Andre Sushchik’s Blog

• first of all let me say this one hour ahead thing sucks… my body could not agree with it trying to wake up from staying up late last night but i made it through the day just fine…
• today was one awesome time at new life church.
• 9 people got baptized and it was cool to be there.
• i tried the water before they came in and it was coooold… i was laughing for them:)
• on a more negative note, one of our singers decided not to show up on time so needless to say that got to me but we were just fine without them.
• raelynn is doing a super job with backup vocals
• ilia did a great job leading the people in worship… i could feel the Spirit even inside that drum cage.. good to have him back
• alot of people showed up today, more than usual… lets keep it that way..
• looking forward to leading worship next sunday
• thinking i might lead with my axe like last time… that was fun
• thank God for warm weather now i can finally get back to cutting trees… and making money
• worship team got invited to lead at All Nations City Church next month the 11th at 6pm.. should be fun
• time to watch a movie with my love… peace

• This is one concert that I will never ever forget…
• So we drove up to Xcel Energy Center and there were tons of people walking to the concert cuz they parked far away…
• Almost ran a guy over
• Once we got inside to our seats, the air was kinda hazy but the atmosphere was electric.
• Eventually moved up a few rows cuz no one else did so we got a good view
• Bad thing is pictures didn’t turn out the best cuz it was so dark but I got some cool video clips
• Michael Franti opened up the night and he was pretty cool… Jamaican reggae style if your into that
• Mayer actually started playing an hour and a half after the start so I was very impatient the whole time…
• As soon as he came out, the crowd went wild and crazy.
• By the way, the lighting and effects were by far the best I’ve seen ever.
• There was no tiny screen to look on.. instead there was a super huge LED screen behind the stage that was insane. (good quality too)
• So the track intro to “heartbreak warfare” started and they projected a cool video clip on this thin screen that actually wrapped around the whole stage electronically.
• I felt really cool being in the same room as John Mayer.. he is one of the best guitar players alive, no argument there
• Its weird how he can sometimes say stupid things in tabloids and be a total jerk but when he’s on stage, he’s very nice and super smooth with his words….
• He would make a good worship leader (I’m prayin for him)
• Man he ripped up his guitar to shreds!!!! I don’t know how his hands don’t hurt..
• By the way, Steve Jordan is the king of the groove… that dude can slam the drums like no one else..
• “Waiting on the world” to change was super groovy (yana’s favorite song)
• Played “free fallin’ acoustically, sounded crisp
• Sound quality inside that xcel center was the best I’ve heard in my life for such a huge building
• Did I mention the lighting was off the hook???
• I’ve never seen mixing board as big as the ones mayer had… bigger than lifelight even.. one was at least 6 feet long!
• So after the last song, crowd kept getting louder and louder for him to come out and do an encore
• He did and played “who says” and finished with “no such thing”
• Threw out some picks after, I wish I was down there
• What an amazing concert… Its one thing to appreciate his music through headphones but a totally insane experience seeing him live..
• Lets be honest, the coolest thing about the show was that I was with the girl that rocks my world.. I love you baby!!! Lets do it again!!

I am lucky enough to  call the ever so popular Audri Vargas a friend. She is battling it out at american idol for a shot to win it big. Over the past few years, she has been leading worship with me and our team at New Life Church. I would always tell her that her leading is preparing her for some awesome things in her future. I’ll be honest, it feels good to be right Thinking back, i remember when she started come to church. I think she was about 12 years old at the time and she started singing with the team at 13 (close enough). Needless to say that she along with her voice have matured over the past few years and now she is just starting to reap the benefits of many hours of hard work and practice. I’m glad to be a part it.

Just a thought the Lord gave me…

All of God’s glory isn’t meant to be experienced at one time. If it were, than God could not be God. His glory is meant to be continually experienced for a lifetime and after that, for all of eternity. The best part is all of eternity wont be long enough to experience the full glory of God.

• This Christmas eve is one i will probably never ever forget. Not just because of the storm but because of how we got through the storm.
• The storm was supposed to shut us down but the New Life rose to the occasion and delivered in fashion.
• Through all the planning for the service and the upcoming blizzard, i honestly thought God was messing with us.
• I look back and see it as a test that the faithful passed.
• I am surprised so many people came to the house of the Lord in such bad weather
• Lots of new people… even some regulars didn’t show
• But i think its safe to say that they were rewarded in many ways. even the kids.
• The coolest thing is that about 12 people gave their life to God that night.
• I think pastor Alex’s message had a lot to do with it..(and the Spirit, of course)
• He nailed it, i think it was by far his best christmas message so far…. and  it wasn’t even long:)
• My dad was even raving about it at dinner
• All the performances were great.
• Guys song was funky
• I even played some guitar at the end there.. solid start i think
• Eli and Audri’s duet was killer. they seemed like they enjoyed it
• those hours spent with them were not in vain
• Nikki did a good job leading it her first time.. a good start and i hope with many more to come..
• Brian did a good job working that sound, light stuff.
• I love the never-die attitude of New Life
• Thanks to everyone who worked very hard to make it happen.
• looking forward to next year….maybe….not…ok, maybe..:)
• Peace on earth ya’ll

Its been about 5 years since i first lead praise and worship boy i have i learned a lot. And the cool thing is that i have so much more to learn.

