s heart. He had a great weekend, he had a solid experience and heard about Jesus in a fresh way that made sense to him, in his own heart.  He was all ears all weekend as the gospel unfolded. I believe the impact in him was a big deal.  His brother, Scott – same song, second verse!  Both of these guys will be coming to campaigners, now.  One will come to Wednesday a.m.’s and the other to my house on Sunday nights.  Thanks be to God. 

We took more kids than ever, more leaders than ever, and more adult guests than ever – look out people….in a time of economic downfall, LCYL is on the up rise!  It is really fun to be a part of a great mission and a great ministry.  I love doing what I get to do.  I get to hang out with kids, love on them in a unique way, be real and let them know that God loves them infinitely greater than they can fathom…..and He wants to move in to their hearts.  It’s pretty cool to watch the lights come on in their hearts.  It’s pretty cool to see what the Lord does in my own heart as I spend time with high schoolers and spend time trying to be who I say I am, a follower of Jesus who happens to tell people about Him for a living…..if you can call it that – it’s my vocation, but it all comes from God – so, really, it’s His deal…I’m just hear for the ride.  It’s a good ride, too.  Things can be pretty hard at times…hard at work, hard at home, hard in my heart.  However, those things do not change the truths of Christ.  He is still good. He is still the Lord. He is still my Holy Comforter.  He still intercedes on my behalf to God the Father.  No matter what, He is good and His love for me is infinite.  I must always remember this. 

 

Pray for me.  I need it.  I am hearing something different in my heart, lately.  I am hearing a different pull toward the Lord that I am attempting to decipher; a few posts ago, I wrote about it a little…..it still exists within my heart. It’s a tug in a direction that I’m trying to hear from God and figure out. Please lift up my family and me as we simply listen and watch to see what the Father has in store for our family. 

 

-waiting, listening, watching.

-ao

 

Quest guys at the maze!

Fun times w our Quest folks - YL leadership training at the maze in greenback.

(sent from my blackberry)

New YL Office

The YL office just moved to a new place a couple of months ago and we love it. It is in an older building in "downtown" and we just love it's charm and character! The picture at the top is of some of our committee folks and then Amy (our office admin...the bomb) and Emily (our YL intern's wife)!

thenorthspoon.blogspot.com

Wyatt at the YL office

sweetness

More of the coolness of Photography by Olivia.

 

 

this is boone's "silky" and he LOVES it. 

Andy Ogle

thenorthspoon.blogspot.com

 

 

rings and rolls

These are some really cool photos by Olivia Ogle. She’s pretty cool.

 

Andy Ogle

thenorthspoon.blogspot.com

 

 

Jason's Car

That's right - drove my boy's ride tonight taking guys to the movies; new model BMW....just a cool car, people.
-ao

Battle of the Browser!

So, I’m just putting it out there – I’m stuck between three high-powered browsers and wondering which to land with!  Any suggestions?  I have to use IE for YL things since not everything is fully compatible with the others, but I like the simplicity and options of these newbys (and there are a couple others out there if you are interested).

 

Here they are:

 

Internet Explorer 8 / Beta (brand new and it’s Microsoft’s attempts to keep up w/the new high-speed web browsers)  www.microsoft.com

 

Firefox (by Mozilla) 3.0 (google Mozilla firefox)

 

Google Chrome (new web browser fresh out of the shoot from Google)  (goto “more” on google or gmail site and look for “Google Chrome”)

 

 

 

Check them out! Let me know your thoughts.

 

-ao

A Word

A few thoughts from my time with the Lord, a message I recently heard, and what is stirring within:

"During the fourth watch of the night Jesus went out to them, walking on the lake. When the disciples saw him walking on the lake, they were terrified. "it's a ghost," they said, and cried out in fear. But Jesus immediately said to them: "Take courage! It is I. Don't be afraid." "Lord, if it's you," Peter replied, "tell me to come to you on the water." "Come," he said. Then Peter got down out of the boat, walked on the water and came toward Jesus. But when he saw the wind, he was afraid and, beginning to sink, cried out, "Lord, save me!" Immediately Jesus reached out his hand and caught him. "You of little faith," he said, "why did you doubt?" And when they climbed into the boat, the wind died down. then those who were in the boat worshiped him, saying, "Truly you are the Son of God." -Mathew 14:25-33


The word here that stands out to me ( for now ) is: "Come". It is the idea of where am I being asked to come...where or What am I leaving behind (being challenged from Him)? What am I stepping toward?

Is it to step away.....out of my comfort zone into the unknown? It seems that this is the direction I'm hearing. To trust God is out there, even if I can't see....in the unknown! The word, "Come" is an invitation into and for transformation (-Jim Branch) in me. I am praying in this way. I would appreciate your prayers for me as I listen to what He is telling me and / or inviting me toward.

-ao

BB Kings Blues

On Beal Street! C'mon baby!

