David Cook is the man!  I’m sure my voting six times last night helped assure him of victory.   It was a good year for Idol.  I can’t believe I’m looking forward to January’s season. 

America got it right, in my humble opion.  What do you think?

I’m following this interesting story in the mainline news.  It’s one of those stories that captures people’s attention and emotion before knowing both sides of the story.  I’m wondering what you would do if you were the pastor of this church?  What would you do if you were a parishoner?  What would you do if you were a visitor?  How would you handle the situation?  How would you handle this situation if you were the parent of Adam Race?  Have you heard both sides of this story?

http://www.foxnews.com/video/index.html?playerId=videolandingpage&streamingFormat=FLASH&referralObject=531126&referralPlaylistId=949437d0db05ed5f5b9954dc049d70b0c12f2749

Oh yeah, I’m a proud grandpa!

I could not stop laughing as I watched this provacitive performance by Fantasia!  It was a hoot.  You don’t get the true depth of how orange red her hair was in this clip.  It was more like a pumpkin that was on fire!

Stay with the clip until you see Simon’s look.  It’s worth a million bucks!  Check it out!

“There are only two ways to live your life.  One is though nothing is a miracle.  The other is as though everything is a miracle.” 

Albert Einstein

What an exciting Sunday!  Our mothers were honored and 5 people obeyed Jesus’ command to be baptized!  I planned on 3 being baptized….and then after class a new and dear friend expressed his desire to be baptized.  Then, after services, a wonderful young lady expressed her desire as well.  Since we at NewSong do not supply special clothing for baptisms, these last two decided that would just do the deed in what they wore that day!  Praise God!  The Holy Spirit was actively working in many people last Sunday.  I pray that He will show up like that again this coming Sunday!  Maranatha Lord!

William Carey was known as the “father of modern missions.”  He was a Baptist minister in the early 1800’s.  The church, during this time, was comfortable with the status quo.  The church was not only not doing the mission of evangelism, it was teaching against it.  William was moved by this painting, by Mathias Grunewald (1515), that has John the Baptist pointing to Jesus as the Messiah predicted from the scriptures.  William then spent the rest of his life committed to mission work in India.

This painting and William Carey inspire me to keep to the vision.  To keep the focus on what is vital.  To be a community of faith, introducing people to Jesus, and helping them fall in love with him.  Don’t point people to a church, a program, a human personality, or a fellowship, but simply and powerfully to Jesus!  When we, as a community of faith, are doing that, God will do great things!  Here is an inspiring quote by William Carey:

“Expect great things from God; attempt great things for God”

Is there a desire to do mission work in your faith community?  Are you expecting great things from God?  Are you attempting great things for God?  These questions continue to humble me.

Check out this story in the Wall Street Journal.  This happened just down the street from us in Allen, Michigan, just east of Hillsdale.

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB120061470848399079.html

I will never forget that Friday afternoon, July 11, 1997.  When my wife came to the church, where I was the minister, I could tell by the look on her face that something terrible had happened.  She told me the tragic news;  my mom was in a car accident, and that she had died.  On Thursday mom was healthy, happy and loving life; then, she was gone.  I miss her every day.

Shortly after her death, I put together a memorial video that caputred some of the moments of mom’s life.  I used this song, My Heart Will Go On, by Celine Dion, as the sound track.  I always remember mom when I hear this song.  For the rest of my life, this will be our song.

I have so many fond memories of mom.  I remember as a pre-schooler sitting on her lap as she would sing “Silent Night” to me.  Christmas was always special, because she made it special.  It wasn’t until I got older did I really realize how much she sacrificed to make Christmas so wonderful.

In the summer, when the neighborhood kids would go to the pond and gig some bullfrogs, mom would cook them for us and we had a feast.  When I would shoot a squirrel, rabbit or pheasant, mom would have a special recipe that made the game delicious.

Mom loved her children and she loved Jesus.  Even through the tough times, her faith never wavered.  That same faith is now in all of her children. 

Never take your mom for granted.  Thank God for her every day.  Honor your mother this Sunday and always.

I love you mom.

This is awesome!  Take 5 minutes and worship God through this video today!

Mudpuppy should call his buddy, the Jesus Painter, and see what it would take for him to join Shaun for this event on June 8.  Let’s pray about that and see what happens!