Fireproof- Can't wait to see it!

Hey everyone- just watched a trailer for the new movie "Fireproof". Oh wow! This looks to be a really great movie starring Kirk Cameron. It was made by the same people who made "Facing the Giants". There's a strong gospel message, and a powerful message for those who are married.

Check it out!

Sometimes, you just need to get away.

I just want to publicly thank my wonderful wife for allowing me some time to get away this week. I spent a relaxing day in Galena, just reading, studying scripture, spending time in prayer, and taking advantage of the quiet. It was refreshing and helped me get me head on just a bit straighter. I also took a few hours and walked around downtown Galena. Hap and I had gone there a few years ago, so it was good to be reminded of places we went the last time we were there. 

Meanwhile, Hap was having a tough time at home with the boys. Both boys have head colds, and so does mommy, so no one was sleeping well. As you can imagine, when the kids don't feel well, they get crabby, which makes it even more challenging for mommy to care for them.

It's good to be home. It's good to be here to help care for all three of them. 

I love my family, and I'm very thankful for them today!

God is so amazing, isn't He?

Yesterday we took a nature walk at a beautiful place called Glacial Park. It's a prairie area in Ringwood, IL, and was once filled with glaciers. It was great to see our boys enjoy new sights, like animal poop, bugs, rocks, crazy looking dragon flies who appeared to be mating, and wild plants that reached out and grabbed you as you walked by. We hiked up a small hill, and when we reached the top, the view was simply spectacular. We could see for miles, and the cool breeze was quite refreshing, especially for those of us who had been carrying a 40 pound boy on their shoulders.
Bible verses rushed to mind as we surveyed His creation, and Happi even sang the doxology. We had a snack of red and green grapes, took many pictures, and decided it was time to head back. I'm sure Hap will post pictures on her blog.
Even though the walk back to the van was tiring- did I mention I was carrying a 40 lb. little tank with me?- we really enjoyed our day at Glacial Park. We plan to go back and explore more in the future. What a great way to learn about God's handy-work.
Have a great Lord's day.

A little perspective, please...

Ok, so it's been a long, long time since I've blogged. The summer has gone by so quickly, and I just don't sit down to write often enough. (Can 'never' be considered not often enough? I'm not sure.)
Anyway- about perspective...
I auditioned for a commercial this week, thanks to my buddy Jimbo, who owns a studio in Chicago. It was a thirty second spot for Midwest Lottery, a combined effort of Kansas and Iowa. I had a great time recording the jingle, and was hopeful that I'd get it. There were three of us in contention, and we were referred to as singers A, B, and C. I was singer A, since I was first to record at the studio. Well, I received the call yesterday that they chose singer C, but they really liked my version, too. I guess you could say I got the Silver medal. I think singer C's name was 'Phelps" or something like that... I'll post the audio, if you'd like to hear it.
Needless to say, I was a bit bummed that I didn't get the gig, since it paid over $500., and I had plans already in motion for that money. (Sorry honey- no shiny new dishwasher this week...). I spent part of the day in a funk, and was not very motivated to do anything. It seems silly now, but I guess it affected me more than I thought it would.
Then the call came...
Our good friend Charity called my wife to tell us that her brother has been given only 2-4 months to live. He has been battling small cell lung cancer, and just received the bad news from his doctors. That means that, unless God heals him, which He certainly can do, in less than six months his kids will lose their daddy, and his wife will lose her husband.

And I was having a bad day because I didn't get a 30- second commercial about gambling. God forgive me for being so self-centered. He certainly has a way of putting things into perspective, doesn't He?

Please pray for Dave and His family, and for our friend Charity. They need supernatural healing and grace right now, and we believe that can only come from one source- Almighty God.

Rumble in the night

Last night, and about 4:30 a.m., we experiences tremors from an earthquake! I was awakened from my sleep to the sound of banging, and I think the bed was shaking a bit as well. Our closet doors were hitting together at a very steady tempo, and I woke my wife to see if she heard it. Here's how the conversation went: (All in a soft hushed whisper, mind you.)
I said "Honey... do you hear that?"
She said "What?"
I said "That."
She said "What?"
Me: "The doors"
She: "What doors?"
Me: "The closet doors!"

I reached out and touched the doors to stop them from banging, and when I let go, the tremor had stopped. So, we went back to sleep, not thinking much of it. Imagine our surprise to find out that an earthquake of 5.2 magnitude went through the midwest over night! Praise be to God that noone was hurt, and that He protected us.

Signs of things to come, according to the Bible.

Rainy Day Praise

Hello- It's been a while, so I thouht I'd write a quick entry.
It is pouring down rain right now, and I have to got out into it in a few minutes to go to a meeting. Not looking forward to it.
Had a great spring break at home with my beautiful wife and two amazing boys!
Hope you're having a great and blessed day.

Diggin', Singin' & Writin'

Yes, that's what I will be doing this weekend.
We have a small 12x14 area in the backyard where we are installing a patio.
Last weekend, we went to Menards and picked-up about 2600 lbs. of sand and patio filler. Guess who moved most of it, one 40 lb. bag at a time... Me! Thankfully, my back held out ok, and my chiropractor didn't yell at me.

I'm also singing on the worship team at church this weekend. It is good to sing praises to the Lord!

I'm still writing my final project for my Master's degree in Music Education, so I've got that to do this weekend as well.

Busy, busy, busy!

My beautful wife is having a recital Sunday afternoon for her students, and she has convinced me to sing "The Prayer" with her. I love to sing with her, so it will be fun! She's a great music teacher and I know her students will do well.

Have a great weekend, and a blessed week!