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Walkin in Memphis on roof top in downtown baby!

Free Bird!

Wyatt and me watching the "Rockout" at the Tate & Lyle Performing Arts Center in Loudon

We were chillin w locals watching and listening to the tunes!

Childrens museum

Check out Wyatt at Oak Ridge Childrens Museum! He got soaked! The boats were his favorite part! Mine too. Twelve bucks - well play at your own risk.

-ao

Free 411 phone call - from Google!!

 

 

This is a service from Google and its free...
Here's a number worth putting in your cell phone.
Great when you are on the road. Let your family and friends know too. Free Information, free texts, free email – totally free 1411 – stop paying $3 for a phone number from your cell.  Listen to the clip!!

 

http://www.google.com/goog411/

This bird's 4 you!

Okay - when I was in high school, my freshman year, I was training for the mile in gym class aka running on the track and out of the sky came a flying object attacking my forehead and neck! It was some crazy bird's flying excrement making its way to the Earth - on my face! That was the last time I have been pooped on by a bird....until today! What you see in these pics is the reminant of the bird that was 50 feet above my head this AM during my quiet time and yes it was quiet UNTIL something attacked my chest, stomach, and leg all at the same moment - I thought someone threw something at me in my own back yard! Oh no! It was a wopping load of bird doo and it drilled me! It scared the mess out of me and to be honest, I'm still trying to finish my qt but I just had to spread the news on this - oh and I changed clothes too. Olivia was on the phone when this strange interuption occurred - she didn't know what had happened! So, here's to you, Mr. I like to hang out 50 ft high on a branch and mess w humans - bird! Tuche'



-ao

Family

Having Boone around, now, is a big adjustment. I tried to "step up my game" starting a few months ago - as a means of prepping myself and my efforts to help Olivia....and increasing the things I do around the house or with her or with Wyatt or whatever it took to make sure I was doing MORE! Now, Boone was born 3 weeks ago and I believe my practice rounds paid off. I feel a little more like I was ready for the level of help and ready for doing more around home. It has had it's share of challenges thus far - namely, the time balance is a biggy for me. I need time with Olivia, I need time with Wyatt, I need time with Boone, and I sure need alone time - which is my first priority: my time with Jesus. I think I am beginning to understand all these parents' comments regarding their quiet times or whateve when they have said "I just do what I can, when I can..." Yet, I will not let that simply suffice my efforts to be with the Lord in the mornings nor will I let it stifle my efforts to be intentional with Olivia or the boys.
The Lord has continued to reveal his faithfulness to me in my time with Him, lately. He has one streaming theme in my life - to live in such a way that brings praise, honor and glory to His name - that's it. In the midst of that, He is showing His relentless love and faithfulness to me in the scriptures I'm reading. My time alone with the Father is crucial. As I told Olivia a few days ago, I believe that my intimacy with Jesus Christ is the sole thing that allows me to be the Husband and Daddy that I am - otherwise I'd be lousy, apart from Christ.
-ao

Bad to the Boone!

Well, there you have it - Boone Ogle was born into this world 7/18/08 @ 4:34 p.m. weighing in at 7 lbs. and 15 oz. He was 20.5 inches long and came out w/a few scratches on his head from getting poked while the doctor broke Olivia's water in the hospital. But, he's great now and so are we! We are at home trying to figure out how to parent two kids and how to adjust accordingly. I believe it all changes from here: parenting, disciplining, quiet times with Christ, time alone with Olivia, time alone with each of the boys, Wyatt and Boone. I trust that my time with Christ will begin to overflow onto everything else in my life enough that I don't have to try and sweat all this! I get to just go for it and do what I do - be a Christ follower, a husband, and a daddy - period. Let's go, baby!

-a.o.

wyatt - catfish

(from yesterday)

well,

he strikes again!  tonight about 7 p.m. - 1 catfish, 1 bluegill .....hadn't been skunked yet!  we're going again about 7 a.m. tomorrow just for kicks..and to use the rest of our worms and minnows we bought!

 

-ao

(got skunked this a.m. – Wyatt said, “Daddy we not go to muddy spot, nuh huh! We go to OTHER spot and catch fish….mmmmh hmmmm!”  And that’s the way the cookie crumbles!)

 

Romy

She’s just another part of the lineage of perfect dogs that yours truly has trained and developed. Yup, just look at her!

 

LCHS guys from camp

These are a few of the guys I’ve spent the past two years investing in and loving on! These guys carry a special place in my heart and I hope they will keep discovering what it means that they “have a new heart” in Christ. They are crazy and fun. This shot was taken this week, after our summer camp reunion party, at our house. -ao

Fishin Trip

Fishing w/Daddy

I took Wyatt to a local place where we could fish from the bank, it was a pretty good hike to get there – he was awesome!  He was soooo fired up to be there.  We had a Jeep ride, some chips to eat, night crawlers…a “bobber” and a heck of a time!