The verse: “It is the Spirit who gives life; the flesh accomplishes nothing. The words that I have spoken to you are spirit and life.”

The problem: Too much flesh, not enough spirit

It amazes me sometimes how we as worshipers can be so carnal. We can be all about putting on a good show for everyone to see. The thought behind that is if we can act on stage like we are really into the worship, people will see that and automatically become engaged into the worship with us. If thats your mentality, get ready to become seriously disappointed. Don’t get me wrong, i’m a huge believer in using my entire body to praise and worship God with all my strength. There is probably not a sunday that goes by when after the worship the back of my shirt is wet from sweating so much. The bible in Romans 12:1 calls us to be a living sacrifice so we shouldn’t be like zombies when we worship. The problem is we seem to get it mixed up. We think if jump around, clap, put on a classic struggling worship face, maybe close our eyes a little, God will show up. Doesn’t work that way. It the very opposite. Our jumping and clapping and shouting is the result of God’s spirit working within us. Remember, it is the spirit that gives life to our flesh, not the other way around. We as worshipers need to always be filled with the spirit once we are, God will take care of the rest. When his spirit shows up, its hard to just stand there and not let Him take over us.

The solution: More of Him, less of me

• Wow wow wow.. where to begin?
• This trip to florida we took was by far the best
• Everybody needs time to just chill out… blow off steam.. relax.. even ministers
• Besides the tons of fun stuff we did, God still managed to reveal himself in a totally new way..
• We are in the process of receiving a totally crazy revelation from god that i believe will change us forever.
• I will never forget this trip.. i dont think anyone will
• The house we stayed at was insane cool.. Kudos to pastor Tanya. she’s got a good eye for a nice place to stay.
• One thing about it that sucked was yana and i had to sleep on this super small cot.
• that thing was harder than plywood with a blanket on top
• oh how i love my bed.. anyways..
• weather was perfect
• fresh breakfast every morning was nice too.. although i’m kinda sick of bacon for a while
• one bad thing.. i was looking forward to deep sea fishing but for some reason this time it blew up in my face.
• i was miserable. i puked like 7 times to the point where i was puking but nothing was coming out except spit.
• but i’m happy for the guys. they looked like they enjoyed it
• we’ll get em next time
• dinner cruise was sweet.. nothing like city lights over water at night..
• dancing is fun even if u don’t know how.
• I’m still tired after the trip
• gotta go relax some more

I got a hair cut yesterday… its nice

• Pretty nice day today..
• Woke up feelin good, hungry, sore from football saturday but the lord gives me strength:)
• Church was different today. Very young crowd when i looked out. Most of the people are teens.. We do have a very very young church, i realized
• Praise and worship was pretty good today. Eli has been progressing as a leader quite nicely. BUT…….We still had small mistakes, comunication issues we need to fix fast.
• We’ve been playing together for a while now and theres no reason to have some of that stuff.
• Currently working with a new singer.. Excited bout that:)
• Still looking for a drummer… come on are they that rare?
• P. Alex did a great job delivering a message that really hit home. People seemed too quiet though, like they werent expecting anything.
• gotta be honest that annoys me sometimes.
• Oh well, keep tearing it up Alex. Sometimes it may not seem like people get it but because of you, lives are impacted and God honors that.
• Pumped up about the money makeover series next sunday. Should be real practical and interesting and a total blessing from God
• Definately looking forward to the Florida trip… Bout time to get out of the city and get a tan
• Looking forward to catch a big fish.. and EAT IT UP!!
• I’m so redneck:)
• Ok, i better go now and throw up the olive garden i ate a bit ago..
• God is good every day, all the time, in every way!

• Well well well… its been a while… (theres my classic smirk)
• I got a mac and all of a sudden i’m pulling internet at my crib so i have no excuse not to blog
• Does anyone even read this stuff????
• Oh well… for some reason when i write here i feel like i’m having a conversation with myself.. kinda weird..
• No place like home on a sat. night with the wife… God is good:)
• Played some football today. Scored a few td’s. threw a few int’s. Needless to say we lost.
• U know what they say.. U win some, u lose some…
• Loosing sucks. I do not like to lose..
• Thank God for sunday… I need it..
• Peace