I'm not opposed to the death penalty per se--though I think that it should be used only sparingly. But even if you favor capital punishment: firing squad?

I've said it before, and I think it bears repeating~~We need heroes. We need to have people that pave the way for us, that we look up to, and that we can emulate as we trek along this earth. I've introduced you to a couple of my heroes in the past. Today I got to rub elbows with another of my heroes because I'm at the RHMA Small Town Pastors' Conference, and Calvin Miller has been the keynote speaker as well as a session leader.

Why is Miller one of my heroes? Because he has done most of the things that I'd like to do. He has planted churches, has served those churches as pastor, has written books (make that, books that others want to buy), and he has remained real in all of this.

I also owe a lot in my life--not just my ministry--to Miller. Indirectly, he is responsible for the circumstances through which I met the blushing bride. He was the inspirational speaker over ten years ago at the missions emphasis week at Glorietta Baptist Conference Center in New Mexico where I decided to become an international missionary. Had I not made that decision, I would never have met my beautiful wife on the second day of missionary orientation two years later.

So, get you a hero. Don't worship them, but do be grateful for their presence in your life.

Here you are . . .

So, enjoy . . .

Here's a bit of verse I dedicated to my Blushing Bride those years ago. Enjoy your Valentine's Day!

I don't believe in love at first sight, But I know that your smile caught my eye.
It's not just the way it glows upon your face
But the way you let it linger in your eyes.

So, Lady--Pretty Lady, you make me happy when you smile
And I know when your cryin' I'd like to stay with you the while
'Til you are smiling again. I just want to be the friend
Of such a pretty lady.
(from "Pretty Lady Smile")

With the earthquake in Haiti taking a front seat in news for the last several weeks, it isn't any wonder that my son started asking some questions -- What are they talking about? Why are they having this telethon?--you know, the regular stuff that goes through the mind of a six-year-old.

Then he asked the ultimate question: "Mommy, can we do something to help the people in Haiti?"

So we're having a fund-raiser:
If you're in the Mulberry Grove area Saturday, February 6th, stop by and join the festivities. If not, try to find your way to help. (I might even suggest this or this.)

May the Lord continue to bless my long-time friend, Albert Reyes, as he assumes the leadership of Buckner International. See the article here.

Okay, so I'm posting this so I'll get another entry in the $100 book giveaway for more resources for my library. That means that I actually don't want you to click the link below.

Sadly, we say "Good-bye" to Gumby's creator, Art Clokey.

Enjoy an episode:

So, I was showing off the beautiful copy of The Message I received as a gift for Christmas to some of the parishioners at prayer meeting tonight.

I was so excited to get it, because I'd been wanting a copy for awhile. I was even impressed that I had received the soft "leather" cover -- with my name imprinted.

Look close--you can see it--and you can also see what I saw tonight (LOL).

Even so, What a treat for a gift, and the message in The Message is still the best!

I just want to wish you a happy 2010!

. . . And when one of your deacons etches grave markers you find something like this under your tree. And you cry because you know how much they love you. And you are thankful again that God knows what He's doing when he moves you from one place to another.

Merry Christmas everyone, and may you be as loved as this humble preacher!

. . . and so the children surround themselves with piles and piles of loot (before the avarice set in):



Then -- After the carnage:

After Puddn N Pie and Bubba got air time from their school program, I feel it's only fair to present this clip of Little Bit and her daycare group in their "program".

The oldest is now trying her hand at adapting the Christmas story. Check out the results below:

1. I apologize for the poor quality of the video below.
2. I do not apologize for being a doting daddy--you can watch and enjoy or click out.

The oldest is singing these first selections:



The son, as you can see, was a last-minute substitute for one of the "no show" reindeer (a good choice, I think):

My son is really getting into the Holiday Spirit this year. He has now been turned on to Christmas music--like this, and this.

Yesterday he was singing, "Police nadida . . . Police nadida . . ."

Enjoy the show: