Andy

At noon today, the family and friends of Jenson Anderson Kershaw (Andy) came together at 6400 Woodrow Rd. in Lithonia, GA to celebrate his life. God called him home at the tender age 17, a few weeks before he headed to college. Andy was jogging down the street and all of a sudden he collapsed and fell in front of a church. I'm not sure if he died on the scene or at the hospital. He was in great health and strength. In fact, he was going home after a long day at practice. Andy's situation was ALOT like Tan's.

Tan died in her sleep in good health at age 21. Andy collapsed in front of a church from no "natural or unnatural" circumstance. It just kinda happened. I did not know Andy personally but knew of him. I know one of his close friends Sidney. Sid and my sister are good friends so it's kind of an I know him thru somebody.

When I got to the church around 10:30AM Mike C was playing the slide show of his pictures that were to be played from 11-12. As I sat and watched the different shots roll, of him and his mom, his brother Miles, his father, and his friends, all I could do was cry. I couldn't cry because I missed him because I didn't know him but I cried because I knew what his family and friends were going thru. I went thru the EXACT same thing in early July.

As the funeral went on, I felt like I had been knowing Andy for years. The way his family, coaches, and friends talked about him, made me feel like a part of his family. I cried even more because I could feel the loving spirit of Andy in the building although we were in two different parts. I serve in video production and was in the control room while everyone else was in the sanctuary. I felt his spirit thru the cameras and I knew that there was something UNIQUE about him. During the eulogy, Bishop Long, our Senior Pastor and mentor of Andy thru his program The Longfellows, said what I had been thinking all along. Andy was sent from Heaven as an angel as Tan was. Their short time here on earth was just a reminder that you can be SAVED and still be COOL all at the same time. We don't have to conform to this world but we must be transformed by the RENEWING of our minds. The bible says that we are IN the world, but not OF the world which means we live by a different set of rules. We're governed by every word out of the mouth of God. If you ask me, this is the best WAY to LIVE. I heard somebody say that "I would rather live as if there was a God and find out there wasn't than to live as if there wasn't one and find out there is" That statement summed it all up for me. I am rededicating my life back to God at this very moment!

For all of you out there that are not saved but wish to be saved by believing that Jesus is the son of God and that he died and rose for your sins or if you just want to rededicate your life to God simply say this prayer out loud wherever you are:

Heavenly Father, I come to you as humbly as I know how saying thank you for just being you. Lord I sometimes get caught up in the worries of life that I forget to tell you how much I appreciate and love you. Lord forgive me for I know I have sinned. Lord I do believe that Jesus Christ is your begotten son and that you sent Him down from Heaven to save my soul by dying on the cross and then in three days, raised Him up with ALL POWER. Father God I thank you now for saving me. I have believed in your son and now I am asking for your strength, guidance, health, and protection to walk in this Kingdom Lifestyle for you. I am not my own but I belong to you. I ask that you keep me covered from the hands of Satan and allow the power of the Holy Spirit to dwell in me. Thank you Lord. I now cover myself and my family and friends as well as this prayer in the blood of Jesus that it reaches your heart God. It is in the precious name of Jesus I pray, AMEN!