Thanksgiving Dinner

Turkey
Ham
Potatoes
Stuffing
Cranberry Sauce
Corn Pudding
Sweet Potato Casserole
Green Bean Casserole
Pickled Beets
Glazed Carrots
Rolls
Little Lemon muffin things

Chocolate Pie

NO macaroni and cheese (but I still survived...)

Thanksgiving in Richmond, VA today was a great time with Jen's family. We all have much for which to be thankful.

Yesterday

Yesterday would have been the 40th birthday of my good friend, Jim Hvisdos, who left this world nearly 7 years ago after a bout with cancer. Jim went to school with me at Liberty University, for whom we traveled the country together recruiting (with a great team of others, I might add). Really fun times.... I followed Jim to California to work at Big Valley Grace Community Church in Modesto, where he was the Jr. High Youth Pastor (and I was the worship leader). We had a blast goofing off together in staff meetings, golfing together, praying together and encouraging one another to press on.
Jim was a devoted follower of Christ, who loved God and loved people as well as anyone I know. He was an amazing example to the hundreds of young teens who looked up to him as a role model and leader...many of whom are serving God today because of his influence in their lives.
Jim passed away on Jan 7 (my birthday) as I was getting on a plane to go see him. He had been taken to the Cleveland Clinic here in OH for treatment. While I didn't get to see him that last time here on Earth, I can't wait to see him again soon in heaven. It will be a really good day.

New House Church in Powell

My friends John and Debbie Stickel (also members of Journey Church, Columbus) are taking the leap and starting a house church in Powell. Jen and I are just wild enough to hop in on the deal.
The first meeting will be tonight, where we'll just hang out and watch a movie together. For our future meetings, we hope to begin to look at our marriages, seeking God regarding what it means to be a loving, faithful, God-honoring spouse. Sound scary? Sound fun? Either way, you should join us. It will be worth it...

Beauty Will Rise

At the recommendation of a good friend, Aaron Conrad, I downloaded the new Steven Curtis Chapman CD, Beauty Will Rise. I'm listening to it now as I write. Only to the 6th song at this point, I'm absolutely blown away by this CD. I would recommend NOT listening to this for the first time while you're driving (unless you're able to easily pull over for a while when necessary).

Since the tragic loss of his daughter over a year ago, many have wondered how he and his family would respond, and countless people have prayed for this family. "Beauty Will Rise" is a glimpse of what God has done through this season in their lives.

I remember the time a doctor asked me why God would "let bad things happen to good people." This had been in regards to the premature birth and extremely difficult period that followed with my son, Noah. My response to the doctor was that somehow God is glorified and would be glorified through the situation, no matter how difficult it was for us to see or understand it. I was confident of the truth, although it was not easily visible at the time.

God is glorified through Steven Curtis Chapman, his family, and their response to this last year, by the help of our God.

Matt. 11:28 "Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest."

Noah's Birthday Present

OK...so I'm a little late posting this, with Noah's birthday being nearly a month ago. That said, I wanted to let you in on one of Noah's birthday gifts. We went to a recording studio!! Noah was (of course) enamoured by all of the bells and whistles that my friend, Felix Weber, has available at his studio. Noah didn't hesitate to push all of the buttons, move the faders, play the instruments, etc. He even recorded his first song! It was really fun teaching Noah some of the basics in recording, song writing, producing, etc. Even better to have a master producer by my side helping me...thank you Felix!