A Bit Behind

I've gotten a bit behind on my blogging lately.

Been busy with a few things outside the virtual world...

Glad to get a note from my friend John yesterday!! Thanks John!

First a link to Jim Houser's blog so y'all can catch up on everything that has been happening in the Chapman household. I'm excited for the GMA interview. Robin Roberts is probably the best for this interview. She has extra sensitivity and compassion having gone through her cancer treatments and such.

Also of note. Maria's Miracle Fund has topped $610,000 raised to date! Exciting stuff for the orphans!

On to a bit of news...
I know some of my readers have been speculating on my announcement. Well, I hope I don't disappoint. I have been in talks with management for The Following and am about to sign a contract to bring the boys (men actually) up to our town for a show. I wanted to do something for our teens in the area churches. Kind of a back to school concert. There really is a lot that has to be accomplished to do one of these shows. Even a small one like what I've been planning takes quite a bit of organisation and planning. I've only just tapped the surface of what I need to get done, but the excitement is building in my house. I promised that there would be "no rabid fans", so I'll have to enforce that a bit! lol!

There will be more (different) news in a future blog. I've just got too much happening at one time to be able to share it all now. Busier than I've ever been in my life it seems.

Until next time, please continue to lift the Chapman's in prayer.

"Yours" gets fourth verse

A new verse has been added to Steven Curtis Chapman's song "Yours" from his "This Moment" CD. The song has added meaning now. I think this verse is further confirms that this man is a true God Follower! Please continue to pray for the Chapman family. The hurt is still fresh and healing is slow.

Thanks to Jim Houser for the picture.



Here's the lyric in case you can't read in the picture:

I’ve walked the valley of death’s shadow
So deep and dark that I could barely breathe
I’ve had to let go of more than I could bear
And questioned everything that I believe
But still even here
in this great darkness
A comfort and hope come breaking through
As I can say in life or death
God we belong to you.




Keep lifting Will Franklin to the throne as well.

Concert Pictures

From Jim Houser's blog


There is healing in the music! Love you Will!!
















Quoted from Jim: "Earlier, the new verse to Yours recieved a standing ovation. Now, with the beginning of Cinderella, through a local radio's station's orchestration, the entire audience stood with flashlights as he sang the song. Steven made it through (barely) I did not, I am so emotional."

The Following

I found a couple of videos on YouTube of the Following playing at a couple of benefit concerts. Enjoy!

Don't Take It For Granted




Do You Remember





Invisible Tears

Coming Soon...

There's something in the works that I'm getting really excited about.
Lots of details to work out! New territory for me! Big time expansion of my borders and stretching of my faith and abilities.

I'm scared and jazzed at the same time about this project.

Please pray that I will take those bold steps to get moving on what the Lord has put on my heart.

Thanks!




One other thing...

I was catching up on my reading. Old issue of CCM magazine. Editor, Jay Swartzendruber's column in the July 2007 issue (I know! I'm way behind!).

In the column, Jay is talking about how he has a tendency toward being a "super fan". He quotes William Wilberforce's book "Real Christianity" as follows

"It is undeniably clear that, in the judgement of the Word of God, the love of worldly admiration and applause is basically corrupt. For it tends to exalt and aggrandize ourselves; to pride ourselves on our natural or acquired endowments; or to assume credit and merit for our own qualities. It chooses this self-esteem instead of ascribing all honor and glory where they are due. It is false, therefore because it exalts that which we should demean. It is also criminal because it intrudes on the privilege of God."

Jay uses this quote to bring about his point which is to say that when we are speaking of those performers we love so much it is easy to place them on a pedestal. By doing this we are actually making them an idol. We don't mean to do this, it just happens.

Here's how Jay puts it:
"When I love someone's work or performance, I love it... often becoming enamored with who that influencer is. Yes, a super fan. When I'm at my best, I'm celebrating God's creativity and gifts as expressed through those whom He's created. When I'm at my worst, well... let's call a spade a spade, I'm committing idolatry. And if I'm doing that in the presence of an artist and directing it at them, it's safe to say I'm not urging them toward humility.
All that to say, there's a way to affirm people in their gifts, speaking life into their vocations and passions, without encouraging them to "exalt or aggrandize" themselves."

That is what I want to do. Affirm people in their gifts and urge them toward humility.

It's Finally Going To Happen!

Now to get them to put Delaware on the tour list...

Busy blog day!

Forgot to mention that Kelby has found another article that was written from someone who was able to attend the memorial service for Maria. Since I couldn't go, I appreciate seeing the service through the eyes of those who could. The more I read, the more I appreciate the way this family loves. I can see Christ in and through them. Thanks for continuing to dig for the gold nuggets, Kelby!

Link to Songtailor

Glad to see Steven playing again. Although, I would almost expect it since this is how this man of God expresses himself so well. Lovin' the Mcpherson!

Picture from Jim Houser's blog.
























Here is what I posted in the comments section of Jim's blog:

"Thanks for sharing that Jim.

You continue to have the priviledge of ministering personally to this family and walking the fine line of sharing information with their fans. I appreciate every update as it allows us to know better how to pray for them (and you).

As we all continue to move forward, it would be helpful to know what the Chapmans need from us. How do we interact when we see them? I know that continued sympathy and offered prayers are good. But I wonder... how hard must it be for each and every person they see to take them down that road again.

Thanks again for all you do for the Chapmans and for us."

I really do wonder how hard it must be for them as they see more people that want to offer condolences. I wonder how hard it is on Will as he gets hugs and prayers from so many people. Pray for Will.

I'm hoping to host The Following in September for a concert. I've got to figure out how to offer them some form of the new normal while respecting their feelings. I want to help them have joy.

I'm open to suggestions.

Pennies

So... here's the thing.
I've been trying to find a way to get off the treadmill and stop working so hard.
I know that I'll still work for most of the rest of my life, but I'd like it to be more on my terms.

Anyway, I'm just wondering how hard it would really be to find a way to generate $300-$500 a day in residual income. Think about it... if I could find a way to make that amount every day of the year, I would have $109,500-$182,500 per year in income.

Basically, I can do this if I could just get folks to give me their left over pennies. Here is the basic math:

$.01/day ($3.65/year) from 50,000 people for life = $182,500/year
$.02/day ($7.30/year) from 25,000 people for life = $182,500/year
$.05/day ($18.25/year) from 10,000 people for life = $182,500/year

Seems pretty reasonable and easy, right?

Want to sign up and be one of my 50,000 friends? Just think about it! For less than the cost of a happy meal a year, you could support me and my family and free me up to do whatever I can come up with to fill my days. Think of all the time I could dedicate to playing with my kids. Or all the time I could donate to serving others...

So anyway... I know this sounds like I want to be lazy and not work. Actually, that's not the case. I'm just trying to find a way to free up my days so I can do stuff for others and still have family time. It just seems that with all the hours lost to working, I have to divide the remaining time between family and serving others. There just aren't enough hours in the day for it all.

There it is. All laid out for people to see. It really doesn't take much when you spread it out so thinly. Maybe I'll set up a website and see if I can get this thing going. I guess I'll need to check local laws and tax ramifications so I can stay out of jail.

Don't mind me. I'm just a little rambly this morning.
Hope everyone had a pleasant July 4th holiday.

Happy 4th!

Kerry Hasenbalg has written another great piece about the lessons learned from the loss of a child and the power of forgivenness. Take a few minutes and go read her last couple of entries and be blessed. I did!

Happy Birthday America!!

We in this country are so blessed. Most of us have much more than we need. Our hearts need to be broken with love and concern for those who are in need such as the widows and orphans.

America, what will you do with your great wealth to help those less fortunate?